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The online educational specialist degree in PK–12 educational leadership and administration from MU offers opportunities for professional growth in school and district leadership. If you want to be an effective, responsive, courageous and professional leader in education, this may be the degree for you.
You may choose one of three different options for your degree:
- Superintendent certification
- Elementary and secondary principal certification
- Elementary and secondary principal and superintendent certification
Certification
This program meets the requirements for both building-level and district-level certification (central office and superintendent) requirements in Missouri and many other states. Graduate candidates who already possess a Missouri Initial Administrator Certificate (building-level) can use the educational specialist degree to meet requirements toward a Missouri Career Continuous Certificate (building-level), a Missouri Initial Superintendent Certificate (district-level) or both.
Quick facts
Official name
Educational specialist in educational leadership and policy analysis with an emphasis in PK-12 educational leadership and administration, elementary and secondary principal and superintendent certificationCampus
Program type
Educational specialistAcademic home
College of Education & Human Development | Department of Educational Leadership and Policy AnalysisDelivery mode
Blended, some campus visits requiredAccreditation
Higher Learning Commission, Teacher Education Accreditation CouncilCredit hours
35Estimated cost
$17,867.50*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
Career prospects
Potential careers
- Elementary school principal
- Secondary school principal
- School superintendent
Program structure
Delivery of this program is blended: Much of your course work will be online, but some courses have on-campus weekend sessions three or four times a semester. Meeting dates and times are subject to change each semester.
Courses are semester-based. Students typically take one or two classes each semester, including summers, and finish in under two years.
Course work includes
- Setting and articulating vision, mission and goals for buildings and districts
- High-level learning for students and adults
- Management of legal, fiscal and personnel systems
- Collaboration and communication with students, families and communities
- Ethical and integral leadership
- Understanding of political and social systems
- Continued professional development for the individual and the organization
Delivery
Blended, some campus visits requiredCalendar system
Semester-basedTypical program length
2 yearsTypical course load
1 or 2 classes each semesterAccreditation
The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The College of Education and Human Development is a member of the Teacher Education Accreditation Council.