The Master of Education in Educational Leadership

About the Program

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership in any of the three concentrations are state-approved programs designed to develop outstanding leaders, supervisors, and administrators for the schools of Florida and the nation.  Each program develops understandings and skills in the following domains of leadership:

  • Visionary and Strategic Leadership
  • Leadership for Student Performance
  • Organization and Resource Management
  • Collaborative Leadership
  • Ethical Leadership
  • Legal, Political and Socio-cultural Contexts
  • Technology Leadership

To access a printable M.Ed. in Educational Leadership program guide for students, please click here.

Students who already have a master's degree should consider the Post-Masters program in Educational Leadership. This non-degree program provides the opportunity for aspiring leaders who have already obtained a graduate degree in fields related to education to meet the requirements for leadership positions in public or private schools and obtain Florida Level 1 principal certification. 

 As a student in the M.Ed in Educational Leadership concentrations and the Post-Masters in Educational Leadership program, you can expect instruction and support in the form of:

  • Case studies and simulations;
  • Group Projects and study groups;
  • Lecture and discussion;
  • Inquiry and presentation;
  • Distance learning and web-enhanced courses;
  • Advising and coaching; and
  • Ongoing support from faculty and a cohort of peers.

M. Ed. in Educational Leadership Concentrations:

1.  K-12 Public School Leadership Concentration:  Graduates of this M.Ed. program meet the requirements for Florida Level 1 principal certification and have skills required to lead K-12 schools in public and private settings. (printable factsheet)

2.  Curriculum Leadership Concentration:  Graduates who earn an M.Ed. with this concentrations bring leadership skills to curriculum-focused roles in P-12 school, district offices, and education-related organizations.  This program does not satisfy all requirements for principal certification. (printable factsheet)

3.  Non-Public or Charter School  Leadership Concentration:  This M.Ed. program is designed for those who aspire to leadership positions in P-12 settings that deviate from the traditional public school environment.  Applicants need not hold educator certification, and the graduates are not eligible for Florida principal certification. (printable factsheet)

 

How to Apply:  While all three concentrations share several of the same requirements, there are differences.  Please click here for a quick overview of requirements for each of the three concentrations.

1. Prerequisites

Students seeking admission to the M. Ed.. in Educational Leadership must:

  • Have a bachelor's degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution; and
  • Have a minimum 2 years of post-Bachelor's teaching experience; and
  • Possess a Florida Professional Educator's Certificate (only for the K-12 concentration; and
  • Have a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) undergraduate GPA (overall or upper-level) from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants with GPAs below 3.0 must submit GRE scores from within the last 5 years.  If your upper division GPA is below 3.0, please contact the admissions advisor for options prior to completing any courses.
  • Documentation of completion of a three (3) credit hour course in ESOL or completion of sixty (60) hours of ESOL district in-service training). Applicants admitted for Fall 2010 or later must take TSL 5085 ESOL if not waived.(only for the K-12 concentration)

2.  Complete the USF Admission Application online.

3.  Submit the following items to USF Sarasota-Manatee Admissions Advisor:

  • Three letters of professional reference (ask references to include your name and 'letter of reference' in subject line if emailing the letter-applicants for the Non-Public/Charter and Curriculum Leadership curriculums should have one of these letters from a supervisor documenting satisfactory teaching or related experience);
  • A goals statement (1-2 pages) discussing professional experiences and interest in Educational Leadership;
  • A copy of the Florida Professional Educator's Certificate that clearly shows all borders and the state seal (only for the K-12 concentration);
  • Official transcript(s) of all undergraduate degree coursework (and graduate coursework, if applicable);
  • Proof of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) training. Applicant must provide documentation of completion of a three (3) credit hour course in ESOL or completion of sixty (60) hours of ESOL district in-service training or successfully complete TSL 5085: ESOL 1 as part of the M.Ed. Educational Leadership program; (only for the K-12 concentration) and
  • GRE score of 1000 (verbal plus quantitative) may be required if the upper-level GPA falls below 3.0.
  • Applicants for the Non-Public/Charter School Leadership concentration should hold a teaching, supervisory, or administrative position in a non-public, charter, or other educational organization.

4.  Observe the Application Deadlines
March 1 for Summer | June 1 for Fall | October 15 for Spring
Missed the deadline? Apply for non-degree study to get started this semester. A maximum of 12 credits from non-degree study may be transferable to a master's program.

 

Program of Study:  Although all three concentrations have the same core curriculum requirements, the Non-Public/Charter concentration and the Curriculum Leadership concentration have a choice of electives that focus on the concentration. 

K-12 Public School Leadership Concentration:  Total program is 36 credit hours. All courses are 3 credits unless noted. Degree and certification requirements are subject to change in accordance with State and University mandates.  Changes in Florida State Teacher Preparation Program may result in program changes. Students must closely monitor program requirements. Students are responsible for all information listed in the University graduate catalog.

Required Courses:

  • EDA 6061 Principles of Educational Administration
  • EDA 6106 Administrative Analysis and Change
  • EDA 6192 Educational Leadership
  • EDA 6232 School Law
  • EDA 6242 School Finance
  • EDA 6503 The Principalship
  • EDA 6945 Practicum  (taken during last semester)* (access handbook below under Program Portfolio)
  • EDF 6481 Foundations of Educational Research
  • EDG 6285 School Curriculum Improvement
  • EDG 6627 Foundations of Curriculum & Instruction
  • EDS 6050 Principles and Practices  of Educational Supervision
  • EME 6425 Technology for School Management
  • TSL 5085 ESOL 1 (waived with documentation of completion of a three (3) credit hour course in ESOL or completion of sixty (60) hours of ESOL district in-service training).  Applicants admitted for Fall 2010 or later must take TSL 5085 ESOL if not waived

Curriculum Leadership Concentration:  Program is 36 hours credit hours.  All courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise noted. 

Required Courses:

  • EDF 6481 Foundations of Educational Research
  • EDA 6106 Administrative Analysis and Change
  • EME 6425 Technology for School Management
  • EDA 6192 Educational Leadership
  • EDG 6285 School Curriculum Improvement
  • EDS 6050 Principles and Practices of Educational Supervision
  • ADE 6385 The Adult Learner
  • EDG 6627 Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction
  • EDA 6945 Administrative Practicum (final semester)
  • Choose 3 from the following:
  • EDA 6061 Principles of Educational Administration
  • EDF 6165 Group Processes for Educational Personnel
  • EDF 6736 Educational Communication and Change
  • EDG 6931 Moral Development and Character Education
  • EDG 6935 Seminar in Curriculum Research
  • RED 6247 District and School Level Supervision in Reading

Non-Public/Charter School Leadership Concentration:  Program is 36 credit hours long. All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Required Courses:

  • EDF 6481 Foundations of Educational Research
  • EDA 6106 Administrative Analysis and Change
  • EME 6425 Technology for School Management
  • EDA 6192 Educational Leadership
  • EDG 6285 School Curriculum Improvement
  • EDS 6050 Principles and Practices of Educational Supervision
  • EDA 6945 Administrative Practicum (final semester)
  • EDA 6061 Principles of Educational Administration
  • EDA 6232 School Law
  • Choose 3 from the following:
  • EDA 6242 School Finance
  • EDA 6503 The Principalship
  • EDG 6931 Special Topics:  Child Development
  • EDF 6432 Foundations of Measurment
  • EDF 6606 Social Foundations of Education
  • EDF 6736 Educational Communication and Change
  • EDG 6627 Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction
  • EDG 6931 Moral Development and Character Education

 

 Testing Requirements:  K-12 Public School Leadership Concentration only

Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE) must be passed prior to receiving grade for practicum and clearance for graduation. Students are strongly encouraged to take the FELE in the term prior to the term that they are expecting to graduate in case retakes are needed. Beginning in January 2010, the FLDOE has indicated that there will no longer be paper-based administrations of the FELE/FTCE tests. In addition, the computer-based tests (CBT) are only at Pearson VUE testing centers and no longer offered at college testing centers. Students must submit original official score report to Diane Lewis, Graduate Program Specialist, in B-329 (COE) as soon after the test as possible.

Program Portfolio :  All three concentrations require a program portfolio in the final EDA 6945 Administrative Practicum course.

The portfolio is a reflective activity that allows student to synthesize their academic program of study, field experiences and achievements in professional practice. As an evaluative assessment, the portfolio is used to ensure each student meets the State of Florida eight core curriculum areas for Level I K-12 Educational Leadership certification, the Florida Principal Leadership Standards (2005) at the entry level, and the national standards for programs in educational leadership as set forth by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Educational Leadership Constituency Council (ELCC).  Click here for Portfolio template.  You are required to include a Self-Assessment of Domains in this portfolio. Click here to access a copy of that self-assessment document for inclusion.

*During the Practicum, students prepare an electronic portfolio that includes reflections and artifacts related to the Domains.  A scoring Rubric ensures that students satisfactorily demonstrate knowledge and skills learned through courses and field experiences.  Students are strongly encouraged to retain all course papers, group project outcomes, and other artifacts created through the program.  Please click here to see the Practicum Handbook.

Graduation Requirements

1.  A planned program of study should be completed and filed during first semester of study.
2.  You must complete all courses as listed on your planned program of study with a minimum  grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
3. Grades below "C" are not acceptable toward degree requirements.
4. At the time of graduation, only those courses completed within the previous 5 years will count for the degree.
5.  You must pass the Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE) if applicable to your concentration
6.  You must apply for graduation by deadline of term you wish to graduate.

Certification:  The M.Ed. in K-12 Public School Leadership Concentration only

Completion of your USF degree and passing all three portions of the Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE) ordinarily results in eligibility for your certificate.  Educational Leadership students apply to add your subject area, Educational Leadership (K-12), to your certificate.

1.  Apply online at http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/ and pay appropriate fees

2.  You must supply a sealed, official transcript to FLDOE to complete your application.   Mail a sealed, final official USF transcript to FLDOE to complete your application.  Order your transcript from the Registrar's Office AFTER your degree and final grades have been posted (this will be approximately 4-6 weeks after the graduation ceremony).

Transcript Request Form (If you send transcripts to FLDOE without these items on your transcript, your professional certification will not be granted.)
 

Campus Contacts
Graduate Admissions Advisor
Jo Lynn Raudebaugh
USF Sarasota-Manatee
Student Services
8350 N. Tamiami Trail, SMC C107
Sarasota, FL 34243
941-359-4330
Online appointment scheduler

Academic Advisor (after admission)
Diane Lewis
Graduate Program Specialist
USF Sarasota-Manatee
College of Education, B323
8350 N. Tamiami Trail, SMC B322
Sarasota, FL 34243
941-359-4217

 



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