Mission Statement: The Master of Education degree with a major in Educational Leadership prepares students for school leadership roles. The program provides opportunities for students to learn and apply knowledge, skills, and dispositions set forth in Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) and Texas Education Agency (TEA) standards.
Program Information: Students will work in informal cohorts to apply educational leadership knowledge and skills to current school issues, often in actual school settings. Students who complete the educational leadership program are eligible to apply for Texas Principal Certification upon satisfactory completion of the state mandated TExES examination and two years of teaching experience.
All students must meet the admission standards for the University and the West College of Education. The graduate program in Educational Leadership requires 36 semester hours. Master’s degree candidates must complete the 36 hour course of study as listed as well as the Capstone Research Project approved and scored by an Educational Leadership faculty member. The Capstone Research Project must reflect an ability to support K-12 student learning and development.
Students who already possess a master’s degree may enroll in a non-degree program leading to principal or superintendent certification. Students pursuing principal certification will be directed by a program advisor to enroll in required educational leadership courses not already taken in their master’s degree work. Research courses (6 hours) are not required; practicum is required. Non-degree seeking candidates must complete the Capstone Research Project approved and scored by an Educational Leadership faculty member. The Capstone Research Project must reflect an ability to support K-12 student learning and development. The superintendent certification program is an 18-hour course of study to prepare students to take the state superintendent certification exam. Candidates must have two years of principalship experience and a superintendent willing to mentor them. Students completing the Master of Education with a major in Educational Leadership with a Special Education concentration may concurrently include courses for diagnostician certification upon approval of the Educational Leadership and Special Education program coordinators.
Students who are not certified K-12 teachers may choose to study a Master of Education degree with a major in Educational Leadership without Principal Certification.
In order to be recommended to take the state principal certification exam, candidates must first pass the principal certification practice exam.
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