M.Ed. Educational Leadership

The Master of Education degree program in Educational Leadership is designed to provide advanced professional studies in graduate-level coursework for candidates who are interested in becoming principals at various levels of K-12 schools, and are committed to excellence in student success. Graduates will become well-qualified professionals as they further their knowledge of the functions of a high achieving school in areas such as curriculum, instruction, management, personnel, finance, school law, public relations and the many facets of student achievement. They will be able to apply the theories and skills learned in the classroom to real situations. Numerous opportunities are provided to work with teachers, students and experienced principals in field experiences and learn how to meet the demands of leadership as a building level administrator. The program will prepare these school leaders to be committed to continuous growth because they will understand that the body of knowledge needed to lead schools is growing and changing. Graduates of this program will be effective leaders who can create and maintain high quality schools. Candidates must have one-year minimum of teaching experience to be enrolled in the program.

The Master of Education in Educational Leadership requires completion of 36 semester hours of graduate work. A minimum of 27 semester hours must be completed in the major. The remaining nine (9) credit hours are taken from the education core for graduate studies in the Spadoni College of Education. Students become part of a cohort that takes courses together in a prescribed sequence. The program uses a hybrid approach of face-to-face and online courses and is designed to be completed in three years of ongoing coursework. At the completion of the degree requirements and passing the Praxis II exam, graduates are eligible for certification as a school administrator in South Carolina.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• A completed application for graduate study at Coastal Carolina University.
• An official transcript from each school or college previously attended. All prior undergraduate academic study must be represented as well as other graduate study.
• At least two letters of recommendation on the forms provided with the application.
• A minimum of one year of full-time teaching experience.
• A copy of current teaching credential(s)
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on undergraduate work or a report of scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) of no less than 400 on both the verbal and quantitative portions; or a report of a minimum score of 388 on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Scores must be no more than five years old.
• Legal arrest/conviction statement
• Approval of the Portal I Faculty Committee

I. EDUCATION CORE (9 credits)

• EDUC 607 Research for Today's Schools (3)
• EDUC 630 Advanced Study of Curriculum and Instruction (3)
• EDUC 685 Strategies for Serving Diverse Learners (3)

II. MAJOR COURSES (27 credits)

• EDAD 600 Introduction to Educational Leadership (3)
• EDAD 635 School Personnel Administration (3)
• EDAD 660 Supervision of Instruction (3)
• EDAD 680 School and Community Relations (3)
• EDAD 684 School Finance/Ethics (3)
• EDAD 686 Legal Basis of Educational Org. & Administr. (3)
• EDAD 689 School Principal (3)
• EDAD 694 Elementary School Principal in Practice-Fall (3)
• EDAD 695 Elementary School Principal in Practice-Spring (3)
• EDAD 696 Secondary School Principal in Practice-Fall (3)
• EDAD 697 Secondary School Principal in Practice-Spring (3)

Internship Requirements for administrative certification*: (Internship Handbook, DOCX, 258 KB)

• Elementary Principal and Supervisor (K-8):
• Take one elementary school and one middle school internship

• Secondary Principal and Supervisor (7-12):
• Take one middle school and one high school internship

• Middle School (two options):
• 1) Take one elementary school and one middle school internship--Partially qualifies for Elementary Principal and Supervisor Certificate. 2) Take one middle school and one high school internship--Qualifies for Secondary Principal and Supervisor Certificate.

*NOTE: After taking two semesters of internships, candidates for certification must also pass the PRAXIS II Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision exam to qualify for administrative certification