Student Learning Outcomes - The graduate with the Education Specialist degree in School Administration will use the knowledge and skills obtained in the program to promote the success of all students by:
- Facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community.
- Advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.
- Ensuring management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment.
- Collaborating with families and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources.
- Acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner .
- Understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context.
The Education Specialist in School Administration program prepares school leaders who are reflective practitioners by requiring candidates to think analytically, practically and creatively about the teaching, learning, and the decision making processes associated with educational leadership.
The degree options available include Elementary School Principalship, Secondary School Principalship, and Superintendency. Course requirements and degree options within these options vary dependent upon a student’s master’s degree and/or existing certification. If one’s interest is certification in school administration, the student must have a master’s degree in educational administration, or in a certifiable content area recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
To be accepted into any one of the above options the student must have a minimum overall graduate grade point average of 3.25. Applicants who do not meet the above criteria will be classified as a “non-degree student” until achieving a minimum graduate grade point average of 3.50 during their first nine hours of graduate study in courses appropriate to the degree program and meet one of the following: 1) a minimum combined (verbal and quantitative) score of 950 on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE); or 2) a passing score (167) on the state test for Principal certification. The program includes a research component consisting of a three-hour Research Problem course.
The Education Specialist in School Administration includes several certification options, including initial certification as a Building Level Administrator (Elementary or Secondary Principal), advanced principal or director certification, and initial certification as superintendent. Additional options include certification as a middle school principal, vocational school director, or special education director.
Initial certification requirements include the completion of a graduate degree in educational leadership; completion of a course in Education of the Exceptional Child; a valid Missouri certificate to teach; a minimum of two years of teaching experience; and the satisfactory completion of all requirements established by DESE, including passing scores on the Missouri Standards-Based Performance Assessment and the Missouri Educator Gateway Assessment for Building-Level Administrators or the content area exam for Superintendents
Inquiries regarding certification or degree programs in school administration can be directed to the Department of Educational Leadership and Human Development 660-543-8834.
Education Specialist degree program for students with an MSE in School Administration (or Educational leadership) or who currently hold or are eligible for principal’s certification
Education Specialist degree program for students without an M.S.E. in School Administration
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