Educational Leadership, M.Ed. (available online)

Program Admission Requirements

The purpose of the School Administration and Leadership concentration is the development of principals, assistant principals, and school district office leaders. It leads to Instructional Leadership Licensure – Beginning (ILL-B) from the Tennessee Department of Education.

1. Individuals applying to the master’s degree program in educational leadership must meet the general requirements for admission to the School of Graduate Studies, transfer of credit, and time limitations specified in the front section of this catalog. In addition, applicants must meet the specific requirements for admission to the department identified in this catalog.

2. The applicant must have completed a minimum of three years of successful teaching experience P12 prior to admission.

3. Applicants for admission to programs leading to a master’s degree must show a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or an upper level GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. GPAs in professional education, psychology, and major field of study, calculated individually, must also be above 2.75. All exceptions to the 2.75 GPA for admissions must be approved on appeal.

4. Applicants may apply at any time during the year, although admission decisions will be made in the semester prior to the start of a new cohort group. This requires an October 1 application deadline for programs beginning in January, February 1 application deadline for programs beginning in May, and a May 1 application deadline for programs beginning in August.

Applicants must be admitted to the master’s degree program to receive credit toward the degree. Applicants for admission must demonstrate the ability to achieve Tennessee standards for administrative endorsements before being granted consideration for recommendation for public school certification. Prior to being admitted, applicants must also submit:

1. a letter of support from the applicant’s superintendent or other comparable supervisor;

2. three (3) additional letters of recommendation;

3. a current résumé and license;

4. a copy of their teaching license.

Applicants will also be asked to participate in a personal interview.

Concentration Requirements

Cohort—All students in the Master of Education program in educational leadership will move through the degree program as part of a cohort group. Cohort students will begin the program in the same semester and continue through the program with the same group, taking one 6-hour credit course each succeeding semester until the program is completed. Applicants should contact the graduate coordinator of the ELPA master’s degree program for information about when a new cohort program will be starting.

Required Coursework—Graduate students admitted to the master’s degree program in educational leadership begin their program completing ELPA 5100 :Interpersonal Relations. The required sequence of courses has been approved by the Tennessee Department of Education as meeting requirements for Beginning Administrator Endorsement.

• ELPA 5100 - Interpersonal Relations (6 credits)
• ELPA 5200 - Emerging Perspectives Influencing the School (6 credits)
• ELPA 5300 - Professional Needs of Individuals and Groups (6 credits)
• ELPA 5400 - Developing Learners Through Instructional Leadership (6 credits)
• ELPA 5500 - Implementation Strategies: Making It Happen (6 credits)
• ELPA 5600 - Shaping the Quality and Character of the Institution (6 credits)
• EDFN 5010 - Interdisciplinary Seminar (1 credit, may be repeated for a total of 3 credits)

Total Required Coursework: 37 Credit Hours

Additional Information:

Portfolio Development—While in the program students will develop a professional portfolio, the presentation and committee review of which will serve as a culminating experience. Development of the portfolio provides each student with opportunities for reflection and self-evaluation. The portfolio also serves to spotlight skills and accomplishments that will be of interest to future employers. Specific information on the required elements for the portfolio may be obtained from the Graduate Coordinator.

Internship—Students in the master’s degree program in School Administration and Leadership complete an extensive internship under the direction of an approved mentor. The purpose of the internship is to engage in substantial practical application of the knowledge and theory generated in each course. This internship extends through the duration of the program.

Performance Assessment—Students in the master’s degree program in educational leadership will be engaged in assessments that are based on the NCATE and Tennessee standards underlying the thematic core curriculum. These assessments will include written examinations, videotaped performances, materials development, research projects, internship performance, and oral presentations.

Instructional Leadership License—Beginning—The applicant for beginning administrator must have completed the approved master’s degree program in educational leadership. The applicant must successfully pass the examination required by the Tennessee Department of Education.

Program Admission Requirements

The purpose of the Student Personnel Leadership concentration is to respond to the ever-increasing need for providing new leaders and improving skills of existing leadership in entry to mid-level staff in two- and four-year institutions of higher education.

1. Individuals applying to the Student Personnel Leadership master’s degree program in educational leadership must meet the general requirements for admission to the School of Graduate Studies, transfer of credit, and time limitations specified in the front section of this catalog. In addition, applicants must meet the specific requirements for admission to the department identified in this catalog.

2. Applicants for admission to programs leading to a master’s degree must show a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or an upper level GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. GPAs in major field of study, calculated individually, must also be above 2.75. All exceptions to the 2.75 GPA for admissions must be approved on appeal.

3. Applicants may apply at any time during the year, although admission decisions will be made in the semester prior to the start of a new cohort group. This requires a November 1 application deadline for programs beginning in January, a March 1 application deadline for programs beginning in May, and a June 1 application deadline for programs beginning in August.

Prior to being admitted, applicants must submit:

1. a completed ETSU application; to include three (3) letters of recommendation,

2. a current resume, and

3. all prior college transcripts.

Applicants will also be asked to participate in a personal interview.
 
Cohort—All students in the Master of Education program in educational leadership will move through the degree program as part of a cohort group. Cohort students will begin the program in the same semester and continue through the program with the same group, taking two 3-hour credit courses each semester, except for two 6-hour courses, until the program is completed. Applicants should contact the graduate coordinator of the Student Personnel Leadership concentration of the ETSU master’s degree program for information about when a new cohort program will begin.

Concentration Requirements

 Required Coursework—The required sequence of courses may vary from cohort to cohort but will include: 

• ELPA 5100 - Interpersonal Relations (6 credits)
• ELPA 5600 - Shaping the Quality and Character of the Institution (6 credits)
• ELPA 5820 - Introduction to Higher Education in America (3 credits)
• ELPA 5822 - Legal Issues in Student Personnel (3 credits)
• ELPA 6581 - Internship in Educational Leadership (3 credits)
• HDAL 5150 - Career Development: Theory, Research and Practice (3 credits)
• HDAL 5721 - Trends and Issues in Higher Education (3 credits)
• HDAL 5722 - Student Development and the College Environment (3 credits)
• EDFN 5950 - Methods of Research (3 credits)

•  

• ELPA 6870 - Field Research in Educational Leadership (3 credits) or
• ELPA 6952 - Action Research (3 credits)

Total Required Coursework: 36 Credit Hours

Program Admission Requirements

The purpose of the concentration in Teacher Leadership (P-12) is to respond to the changes in administrative licensure in Tennessee. With the changing responsibilities of school administrators, more emphasis is being placed on teachers as leaders. There is increasing demand for teachers to serve as curriculum coaches, coaching other teachers. National Teacher Leader Standards have been developed and these standards were used in the development of this concentration.

1. Individuals applying to the Teacher Leadership master’s degree program in educational leadership must meet the general requirements for admission to the School of Graduate Studies, transfer of credit, and time limitations specified in the front section of this catalog. In addition, applicants must meet the specific requirements for admission to the department identified in this catalog.

2. Applicants must have a current teaching license. Applicants for admission to programs leading to a master’s degree must show a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or an upper level GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. GPAs in major field of study, calculated individually, must also be above 2.75. All exceptions to the 2.75 GPA for admissions must be approved on appeal.

3. Applicants may apply at any time during the year, although admission decisions will be made in the semester prior to the start of a new cohort group. This requires a November 1 application deadline for programs beginning in January, a March 1 application deadline for programs beginning in May, and a June 1 application deadline for programs beginning in August.

Prior to being admitted, applicants must submit:

1. a completed ETSU application; to include three (3) letters of recommendation,

2. a current resume, and

3. all prior college transcripts.

Applicants will also be asked to participate in a personal interview.

Concentration Requirements

Cohort—All students in the Master of Education program in educational leadership will move through the degree program as part of a cohort group. Cohort students will begin the program in the same semester and continue through the program with the same group, taking six credits each semester, including summers, until the program is completed. Applicants should contact the graduate coordinator of the Teacher Leadership concentration of the ETSU master’s degree program for information about when a new cohort program will begin.

• ELPA 5100 - Interpersonal Relations (6 credits)
• ELPA 5106 - Instructional Leadership through Coaching and Mentoring (3 credits)
• ELPA 5108 - Leadership for Differentiating Classrooms (3 credits)
• ELPA 5600 - Shaping the Quality and Character of the Institution (6 credits)
• CUAI 5102 - Teaching for Understanding (3 credits)
• CUAI 5103 - Assessing for Understanding (3 credits)
• EDFN 5010 - Interdisciplinary Seminar (1 credit, may be repeated for a total of 3 credits)
• EDFN 5104 - Philosophy and Psychological Theories of Learning (3 credits)
• EDFN 5204 - Brain, Mind, Experience, and School (3 credits)
• EDFN 5950 - Methods of Research (3 credits)
• READ 5105 - Leading Literacy in the 21st Centuiry (3 credits)

Total Required Coursework: 37 Credit Hours

Additional Information:

This degree is designed for individuals currently employed as teachers. Teacher Leadership is for practitioners and application is required in most courses.