Extend your capacity to make a difference in preK-12 educational settings. Through Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership program, learn online to qualify for Tier I leader certification and experience incredible growth right where you are.
Locations
- Online
Why Earn a Master’s in Educational Leadership?
- Flexible online program you can complete in your current role.
- Qualify for Tier I certification through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).
- Streamlined program requires just 30 credit hours.
- Complete in two years with two courses per term.
Advance to Tier I initial leadership positions at the assistant principal level with an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Georgia Southern University. Our efficient online program gives you the skills and confidence to step into roles of greater responsibility and impact, preparing you to shape educational environments and promote better outcomes for all learners.
The program’s dynamic learning process couples rigorous coursework with extensive supervised field experience that lets you test and refine new knowledge in the real world. You’ll complete your assignments where you already work, so you can grow as a leader and upgrade your credentials while continuing to meet your current responsibilities.
Already have your master’s degree? Our Tier I Certification Only program prepares you with just 18 credit hours.
Ready to Apply?
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Educational Leadership?
Becoming a certified Tier I leader qualifies you for educational leadership and administration positions at the assistant principal level. Your advanced training and experience also equip you for education- and training-related roles in business and government and for administrative positions in postsecondary education, giving you a variety of possible career paths.
Where our graduates work:
- P-12 public and private schools
- Businesses
- Colleges and universities
- Educational consultants
- Government
What our graduates do:
- P-12 school-level assistant principals or the equivalent.
- Other Local Unit of Administration (LUA) staff who do not supervise principals pursuant to the GaPSC Educational Leadership Preparation Rule (Rule 505-3-.77).
M.Ed. Program Overview
Explore the curriculum and benefits of Georgia Southern University’s master’s in educational leadership program, including the Tier I certification-only pathway.
What You’ll Learn
Building on your existing knowledge and experience as an educator, courses broaden your expertise and perspective concerning the roles and responsibilities of educational leaders. You’ll explore legal, ethical and political issues in school leadership, as well as the practical management topics of finance, human capital, data utilization, and leadership principles and techniques. In the process, you additionally gain a nine-credit Teacher-Leader Endorsement (TLE).
Alongside your coursework, two supervised field experiences give you space to apply and reflect upon what you’re learning in a familiar environment as you prepare to move into a position of greater influence.
See the CurriculumSupervised Field Experience
Through 250 hours of job-embedded supervised experience completed in your present school environment, you’ll build a portfolio demonstrating professional competence and solidify your grasp of course theories and concepts.
Want to Learn More?
Explore essential information about our M.Ed. in Educational Leadership program, including application details, accreditation status, and licensing disclosures. Gain insight into the program’s credibility and requirements to help you start your journey toward success with the knowledge you need.
The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership program is open to those with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) for all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework.
You must be currently employed in a P-12 setting and possess a Professional Level Four Certificate or higher in a leadership, teacher, service or related role.
To apply, please submit:
- An online application. (There is a $50 nonrefundable application fee.)
- A statement of purpose, not to exceed 200 words, that identifies your reasons for pursuing graduate study and how admission into the program relates to your professional aspirations.
- A Georgia Professional Level Four Certificate or higher in a teacher, service or leadership field.
- A current résumé or CV that highlights your personal and professional achievements. You must be employed in a P-12 school setting in order to complete the required field experience hours.
- The Principal’s Assurance Form.
- A passing score on the state-required Georgia Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment.
- A completed “Disclosure and Affirmation Form” that addresses misconduct disclosure, the Code of Ethics for Educators and tort liability insurance. (This is included within the online application.)
International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES-accredited evaluation service and must be a course-by-course evaluation and include a GPA.
Application Deadline
Students are admitted to begin the program only in the fall term. The application deadline is July 1.
Your application and all required documents must be received by the deadline.
Provisional Admission
Applicants may be approved for provisional admission based on the quality of the admission material presented. Provisional students must earn grades of “B” or higher in their first nine (9) hours of coursework after admission and meet any other stipulations outlined by the Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development to be converted to regular status.
Program Contact Information
Graduate Academic Services Center
gasc@georgiasouthern.edu
912-478-1447
At Georgia Southern, enjoy the flexibility of fully online courses that fit within your busy schedule as an educator. Online instructors weave interactive experiences into each course, ensuring you engage at a deeper level.
About Our Online ProgramsFor All Online Programs
Federal law requires colleges and universities to make certain disclosures to prospective students of these programs. These disclosures include information on the University’s authority to operate outside of Georgia, complaint processes, adverse actions and refunds.
For required disclosures in general with regard to online programs offered by the University, visit the Office of Legal Affairs website.
The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership is an approved program of study by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) and meets the PSC’s requirements for Tier I Educational Leadership certification.
The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership is also a nationally accredited program by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
The Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development anticipates that graduates of the M.Ed. Educational Leadership program will be eligible to seek professional certification by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission as a certified Tier I leader in their respective fields.
The Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development has determined the required classes and educational activities of these academic programs will qualify a graduate of this program to take the GACE exam for Educational Leadership Tier I certification in Georgia. The department has not determined whether these programs satisfy the requirements of all states and territories for certification in Educational Leadership.
Professional Certification Disclosure
The College of Education anticipates that graduates of the M.Ed. Educational Leadership program will seek state licenses or certifications.
The M.Ed. Educational Leadership program leads to a Level 5 leadership certificate. A graduate with a teaching certificate will have a Level 4 teaching certificate and a Level 5 leadership certificate. Graduates become eligible for Level 5 pay once obtaining a leadership position with a higher pay grade.
Visit the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for more information. The College of Education has not determined where its programs will qualify a graduate to take the required exams in other states or territories. Check the requirements of your state or territory using the link provided.
Take the Next Step
Advance in educational leadership and increase your impact at Georgia Southern.
Contact Us:
Graduate Academic Services Center
3166 College of Education Building
Georgia Southern University
Phone: 912-478-1447
Fax: 912-478-5093
gasc@georgiasouthern.edu
EDLD Academic Advisor-
Tier I Certificate
Teacher Leadership Endorsement
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
Stacy Davis
stacydavis@georgiasouthern.edu