Educational Leadership Program

Information for Prospective Students

Program Contact: Dr. Shelly Albritton
Phone:  (501) 450-5206

Begin your journey today in a distinguished leadership program where distinguished school leaders belong!

General Program Information

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 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 administrations in adult education, special education, or gifted and talented education; instructional technology; library media and information technologies, etc.); and (2) a post-secondary education emphasis (e.g., student affairs, college administration, or adult education, etc.). An 18 hour Post-Master's Certificate in District-Level Administration licensure is also available.

We are pleased to announce the recent changes to the Educational Leadership Program. We can now offer...

A customized plan of study for individuals who have an appropriate Master's Degree in education and wish to earn an Educational Specialist degree (Ed.S.). EDLP students take 21 credit-hours of selective course work and nine credit-hours of required EDLP course work (e.g., Instructional Facilitator, Special Education Instructional Specialist 4-12, Instructional Technology, Library Media and Information Technologies, etc.).

  • Two typical sample plans of study for P-12 education concentration:
    • An Ed.S. student wishes to add the building-level administrator license:
       Core Requirements
      Selective Courses (includes the state-approved plan of study for adding a building-level administrators license).

      • EDLP 7301 Program Planning and Evaluation
      • EDLP 7363 Human Resource Administration
      • EDLP 7387 Organizational Change and Development
    • An EDLP Master's degree student wishes to complete nine hours of required EDLP course work to earn an Ed.S. degree. Up to 21 hours in any education content area (e.g., higher education, reading, etc.).
  • An 18 credit-hour option including three credit-hours of internship for licensing-only plan of study adding the district-level administration license to a teaching certificate.
  • The traditional plan of study for individuals who wish to earn an Ed.S. degree and become licensed as a district-level administrator.

EDLP Courses

For all Ed.S. degree-seeking candidates with a customized plan of study:

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

 

For licensure-only candidates seeking to add district-level administration to a teaching certificate:

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

Gainful Employment Information – Post-Master's Certificate in District-Level Administration


For Ed.S. degree-seeking candidates who want to be licensed as a district-level administrator:

  • EDLP 7301 Program Planning and Evaluation
  • EDLP 7363 Human Resource Administration
  • EDLP 7387 Organizational Change and Development
  • EDLP 7300 School Finance
  • EDLP 7324 School Board Relations
  • EDLP 7330 Internship District Leadership
  • EDLP 6324 Facilities Planning and Administration
  • EDLP 6325 School-Community Relations
  • ITEC 6368 Technology Planning and Leadership
  • LEAD 8352 Advanced School Law

 

The EDLP program has been approved for online delivery and will be converting more of the courses to a hybrid delivery system that could include combinations of Blackboard, Blackboard Collaborate (a VoIP virtual classroom), compressed video, and face-to-face class meetings. Candidates enjoy direct and individualized contact with their professors in small class settings. EDLP enjoys an average class size ratio of 10:1.

EDLP is an NCATE accredited program. Each of the leadership courses is built upon the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards for School Leaders. Graduates must pass the School Superintendent Assessment (SSA) prior to receiving their license. EDLP has a 100% pass rate on the SSA.

 

Click the following links for more information:

Graduate School admission process: Graduate School.

EDLP program application:  EDLP Program Application

EDLP program description in the Graduate Bulletin: Educational Specialist Program (EdS) in Educational Leadership

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Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) has the most current APA Style guidelines.

UCA: School Leadership Programs on Facebook

Leadership Studies Student Resources