EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

[1] Educational Specialist Program (EdS) in Educational Leadership

The Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership (EDLP) is designed to prepare individuals for positions as district-level administrators and, in particular, superintendents of schools.

[2] Admission to Program

In addition to meeting the general requirements of the Graduate School, the prospective candidate must

1. Complete the application forms/processes for admittance to the EDLP program.
2. Provide evidence of a master's degree in school or educational leadership or approved equivalent (minimal, 30 hours of post-baccalaureate graduate work completed) with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 on all graduate work attempted and a satisfactory Graduate Record Examination (GRE) composite score OR a cumulative graduate grade-point average of at least 3.25 and a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) composite score of at least 1500 on three parts.
3. Provide a copy of a teaching certificate.
4. Present letters from appropriate officials that verify the applicant has had at least three years of full-time teaching experience or administrative or equivalent professional experience at the level appropriate to the program for which the student is requesting admission.
5. Provide completed recommendations by three professionals who are familiar with the applicant's professional and academic performance.
6. Complete a formal interview with a team of interviewers headed by a faculty member.
7. Respond in writing to an extemporaneous question at the time of his/her interview.
8. Candidates who do not meet the minimum grade point average, or minimum GRE score criteria may be considered for conditional admission. Conditionally admitted students must complete the first 12 semester hours of the specialist's program in courses offered by the department and must earn a 3.50 grade point average during these 12 hours' credit to continue.
9. Each candidate's transcript will be evaluated for determining what, if any, courses will be required as program prerequisites and/or those courses that will be transferred into the program. Twelve (12) credit hours may be transferred from other graduate programs.

[3] Admission to Candidacy

Students must apply for admission to candidacy when no fewer than nine and no more than eighteen semester hours in the degree program have been successfully completed.

[4] Residence Credit

Students must complete a minimum of 25 semester hours at the University of Central Arkansas.

[5] Transfer Credit

No more than twelve semester hours credit of grade "B" or above earned at another institution may be applied to the degree requirements. To be considered for transfer, the semester hours must have been awarded by a state-accredited institution, must have been earned after completion of the master's degree, and must complement the student's approved program of study. Acceptance of transfer credit does not reduce the minimum residence of 25 hours.

[6] Degree Requirements

The EdS degree in Educational Leadership requires that the candidate

1. Earn 37 semester hours of graduate credit including the courses listed here, with a minimum GPA of 3.5 and no "C" grades: ASTL 6380 or equivalent; EDLP 6324, 6325, 7101, 7300, 7301, ,7323, 7363, 7387, 7391, 7660, 7115-7315 to equal a minimum of three hours;
2. Successfully complete a directed specialist's project; and
3. Successfully pass an oral comprehensive examination in which the student articulates knowledge of District Administration theory and practice (contained within the 6 Educational Leaders Constituency Council [ELCC] Standards) through the defense of his/her comprehensive portfolio and successfully defends his/her Directed Specialist's Project. Students who do not successfully complete the comprehensive portfolio and project defense may reschedule the examination once within one calendar year and must pass it in order for the degree to be awarded.

[7] Graduate Courses in Educational Leadership (EDLP)

Follow this link for EDLP course descriptions: course link.

[8] Graduate Courses in Advances Studies in Teaching and Learning

Follow this link for ASTL course descriptions: course link.

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