Program Description

The Master’s Degree (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership provides candidates with the content knowledge and credentials necessary to effectively lead schools, districts, multi-million dollar educational organizations, and/or post-secondary educational institutions.  Applicants accepted into the K-12 track and concentrations - after completing their coursework and meeting all GaPSC certification requirements - will be eligible for Tier I Leadership Certification. Applicants accepted into the Higher Education Administration Track and Concentration - after completing their coursework -  will be eligible for a variety of leadership positions in post-secondary education including, but not limited to, positions in various student affairs units, university administration, and college athletics administration. 

At the conclusion of the program, candidates will possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to lead educational organizations to higher levels of achievement for all students. This program is in accordance with leadership standards and outcomes required for licensure in Georgia by the Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) and the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS). 

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to: 

1. Develop, advocate, and enact a shared mission, vision, and core values of high-quality education and academic success and well-being of each student.
2. Act ethically and according to professional norms to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.
3. Strive for equity of educational opportunity and culturally responsive practices to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.
4. Develop and support intellectually rigorous and coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.
5. Cultivate an inclusive, caring, and supportive school community that promotes the academic success and well-being of each student.
6. Develop the professional capacity and practice of school personnel to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.
7. Foster a professional community of teachers and other professional staff to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.
8. Engage families and the community in meaningful, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial ways to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.
9. Manage school operations and resources to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.
10. Act as agents of continuous improvement to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

This program is part of the Leland and Clarice C. Bagwell College of Education .

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Admissions, Enrollment, and Graduation Criteria

Admissions Criteria

The following are program-specific criteria beyond the general Graduate Admissions   requirements. To be considered for admission to this program, the following application materials must be submitted to the KSU Graduate Admissions Office:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Employment role in an organization providing educational services 
• 2.75 GPA in bachelor’s degree coursework or most recent graduate degree  
• Transcripts from each college attended 
• Admissions Portfolio (content differs based on concentration)
  • Applicants in the Leading Independent and Charter Schools and advisor-approved elective concentration must include the following:
    • Professional Resume
    • Recommendation Form
    • Mentor Form (with GaPSC L5 or higher certified mentor)
    • Evidence of two years of teaching experience
    • GACE Leadership Ethic Assessment Completion Certificate
    • Evidence of Initial Certification in Georgia 
  • Applicants in the Higher Education and Student Affairs Concentration must include the following:
    • Professional Resume
    • Recommendation Form
    • Mentor Form

Admission Criteria for Unique Cases:

Transfer Credit

Graduate courses taken at other accredited institutions must be evaluated and approved by the program coordinator or department chair. A maximum of 25% of transfer credit (with grades of “B” or higher) may be applied toward a degree program. Transfer credit is rarely awarded toward Certification Only Programs. No courses will be accepted for transfer credit if they are more than five years old at the time of evaluation or have been used in completing another degree. Transfer credit includes all course work accepted into the M.Ed. program prior to admission in full standing (maximum nine semester hours), whether earned at another institution or at Kennesaw State University. 

Enrollment Criteria

This program does not have specific enrollment requirements. 

Graduation Criteria

Each student is expected to meet the requirements outlined in Academic Policy 5.0 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS & GRADUATION .

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Program Course Requirements