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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  21 hour Post-Master’s Certificate in District-Level Administration licensure is also available.

On-campus requirements for the EDLP program can be found on the Program of Study linked here.

In the Educational Leadership Program. We can offer…

A customized plan of study for individuals who have an appropriate Master’s Degree in education who 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., , Building Administration, Curriculum/Program Administration, Instructional Technology, Library Media and Information Technologies, etc.).

Sample plans of study for P-12 education concentration:

  • An Ed.S. student who would like to add the building-level administrator license:
    • Core Requirements 
      • EDLP 7301 Program Planning and Evaluation
      • EDLP 7363 Human Resource Administration
      • EDLP 7387 Organizational Change and Development
  • Selective Courses that includes the state-approved plans of study for adding a building-level administrator license (click on the following link to view the Post Master’s Certificate courses for building-level administration: http://uca.edu/leadershipstudies/slma/A 21 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  candidates seeking the Ed.S. degree  to add district-level administration endorsement to a teaching license, will complete: :

  • EDLP 6324 Facilities Planning and Administration
  • EDLP 6325 School Community Relations
  • 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
  • LEAD 8352 Advanced School Law
  • ITEC 6368 Technology Planning and Leadership

For candidates seeking licensure-only  as a district-level administrator will complete the following

  • EDLP 6324 Facilities Planning and Administration
  • 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. 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 2018-2019 Graduate Bulletin: Educational Specialist Program (EdS) in Educational Leadership

Click here for Student Resources:

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

UCA: School Leadership Programs on Facebook

Leadership Studies Student Resources