District-Level Administration (PMC) drafted draft
Program Overview
The Educational Specialist degree in the Educational Leadership Program (EDLP) reflects the College of Education’s historic mission and commitment to preparing leaders for P-12 schools. The Department of Leadership Studies offers a 30 credit-hour degree program for district-level administrators. The program is performance-based and utilizes a variety of 21st century technologies, authentic assessments, and personalized internships.
The Educational Leadership Program has been approved for fully online delivery. Candidates experience direct and individualized contact with their professors in small class settings.
EDLP is an NCATE accredited program. Graduates must pass the School Superintendent Assessment (SSA) prior to receiving their license. UCA’s Educational Leadership program has a 100% pass rate on the SSA.
The Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership (EDLP) includes two general areas of concentration: (1) a PK-12 emphasis in district and school level positions (e.g., superintendent and other central office positions; building administration; curriculum administration; program administration in curriculum, special education, or gifted and talented education). A 21 hour Post-Master’s Certificate in District-Level Administration licensure is also available.
While we welcome any out of state candidates, completion of any program, other than an initial licensure program, may not lead to licensure or endorsement in Arkansas or in the state in which you reside. It is your responsibility to check with your state’s department of education to determine if the license or endorsement requirements are met through the program of study. If you are a potential out of state candidate, please contact the program coordinator directly.
Program Outline
The EdS degree in Educational Leadership requires that the candidate
- Earn a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit including three required courses (9 semester hours)—EDLP 7301, 7363, 7387—and a minimum of 21 hours of courses congruent with area of endorsement, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0, with no more than nine hours of “C” grades; and
- Complete satisfactorily the program’s required culminating experience.
An Ed.S. student who would like to add the building-level administrator endorsement
Core Requirements
- EDLP 7320 Facilities Planning and Administration
- EDLP 7324 School Board Relations
- EDLP 7300 School Finance
- EDLP 7V30 Internship District Leadership (3 credit hours)
Selective Courses – include the state-approved plans of study for adding a building-level administrator license
The Ed.S. Program in Educational Leadership curriculum comprises 30 semester hours of graduate credit. Courses are taught on rotation.
- EDLP 7301 Program Planning and Evaluation
- EDLP 7363 Human Resource Administration
- EDLP 7387 Organizational Change and Development
- EDLP 7320 Facilities Planning and Administration
- EDLP 7300 School Finance
- EDLP 7325 School Community Relations
- EDLP 7324 School Board Relations
- EDLP 7V30 Superintendent Internship (1 hour credit)
- EDLP 7V30 Superintendent Internship (2 hour credit)
- LEAD 8352 Advanced School Law
- ITEC 7368 Technology Planning and Leadership
Course rotation is subject to change based on enrollment and/or staffing
- ALL courses are 100% online
- Synchronous delivery: You must be online on the day/time the course is offered.
- Asynchronous delivery: You have assignments and deadlines to meet, working on your own.
- Courses which have a key assessment require a subscription to Chalk & Wire Anthology Portfolio (purchased through the UCA Bookstore)
To be recommended for the certificate, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Complete all required coursework with at least a 3.00 GPA (maximum of three hours of “C” grades may be counted toward the certificate).
- Complete satisfactorily the program’s required culminating experience.
Graduate Courses in Educational Leadership (EDLP)
7V15 DIRECTED SPECIALIST’S PROJECT (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) A culminating activity for the Educational Specialist’s degree. Selection of a practical educational problem for solution using research and professional knowledge. A scholarly report is required in which the student is expected to demonstrate competence in research and writing skills. Elective.
7V30 INTERNSHIP DISTRICT LEADERSHIP (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) Supervised activities working with district level leaders accompanied by focused seminars. Experiences are jointly planned and supervised by university and district level personnel. Candidates are expected to document experiences. Internships must be at least six months in length. A total of three semester credit hours are required for completion of the degree.
7101 LANDSCAPE OF THE SUPERINTENDENCY An overview of the school superintendency as a professional career choice. The course will be offered one time per year. Elective.
7300 SCHOOL FINANCE A study of sources for school funding, legal basis for funding and expenditures, views and policies of equity in school finance, principles of budgeting, and cost accounting.
7301 PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION A study of the theory of program evaluation, techniques used in program evaluation, and the standards of quality for professional evaluation practice.
7320 FACILITIES PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION A research-based analysis and practical application of the planning process and organization and administrative procedures for school plant management.
7324 SCHOOL BOARD RELATIONS The relations between the superintendent and the local school board of education will be examined with reference to role and responsibilities for the local school board and the superintendent and the knowledge, dispositions, and skills that are required to build effective superintendent-school board relations.
7325 SCHOOL-COMMUNITY RELATIONS Identification, study, and analysis of concepts and procedures to develop better communication in cooperative partnerships between the school and the community. A research-based and practical study of the interaction of school boards and superintendents.
7363 HUMAN RESOURCE ADMINISTRATION Major dimensions of personnel management are addressed and include the processes, procedures, and techniques essential to the function of personnel administration in the pre-K-12 school organization.
7387 ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT A study of various behavioral concepts found in organizational settings that have implications for leadership and management.
7391 SUPERINTENDENT AS INSTRUCTIONAL LEADER A study of the concepts, theories, and practices associated with instructional leadership provided by the school district superintendent. Elective.
- Complete the Department of Leadership Studies application.
- Provide documentation of appropriate master’s degree in school leadership or educational leadership or approved equivalent.
- Provide a building-level and/or curriculum/program endorsement.
- Provide at least three professional references who may be contacted regarding your potential for success in the program.
- Engage in an interview with EDLP faculty.
- Submit a response to a writing prompt.
- Submit a completed Program Recommendation by Administrator Form.
- Candidates seeking this endorsement in the state of Arkansas must have equivalent courses in the following areas: Program Planning and Evaluation, Human Resource Administration, and Organizational Change and Development. Candidates who do not have equivalent courses in these areas will be required to complete up to an additional nine hours of coursework.
