Educational Leadership Program

[1] Education Specialist (EdS) Program in Educational Leadership

The Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership (EDLP) prepares educators for endorsement in one of the following areas:

• District Administration (superintendent and central office positions)
• Building Administration
• Curriculum Program Administration
• Special Education Program Administration
• Gifted and Talented Education Program Administration

A Post-Master’s Certificate (PMC) in District Administration is also available. For more information on the PMC, see Section 2 below.

[1.1] Admission to EdS Program

1. Complete the Graduate School application, which includes the following:

• Personal and professional information
• Official transcripts sent electronically to the UCA Graduate School by the awarding institution
• Current standard education license (if seeking additional endorsement)
• Statement of interest in the program
• Three professional references
• Response to writing prompt
• Program Recommendation by Administrator Form

2. Provide documentation of the following:

• Appropriate master’s degree in school leadership/educational leadership or approved equivalent
• For District Administration Concentration only: Building-level and/or curriculum/program endorsement

[1.2] Degree Requirements (30 credit hours)

[1.2.1] EdS Core Courses (9 credit hours)

[1.2.2] District Administration Concentration (21 credit hours)

[1.2.3] Program Administration Concentration (21 credit hours)

Candidates will also complete coursework specific to their program focus (i.e., Special Education, Gifted and Talented, or Curriculum)

[1.2.4] Building Administration Concentration (21 credit hours)

[2] Post-Master’s Certificate (PMC) in District-Level Administration

[2.1] PMC Admission Requirements

1. Complete the Graduate School application, which includes the following:

• Personal and professional information
• Official transcripts sent electronically to the UCA Graduate School by the awarding institution
• Current standard education license (if seeking additional endorsement)
• Statement of interest in the program
• Three professional references
• Response to writing prompt
• Program Recommendation by Administrator Form

2. Provide documentation of the following:

• Appropriate master’s degree in school leadership/educational leadership or approved equivalent
• For District Administration Concentration only: Building-level and/or curriculum/program endorsement

3. Complete an interview with EDLP faculty

[2.2] Course Requirements (12 hours)

[3] Arkansas Administrator Endorsement Requirements

Arkansas Licensure Endorsement Requirements for UCA Recommendation:
1. Successfully complete supervised internship experiences across P-12 grade levels.
2. Submit to the Department of Leadership Studies:

• Completed license application
• Qualifying scores from the required state-mandated national examination that meet or exceed state minimum requirements for endorsement. UCA may waive the test score requirements if specific conditions from the Arkansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education are met.
• All additional state-required documentation.

3. Provide verification of professional experience meeting state-mandated duration requirements for the desired licensure.
4. For Curriculum/Program Administration endorsements: Hold a current, valid teaching license in the specific administrative area being sought.
5. Provide any additional state-required documentation necessary for department recommendation for administrator endorsement.

Important Note for PMC students:
For UCA to recommend candidates for licensure in the State of Arkansas, they must have completed equivalent coursework in three essential areas: Program Planning and Evaluation, Human Resource Administration, and Organizational Change and Development.
Candidates who have not completed equivalent courses in these areas will need to complete up to nine (9) additional credit hours of coursework. Course equivalency is determined through evaluation of previous academic transcripts. Please contact the program coordinator for a transcript evaluation to determine if any additional coursework will be required for licensure recommendation.

[4] Retention Requirements

Retention in the EdS or PMC programs is contingent upon making satisfactory academic progress toward the degree.
Candidates must

• Hold a current and valid teacher’s license
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, with no more than nine hours of “C” grades
• Satisfactorily complete the program’s required culminating experience

Please note that serious violations of the state ethics mandates for educations, and/or serious violations of UCA student academic conduct policies may result in suspension or dismissal from the program.

[5] Resident Credit and Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to six (6) semester hours of credit with grade ‘B’ or higher toward degree requirements. Transfer credits must be earned from a state or regionally accredited institution after completion of the master’s degree. All transfer coursework must align with the student’s approved program of study and receive advance departmental approval. Neither internship credits nor portfolio credits are transferable. The 24-hour residency requirement remains unchanged regardless of any accepted transfer credits.

[6] Graduate Course Links: Educational Leadership (EDLP)

Follow this link for EDLP course descriptions: course link.