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

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 adult education, special education, or gifted and talented education; instructional technology; library media information technologies, etc.); and (2) a post-secondary education emphasis (e.g. student affairs, college administration, or adult education, etc.). A Post-Master’s Certificate in District-Level Administration is also available.

[2] Admission to Program

In addition to meeting the general requirements of the Graduate School, the prospective candidate must

Complete the application forms/processes for admittance to the EDLP program.
Provide documentation of appropriate master’s degree in school or educational leadership or approved equivalent (Note: Eligibility for a district-level license requires a standard building-level and/or curriculum/program license).
Provide a copy of a valid teaching certificate as appropriate for area of emphasis.
Present letters from appropriate officials that verify the applicant has had at least four years of relevant professional experience if appropriate for the area of emphasis.
Provide at least three professional references that may be contacted regarding your potential for success in the program.
Provide official transcripts from all previously attended institutions. Each candidate’s transcript will be evaluated for determining if any courses will be required as program prerequisites for admission into the program.

[3] Admission to Candidacy

Students must apply for admission to candidacy when no fewer than nine and no more than fifteen semester hours completed. If candidates did not complete an appropriate research or statistics course as part of their master’s degree, then one of these courses will be required prior to admission to candidacy as an additional requirement.

[4] Residency Credit

Students must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours at the University of Central Arkansas.

[5] Retention Requirements

Retention is contingent upon making satisfactory academic progress toward the degree and holding or eligible to hold a valid teacher’s license. If a teaching license is required, evidence must be presented to document that the candidate holds or is eligible to hold a valid teacher’s license. Serious violations of the state ethics mandates for P–12 educators, and/or serious violations of UCA student academic conduct policies may result in suspension or dismissal from the program.

[6] Transfer Credit

No more than six semester hours credit of grade “B” or above earned at another institution may be applied to the degree requirements. To be considered for transfer, the credits must have been awarded by a state or regionally accredited institution, must have been earned after completion of the master’s degree, must complement the student’s approved program of study, and must be approved in advance by the department. Internship credit may not be transferred. Acceptance of transfer credit does not reduce the 24 hours of residency requirement.

[7] Degree Requirements

The EdS degree in Educational Leadership requires that the candidate

Earn 30 semester hours of graduate credit including three required courses (9 semester hours): EDLP 7301, 7363, 7387 and 21 hours of selective courses congruent with area of emphasis with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 with a maximum of six hours of “C” grades in degree-counting courses;
Successfully complete and defend a program portfolio based on the program critical assessments where appropriate to area of emphasis.
Complete satisfactorily all student assessments required in the emphasis area and/or as part of the state and CAEP accreditation processes; and
Present a report on the state mandated external national examination and meet at least the minimum score set by the state for licensure if required by the emphasis area.

[7.1] PK–12 Education Concentration

[7.1.1] Core requirements (9 hours)

EDLP 7301 Program Planning and Evaluation
EDLP 7363 Human Resource Administration
EDLP 7387 Organizational Change and Development

[7.1.2] Selective credit hours (21 hours)

Course selections are based on area of emphasis, transcript analysis, and department approval. The selective courses will be chosen from appropriate coursework from existing graduate-level offerings. Possible selectives are listed below by area of emphasis.

District-level Administration

CSPA 6335 Grant Writing
EDLP 6324 Facilities Planning and Administration (recommended for superintendent emphasis)
EDLP 6325 School Community Relations (recommended for superintendent emphasis)
EDLP 7300 School Finance (required for district-level licensure)
EDLP 7391 Superintendent as Instructional Leader
EDLP 7315 Directed Specialist’s Project
EDLP 7324 School Board Relations (required for district-level licensure)
EDLP 7330 Internship District Leadership (required for district-level licensure)
LEAD 6302 Leadership Communication in Organizations
LEAD 6390 Special Topics
LEAD 8352 Advanced School Law (recommended for superintendent emphasis)
ITEC 6368 Technology Planning and Leadership (recommended for superintendent emphasis)

Curriculum/Program Administration

ASTL 6310 Integrating Media and Technology into Teaching and Learning
ASTL 6315 Investigation of Learning and Development through Multiple Contexts
CSPA 6335 Grant Writing
ECSE 6318 Modifications in the General Classroom
ECSE 6320 Learning Strategies for Exceptional Learners
ECSE 6335 Teaching Students with Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders and Oppositional Defiant/Conduct Disorders
ECSE 6355 Curriculum for Gifted Programs
EDLP 7391 Superintendent as Instructional Leader
ITEC 6368 Technology Planning and Leadership
LEAD 6390 Special Topics

Required if seeking licensure:
SLMA 6312 School-based Organizational Leadership
SLMA 6320 School Law
SLMA 6330 Curriculum/Program Leadership
SLMA 6340 Instructional Leadership in Schools
SLMA 6360 Collaborative Leadership

Adult Education: Secondary School

ASTL 6306 Methods & Materials Vocational Education
ASTL 6307 Methods Vocational Business & Marketing
ASTL 6359 Instructional Vocational Education for Special Needs
ITEC 6368 Technology Planning and Leadership
LEAD 6302 Leadership Communication in Organizations
LEAD 6390 Special Topics
LEAD 8352 Advanced School Law
SLMA 6340 Instructional Leadership in Schools

Instructional Technology / Library Media and Information Technologies

ASTL 6303 Teacher Leadership
CSPA 6311 Leadership and Decision-Making
CSPA 6335 Grant Writing
ITEC 5345 Fundamentals of Web Design
LEAD 6302 Leadership Communication in Organizations
LIBM 6335 Computer Application Software
LIBM 6375 Global Information Resources

School Counseling

CSPA 6335 Grant Writing
ECSE 6336 Advanced Studies in Guidance and Management of Young Children
EDLP 6325 School Community Relations
LEAD 6302 Leadership Communication in Organizations
LEAD 6390 Special Topics
LEAD 8352 Advanced School Law
SCCN 6302 Seminar in School Testing
SCCN 6305 Seminar in School Counseling
SCCN 6340 Career Guidance

[7.2] Post-Secondary Education Concentration

[7.2.1] Core requirements (9 hours)

EDLP 7301 Program Planning and Evaluation
EDLP 7363 Human Resource Administration
EDLP 7387 Organizational Change and Development

[7.2.2] Selective credit hours (21 hours)

Course selections will based on area of emphasis, transcript analysis, and department approval. The selective courses will be chosen from appropriate coursework from existing graduate-level offerings. Possible selectives are listed here by area of emphasis.

CSPA 6310 American Higher Education
CSPA 6320 Ethics and Law in Higher Education
CSPA 6335 Grant Writing
CSPA 6391 Principles and Practices in Student Personnel Services in Higher Education
CSPA 6360 Cultural Differentiation and Outreach
CSPA 6392 The College Student

CSPA 6318 Budgeting or
LEAD 8350 Funding Public Education (recommended)

LEAD 7331 Administrative Leadership in Higher Education (recommended)
LEAD 6302 Leadership Communication in Organizations
LEAD 6390 Special Topics
LEAD 8352 Advanced School Law

[8] Post-Master’s Certificate in District-Level Administration

Core Requirements (18 hours)

EDLP 7301 Program Planning and Evaluation
EDLP 7324 School Board Relations
EDLP 7300 School Finance
EDLP 7330 Internship District Leadership
EDLP 7363 Human Resource Administration
EDLP 7387 Organizational Change and Development

[9] Graduate Course Links

[9.1] Courses in Educational Leadership (EDLP)

Follow this link for EDLP course descriptions: course link.

[9.2] Courses in Other Areas (ASTL, CSPA, ECSE, ITEC, LEAD, SLMA, SCCN)

Follow this link for ASTL course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for CSPA course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for ECSE course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for ITEC course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for LEAD course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for SLMA course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for SCCN course descriptions: course link.