Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Educational Leadership
Tier I Certification
Program Highlights & Benefits
Blended classroom instruction or fully synchronous online for multiple learning styles
20 month completion time, including breaks
No GRE or admission tests
No weekend classes
For
The program is highly professionally oriented, and candidates for the program are expected to currently be employed in a professional role in an organization providing professional educational services (e.g., school, district office, regional educational service agency, department of education). All courses require job-embedded field experiences to provide a synthesis of the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary for today’s educational leader. At the conclusion of the program, candidates will possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to lead schools to higher levels of achievement for all students.
What You Learn
The MEd in Educational Leadership prepares candidates with the content knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to effectively lead schools, districts, and educational agencies. Applicants accepted into the program and completing all degree requirements, will be eligible for a Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) Tier I Leadership Certification. The MEd in Educational Leadership (Tier I) certifies the educator to serve as an assistant principal or coordinator at the district level who does not supervise principals.
How You Learn
The MEd in Educational Leadership (Tier I) is a 33 hour program that can be completed in 5 semesters. Each course is 8 weeks in length and meets online synchronous every-other-week. Candidates take one class at a time.
Career Outcomes
The MEd in Educational Leadership (Tier I) certifies the educator to serve as an assistant principal or coordinator at the district level who does not supervise principals.
Degree Requirements
| Course # | Title | Hours |
| EDU 600 | Introduction to Graduate Programs | 3 |
| EDU 604 | Observation and Analysis | 3 |
| EDU 611 | Leading a Professional Learning Community | 3 |
| EDU 618 | Building Collaborative Teams | 3 |
| EDU 615 | Educational Law | 3 |
| EDU 617 | Using Data to Improve Schools | 3 |
| EDU 619 | Action research for School Leader | 3 |
| EDU 671 | Leading with a Social, Emotional, and Cultural Lens | 3 |
| EDU 672 | Human and Fiscal Resources | 3 |
| EDU 673 | Collaborating and Communicating with Stakeholders | 3 |
| EDU 674 | Instructional Leadership for School Improvement | 3 |
| Total Hours: | 33 |
Please Note:
This course outline is tentative and is subject to change. Courses may be offered in a different order than outlined above.
Applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0 may be considered for provisional admission by the prospective Graduate Council. Any candidate provisionally admitted may be required to take a 3-credit hour writing course, and other requirements may be prescribed by the Division and/or Graduate Council.
NOTE: An interview may be required. If so, the candidate will be contacted by the program to set up the interview.
Admissions Requirements
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Possess a valid, level 4 or higher Induction, Professional, Advanced Professional, or Lead Professional teaching certificate, service field certificate, or Life certificate at the appropriate level:
- Report a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 credit hours of their bachelor’s degree or undergraduate coursework considered in context of the GPA for that bachelor’s degree, and in any other graduate coursework.
- Have a minimum of one (1) year of teaching experience.
- Present a passing score on the Georgia Ethics for Educational Leaders.
- Present a clear background check. TU recognizes a combination of a copy of the Candidate’s current state teaching certificate and verification of current employment via a signed Mentor Form as adequate proof for a background check.
- Present completion of three (3) or more semester hours of coursework in the identification and education of children who have special educational needs or the equivalent through a Georgia-approved professional learning program. TU recognizes a current Georgia educator certificate showing that this requirement has been met as verification of this condition of admissions.
- International students seeking admission into a graduate program must refer to international admissions for additional required documents.
Along with proof of the above criteria, prospective candidates are required to submit the following along with their application for Graduate Admissions:
- A personal statement of career and educational objectives, including the rationale for pursuing a graduate degree (maximum two pages). Applicants must explain the circumstances surrounding any ethics reprimand on their certificates and/or a GPA below 2.75.
- Official transcripts from all institutions where a degree was awarded and all institutions where graduate coursework was completed, even if a degree was not awarded attended, to be forwarded directly from the schools attended to the Thomas University Office of Admissions.
- Three professional references (at least one from a building or system level administrator).
- Completed Mentor form
- A signed Partnership Agreement between TU and the Candidate’s School District or Independent/Charter School/District if there is not one on file.
Request Info
What Teachers Are Saying
