The online Master's degree in Educational Administration (PK-12) at the University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences consists of 36 credit hours of coursework, including an extensive field-based practicum and a comprehensive interactive e-portfolio for licensure candidates, and a comprehensive exam for non-licensure candidates - all of which can be completed within two years.
For licensure candidates, the Internship Gateway course opens up halfway through the program after a student completes six courses. This allows the graduate students to start internship hours earlier than the final internship ELPS 895 course. While completing the remaining six courses for the master's program, students will meet with their mentor and faculty instructor to discuss the internship requirements as they finish their 240 hours of field internship experience and build an e-Portfolio to complete the program. This program fulfills the academic requirements necessary for Kansas state licensure at the school (building) level, and is designed to accommodate working educators. The program is designed for part-time graduate students who currently hold initial teaching licensure and work in the classroom (or other positions such as instructional coach) in their schools. Depending on students educational administration career aspirations they will develop a demonstrated understanding of content and skills that have been aligned with universally-recognized standards such as the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders.
Graduate students will learn from expert scholars and practitioners, as well as fellow classmates, who bring diverse leadership experiences to the principal preparation program at KU. The rigorous program stresses fundamental knowledge and educational policy development necessary for effective leadership. Taught by a mix of full-time tenure track faculty members who are experts in their field and by practitioners who were leaders in their schools. Graduate students enrolled in this program, can expect to:
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Extend their knowledge of pedagogy and leadership
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Enlarge their understanding of schooling & develop an appreciation of the political, economic and social forces that influence the decisions of educational leaders
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Share in-depth analyses and discussions of theory for application to real-world experiences in an online forum
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Build upon the skills and knowledge acquired in the previous terms with progressive sequence of coursework
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Develop and submit an e-portfolio during their final practicum experience to illustrate personal perspectives and experiences
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If seeking non-licensure, the candidate will complete a comprehensive exam during their final semester demonstrating their competencies in educational leadership
Graduate Admission to the School of Education and Human Sciences
Graduate programs in education are open to students with acceptable baccalaureate and graduate degrees whose academic records indicate that they can do successful work at the graduate level. Applicants must provide evidence of ability to work successfully at the graduate level, including experience in and commitment to the profession.
Each department in the School of Education and Human Sciences sets its own application deadlines and admission criteria. Prospective graduate students should contact the appropriate department for more information.
See Admission in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog for more information.
Graduate Admission requirements:
Applicants for the 3 master’s programs, education and social policy, educational administration, and higher education administration, must submit the following materials:
(Individual program concentrations may require additional application materials (see below). Please check the departmental website or program advisor for additional information and application deadlines.)
- A completed Graduate application.
- 1 official transcript from each post-secondary collegiate institution attended.
- Completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or a foreign university with substantially equivalent bachelor’s degree requirements.
- Statement of purpose with relevance of degree to career aspirations.
- Three letters of recommendation evaluating the applicant’s capacity for rigorous graduate study and qualifications for leadership positions in education and related fields.
- A vita or resume.
- Proof of English proficiency, for non-native English speakers. Visit https://gradapply.ku.edu/english-requirements for further details.
See below for specific admissions requirements for the master's concentrations:
Education & Social Policy:
The education and social policy program requires a bachelor’s degree with a grade-point average (GPA) of at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale). It additionally requires a statement of purpose that describes the applicant’s interests related to education and social policy. Applicants must address their personal and academic background, professional goals, and life experiences that shaped the decision to pursue a master’s degree. They should also describe experiences or achievements that would help them contribute to the ELPS program; KU’s mission for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusiveness; and their professional aspirations once they complete the degree.
Educational Administration:
The educational administration program requires a bachelor’s degree with a grade-point average (GPA) of at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale). Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.00 should contact a KU admissions advisor for more information. Letters of recommendation for this concentration should meet these criteria: one should be from an immediate supervisor and two from others in leadership positions (principal, grade level chair, instructional coach, etc).
Higher Education Administration:
The higher education administration program requires a bachelor’s degree with a grade-point average (GPA) of at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale). Letters of recommendation should include one from the applicant’s immediate supervisor, and at least one of the others should be from a professor.
MSE in Educational Administration (online format)
Online Format
The Master of Science in Education in Educational Administration program is designed to prepare experienced teachers for leadership roles at the building level. The program stresses fundamental knowledge degrees in educational leadership and educational policy development necessary for effective leadership. It consists of a set of integrated courses Graduate programs in educational leadership and experiences that provide opportunities for participants to extend their knowledge of pedagogy policy studies promote the professional and leadership, to enlarge their understanding of schooling, and to develop an appreciation of the political, economic and social forces that influence the decisions of educational leaders.
There are two tracks for this program:
The online master’s in educational administration Building Leadership Track includes an internship for students who intend to acquire a license as a principal or other building leader, either immediately following the program or at some point in the future. For licensure candidates, we require our students experience a field-based practicum and digital portfolio that serves as a progressive tool to apply for administrative positions.
The online master’s in educational administration Non-Licensure Track* substitutes coursework for the internship requirement with the expectation that participants want to earn their Master’s and gain knowledge about leadership, but are not pursuing a license. For non-licensure candidates, we require a comprehensive exam.
COURSES INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM:
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
ELPS 750 | Principalship | 3 |
ELPS 756 | Data-Driven Leadership | 3 |
EPSY 715 | Understanding Research in Education | 3 |
ELPS 757 | Education in American Society | 3 |
ELPS 752 | Education Law | 3 |
ELPS 755 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
ELPS 852 | School Resource Management | 3 |
ELPS 854 | The Student in Society | 3 |
SPED 756 | Special Education Leadership | 3 |
ELPS 853 | Staff Evaluation and Development | 3 |
C&T 806 | Instructional Strategies and Models | 3 |
ELPS 895 | Internship ( *, **for non-licensure track, the internship is replaced by one of the elective courses below) | 3 |
*ELPS 895 needs to be taken concurrently in the semester, 1 credit hour for first 8 weeks and 2 credit hours for second 8 weeks.
**Elective courses for non-licensure track students only. Please choose one of the following courses to replace ELPS 895 from the building leadership track.
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
C&T 801 | Planning for School Improvement | 3 |
C&T 803 | Differentiating Curriculum and Instruction | 3 |
SPED 854 | Family and Interprofessional Collaboration in Special Education | 3 |
SPED 856 | Transition Education and Services from Childhood through Adulthood | 3 |
SPED 857 | Career Development for Youth | 3 |
SPED 861 | Blending Academics and Transition | 3 |
SPED 863 | Student Engagement in School and Community | 3 |