Educational Leadership
Online Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) Degrees in K-12 Educational Leadership
Take your knowledge and vision to the next level with the University of Mississippi’s online Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in K-12 Educational Leadership. The program is ranked among the top 50 graduate programs in education by U.S. News and World Report (2023).
The vision of the K-12 Educational Leadership Program at the University of Mississippi (UM) is to drive and support improvement in primary and secondary education in all Mississippi schools through the preparation of leaders with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to continually improve collaborative professional school organizations.
Geared toward education professionals in Mississippi and within 50 miles of the state border in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee, this research-based, fully online certification program enhances current educators’ skill sets with a curriculum emphasizing National Educational Leadership Preparation Standards (NELP) and Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) best practices. A flexible, convenient format accommodates your schedule as a determined full-time educator seeking to further your education and fulfill your aspirations.
Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the online curriculum and in-person internship component meet Mississippi state K-12 administrator licensing requirements and prepare you for the next stage of your education career.
Online Master’s and Ed.S. in Educational Leadership Program
This online program meets the educational requirements for principal leadership and other administrative roles. As with our on-campus program, our full-time UM faculty members teach courses within our online program and are joined by adjunct faculty selected from practicing Mississippi superintendents and principals, many of whom are UM doctoral graduates.
Our esteemed faculty are dedicated to the success of our online graduates and provide a unique level of support through the program’s optional virtual meetings for online students.
Online M.Ed. and Ed.S. in Educational Leadership Curriculum
The curriculum for the M.Ed. program is taught in 10 courses (30 credit hours) consisting of online courses and school-site internship. Taking two courses per semester/session, you will be on track to complete an online degree in 19-21 months. Courses in the program are based on NELP Standards and include the knowledge base for school leaders to improve school culture.
Meet the Faculty and Staff of Educational Leadership
Dennis Bunch
- Associate Professor of Leadership & Counselor Education
Jill Cabrera
- Associate Professor of Leadership and Counselor Education
Douglas Davis
- Associate Professor of Leadership & Counselor Education
Mark Deschaine
- Associate Professor of Educational Leadership
Angus Mungal
- Associate Professor of Educational Leadership
Ryan Niemeyer
- Assistant Provost for Regional Campuses and Associate Professor of Leadership and Counselor Education
Kenneth Pulley
- Clinical Assistant Professor of Leadership and Counselor Education
Braxton Stowe
- Director of Mississippi Principal Corps and Clinical Assistant Professor of Leadership and Counselor Education
FAQ
Both degree options expand upon your existing Mississippi state teacher’s license:
- The online master’s format is ideal for teachers who have earned a bachelor’s and have at least three years of classroom experience. Following completion, you’ll pursue AA licensure in Mississippi.
- The online specialist program is designed for professionals who have already received a master’s degree in education and have at least three years of teaching experience. Upon finishing all requirements, you’ll be eligible to pursue AAA licensure.
Upon finishing the online M.Ed. or Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, you can apply for the following licenses with the Mississippi Department of Education:
- The Non-Practicing Administrator License is issued to an educator NOT currently employed in an administrative position.
- The Entry Level Administrator License is issued upon request to an educator employed as a beginning administrator.
- The Standard Career Level Administrator License is issued to a practicing administrator who has completed all requirements for conversion to Career Level.
- Building relationships
- Providing educational opportunities for all students
- Communicating and engaging with school and community stakeholders
- Hiring and retaining educational professionals and school personnel
- Supporting teachers and cultivating a professional organizational culture
- Understanding and effectively utilizing school data
- Applying change management theories
- Transforming a school’s academic and social culture
- Making decisions in challenging circumstances
The School of Education requires all online M.Ed. and Ed.S. candidates to complete an internship. The internship involves 400 clock hours of fieldwork and places you in an administrative intern role to gain practical experiences.
In the process, you will develop an electronic portfolio to highlight your learning, reflections, and accomplishments. A UM faculty mentor and a site-based mentor (school leader) will monitor your internship experiences in your school setting.
Graduates from the online Educational Leadership program often progress onto assistant principal roles. Through the curriculum, you’re further prepared for a broad range of educational leadership positions:
- Administrative leadership roles
- Dean of students
- District administrator
- Instructional coordinator
- Academic director
- Curriculum developer
- Educational consultant
After a few years in this position, you may be ready to become a lead principal or district superintendent.
Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, elementary, middle, and high schools will need 4% more principals between 2019 and 2029, and instructional coordinators will see demand increase 6% over this period.
For these careers, you’ll need to complete either the master’s or Ed.S. degree in Educational Leadership, pass the program’s comprehensive examination, and earn your advanced administrative license.
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a 3.0 GPA overall,
- Class A teaching license,
- Three years (prior to start of program) of K-12 teaching experience,
- A current resume emphasizing any leadership activities,
- A writing sample in response to a leadership-focused prompt,
- A successful admissions interview with program faculty,
- Two letters of reference with evidence of leadership potential,
- One letter (not a reference letter) from a licensed assistant principal, principal, or equivalent in the applicant’s school employment agreeing to serve as the Site Mentor for the internship,
- Must reside in Mississippi, or within 50 miles of the Mississippi border.
- Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a 3.25 GPA overall,
- Class AA teaching license,
- Three years (prior to start of program) of K-12 teaching experience,
- A current resume emphasizing any leadership activities,
- A writing sample in response to a leadership-focused prompt,
- A successful admissions interview with program faculty,
- Two letters of reference with evidence of leadership potential,
- One letter (not a reference letter) from a licensed assistant principal, principal, or equivalent in the applicant’s school employment agreeing to serve as the Site Mentor for the internship,
- Must reside in Mississippi, or within 50 miles of the Mississippi border.
Summer 2024: April 1
Fall 2024: June 15
Spring 2025: October 1
Contact our Graduate Studies Office for in-depth information. Teachers and administrators in districts which host UM student teachers may qualify for bank hours to pay tuition. View the Cost of Attendance for 2024-2025.