Educational Leadership- Graduate

The Department of Educational Leadership Studies offers programs leading to the Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree, the Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) degree, and the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Educational Leadership. These programs are designed to prepare candidates for leadership positions in P-12 schools and other educational agencies or for the professorship in educational administration. The department has participated in a Cooperative Doctoral Program with four regional comprehensive universities and may continue as needed. Explore our other graduate degree programs to find the path that's right for you.

Master of Education

The primary goal of the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership degree program is to prepare teachers for leadership that supports school and student success. Three graduate certificate options are embedded within the 30-credit program. You can select the ones you earn along the way.

Added value of graduate certificates

Our certificates show hiring officials your expertise in:

Instructional Coaching
Leadership for Deeper Learning
School Technology Leadership

Please visit the UK College of Education Department of Educational Leadership M.Ed. program page for more detailed information. For questions, please contact Melissa McCaughan at melissa.mccaughan@uky.edu.

Master's Degree (MEd) - Application Requirements

CV
- Limited to 2 pages, providing your name and contact information, as well as postsecondary education (all degrees, years awarded, institution names, emphasis area), work experiences, education certifications, professional memberships.
Personal Statement
- Please write 3-5 double-spaced pages, word-processed in either Times New Roman 12-point or Arial 10-point, page numbers and your name in the upper right corner. If you cite literature/resources to support your comments, adhere to the academic writing guidelines provided in the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
- FOR TEACHER LEADERSHIP APPLICANTS:
  - Part I: Provide background about your experiences as an educational leader and share how these experiences have prompted you to enroll in a graduate program in educational leadership. Share your career aspirations and explain how completing an Educational Leadership program will assist you in achieving your professional goals.
- FOR FRYSC APPLICANTS:
  - Part I: Provide background about your experiences as a FRYSC professional and share how these experiences have prompted you to enroll in the program. Share your career aspirations and explain how completing a graduate degree will assist you in achieving your professional goals.
- FOR ALL APPLICANTS:
  - Part II: Articulate your beliefs, perceptions, and reflections about each of the following four themes related to effective educational leadership: (a) a vision of success, (b) a focus on learning and teaching, (c) an engagement of all stakeholders, and (d) a demonstration of ethical practice.
Writing Sample (required for Teacher Leadership only)
- FOR TEACHER LEADERSHIP APPLICANTS ONLY:
  - Prepare a Professional Reflection (3-5 double-spaced pages, word-processed in either Times New Roman 12-point or Arial 10-point, page numbers and your name in the upper right corner). Describe how your classroom evidences the components of highly effective teaching and learning (i.e., learning climate, classroom assessment and reflection, instructional rigor and student engagement, instructional relevance, knowledge of content). If you cite literature or resources to support your comments, then you must adhere to the academic writing guidelines in the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Four letters of recommendation
No GRE or GMAT is required for admission to this program.
Application Deadlines:
- Fall: May 15

Specialist in Education

The Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) degree in Educational Leadership offers a practice-oriented, academic program intended to serve two interrelated and complementary purposes: 1. To provide professional educators with an opportunity to develop specialized expertise in the area of educational leadership with a focus on school administration and instructional supervision; and 2. To provide those professional educators who desire it, a bridge from their master’s-level academic work to doctoral-level study in a specialized area of educational administration and supervision.

Please visit the UK College of Education Department of Educational Leadership Ed.S. program page for more detailed information. For questions, please contact Melissa McCaughan at melissa.mccaughan@uky.edu.

Specialist Degree (EdS) - Application Requirements

CV
- Limited to 2 pages, providing your name and contact information, as well as postsecondary education (all degrees, years awarded, institution names, emphasis area), work experiences, education certifications, professional memberships.
Personal Statement
- Please write 3-5 double-spaced pages, word-processed in either Times New Roman 12-point or Arial 10-point, page numbers and your name in the upper right corner. If you cite literature/resources to support your comments, adhere to the academic writing guidelines provided in the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
  - Part I: Provide background about your experiences as an educational leader and share how these experiences have prompted you to enroll in a graduate program in educational leadership. Share your career aspirations and explain how completing an educational leadership program will assist you in
  - Part II: Articulate your beliefs, perceptions, and reflections about each of the following four themes related to effective educational leadership: (a) a vision of success, (b) a focus on learning and teaching, (c) an engagement of all stakeholders, and (d) a demonstration of ethical practice.
Writing Sample (required for Principal applicants and Teacher Leadership applicants only)
- Prepare a Professional Reflection (3-5 double-spaced pages, word-processed in either Times New Roman 12-point or Arial 10-point, page numbers and your name in the upper right corner). Describe how your classroom evidences the components of highly effective teaching and learning (i.e., learning climate, classroom assessment and reflection, instructional rigor and student engagement, instructional relevance, knowledge of content). If you cite literature or resources to support your comments, then you must adhere to the academic writing guidelines in the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR PRINCIPAL APPLICANTS:
- Provide the following supporting documentation with your application:
  - Statement of your dispositions for educational leadership
  - Evidence of your improving student learning
  - Evidence of your advanced knowledge of curriculum, instruction and assessment
  - Evidence of your leadership at the building level within a school
  - Two recommendation forms from persons (e.g., principal, supervisor, superintendent or designee) who have direct knowledge of your skills/abilities related to (a) leadership; (b) curriculum, instruction and assessment; and (c) improving student learning.
- If seeking P12 Administrator Certificate (principal certificate), you must include a compy of your valid K12 teacher certificate.
- If seeking superintendent certificate, attach a copy of your valid P12 principal certificate.
Two letters of recommendation
Application Deadlines:
- Fall: May 15

Doctor of Education

The Department of Educational Leadership offers the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) with emphasis on preparing scholar-practitioners to assume leadership in diverse educational settings. Each student develops a program of study with three essential elements: (1) the core curriculum; (2) a program major emphasis; and (3) a research sequence. Program content and experiences integrate leadership theory and its application, learning organizations, educational improvement and innovation, educational technology, comparison of educational leadership practiced locally and internationally, economics of education, law and policy, research methods for educational leader, and leadership development of self and others.

Please visit the UK College of Education Department of Educational Leadership Ed.D. program page for more detailed information. For questions, please contact Melissa McCaughan at melissa.mccaughan@uky.edu.

Doctor of Education (EdD) Program - Application Requirements

CV
- Limited to 2 pages, providing your name and contact information, as well as postsecondary education (all degrees, years awarded, institution names, emphasis area), work experiences, education certifications, professional memberships.
- FOR PRINCIPAL AND SUPERINTENDENT CERTIFICATION APPLICANTS: If you are seeking a P12 Administrator Certificate (principal or superintendent), be sure it's clear within your resume that you have at least three years of full-time experience as a classroom teacher.
- ADDITIONALLY, FOR SUPERINTENDENT CERTIFICATION APPLICANTS: Be sure it's clear within your resume that you have at least two years full-time experience as an educational administrator at the school or district level upon admission to this program.
Personal Statement
- Please write 3-5 double-spaced pages, word-processed in either Times New Roman 12-point or Arial 10-point, page numbers and your name in the upper right corner. If you cite literature/resources to support your comments, adhere to the academic writing guidelines provided in the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
  - Part I: Your Background. Provide background about your experiences as an educational leader and share how these experiences have prompted you to enroll in a graduate program in educational leadership. Share your career aspirations and explain how completing an educational leadership program will assist you in achieving your professional goals. In seeking initial certification as a school leader, be specific about your short-term plans for seeking placement as an educational administrator.
  - Part II: Articulate your beliefs, perceptions, and reflections about each of the following four themes related to effective educational leadership: (a) a vision of success, (b) a focus on learning and teaching, (c) an engagement of all stakeholders, and (d) a demonstration of ethical practice.
Writing Sample
- Professional Reflection (3-5 double-spaced pages, word-processed in either Times New Roman 12-point or Arial 10-point, page numbers and your name in the upper right corner). Select one of the complex and sometimes controversial issue sets listed below, explain briefly your understanding of the issue set you selected, and then discuss what it means to provide responsible educational leadership to address those issues. If you cite literature or resources to support your comments, then you must adhere to the academic writing guidelines in the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
GRE
- An official GRE test score is required for admission. You will be asked to self-report these scores on the application (you can also supply a future date for taking the test). We will however also require official scores from the reporting agency. GRE scores should be sent directly to the UK Graduate School from Educational Testing Service (ETS); the Institution Code for the GRE for the UK Graduate School is R1837.
Four letters of recommendation
- FOR PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATION APPLICANTS ONLY: Ensure that two recommendation are from persons (e.g. principal, supervisor, superintendent, or designee) who have direct knowledge of your skills/abilities related to (a) leadership; (b) curriculum, instruction and assessment; and (c) improving student learning.
Application Deadlines:
- Fall: February 15
  - PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATION APPLICANTS ONLY: March 28

Contact

Dr. John Nash

Director Graduate Studies

Department of Educational Leadership Studies

john.nash@uky.edu

College of Education

111 Dickey Hall

Lexington KY 40506

Educational Leadership- Graduate

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