Master of Education in Educational Leadership

The Master’s Degree (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership offers multiple options to reach your career objectives. Students completing the Leadership in Urban Schools, Leading Independent and Charter Schools, or Coaching for Performance concentrations will be eligible for Tier I Leadership Certification once meeting all GAPSC certification requirements. Students completing the Higher Education Administration Track and Concentration will be eligible for a variety of leadership positions in post-secondary education including, but not limited to, positions in various student affairs units, university administration, and college athletics administration.

You will also have the opportunity to select a specific concentration for your degree (from below):

  • Coaching for Performance – Primarily Online*
  • Leadership in Urban Schools – Fully Online
  • Leading Independent & Charter Schools – Fully online

*May meet face-to-face for 3 courses.

Beginning in Fall 2021, the Masters in Educational Leadership degree is a 30 credit hour program and typically completed in five semesters (spring/summer/fall) in under two years. If you have a master's degree in a teaching field, you can choose the 18-hour “certification only” option.

The masters in educational leadership leads to a clear renewable Tier I leadership certification in Georgia, and is fully approved by the GaPSC. If you earn your degree in Georgia and move to another state where leadership certification is also conferred at the M.Ed. level, you may be eligible for professional licensure in that state through reciprocity.

While in the Master of Educational Leadership degree program, you are expected to be employed in a professional role in an organization where you are providing professional educational services (e.g., school, regional educational service agency, department of education).  At the conclusion of the program, you will have the knowledge, skills, and disposition necessary to lead schools and students to higher levels of achievement.

In the past three years, approximately half of the Kennesaw State graduates of M.Ed. Educational Leadership have come from public charter or independent school sectors.

The Bagwell College educational leadership concentration - Leading Independent & Charter Schools - is particularly beneficial to educators in the public charter and independent school environments. 

Note:

  • The GaPSC requires that you complete your assessments prior to enrollment and completion in programs that lead to certification (M.Ed. and Tier I Certification Only).
  • The GACE Leadership Ethics Exam must be taken prior to your enrollment in certification programs,
  • and the GACE Educational Leadership content exam must be taken to be certified.
  • Students who have taken the Ethics Exam in a M.Ed./Tier I program do not need to re-take for enrollment into the Ed.S./Tier II.
KSU educational leadership students in the classroom

Program Snapshot

Program Format: Varies by Concentration

Number of Credit Hours: 30 Total Hours

Entry Terms: Fall, Spring, Summer

Time to Complete: Two-year Program

Application Deadlines:

  • Spring, November 1st
  • Fall, July 1st
  • Summer, April 1st
Curriculum  Apply Now

Admissions Requirements

  • Online Graduate Application - There is a non-refundable $60 application fee.
  • Transcripts - Official transcripts from EACH College and/or University you have attended. Must be in a sealed envelope from the institution or sent electronically from the institution directly to ksugrad@kennesaw.edu.
  • Employment - Candidates must be employed in a professional role in an organization providing educational services.

 

Leadership in Urban Schools, Leading Independent and Charter Schools, or Coaching for Performance concentrations:

  • Evidence of Initial Certification in Georgia or completion of Program Admission Assessment
  • Georgia Ethics for Educational Leadership (exam #380) - Upload GACE Leadership Ethics Assessment completion certificate to online application portal
  • Resume or Professional Vitae - Should document your education, years of teaching experience, current school and district, volunteer and service activities in which you have participated, and any leadership involvement. Resume MUST reflect at least TWO years of professional teaching or administrative experience prior to admission consideration.  Upload to the online application portal.
  • Mentor Form(with GaPSC L5 or higher certified mentor) - You can find the mentor form with instructions here. Upload to the online application portal. 
  • Evaluation Form - Please use the online recommendation system to have your reference formsent electronically. 

Higher Education in Student Affairs concentration:

  • Resume or Professional Vitae
  • Mentor Form - You can find the mentor form with instructions here. Upload to the online application portal.
  • Reference Form - Please use the online recommendation system to have your evaluation form sent electronically.APPLICATION AND DOCUMENT DEADLINES
Apply now

Educational Leadership Degree Benefits at Kennesaw State

  • Approved by the GPSC — The Georgia Professional Standards Commission fully approved.

  • Concentration Choice — Choose one of three concentrations: Coaching for Performance, Leadership in Urban Schools and Leading Independent & Charter Schools

  • Advocate for Education Resources — Many educational professionals must also learn to advocate for their student's needs. You will have the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to support your students — at the local, state and, even national levels.

What can you do with an Educational Leadership degree?

A master's degree in educational leadership prepares you for teaching or executive positions at public, private and independent and charter schools. With this degree you can lead at any level of education (elementary, middle, high and post (secondary).

Below are some positions that you may want to pursue with your master's degree in educational leadership.

  • Assistant Principal
  • College Provost
  • Dean of Students or Faculty
  • Director or Supervisor
  • District Administrator
  • Education Administrator
  • Instructional Coordinator
  • Principal
  • University Registrar
  • Special Education Specialist

Educational Leadership Salary and Career Information

Department of Educational Leadership

Kennesaw State University
Department of Educational Leadership
Chantal and Tommy Bagwell Education Building 
580 Parliament Garden Way
Kennesaw, GA 30144 

Phone: 470-578-6888

Email Visit Site

Stay Connected