Educational Leadership M.Ed.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Major in Educational Leadership

Note: Candidates may complete the degree only or complete the degree with principal certification. Candidates seeking principal or superintendent certification only must hold a previously-earned master’s degree.

(Major Code: 5454)

Admission requirements:

Bachelor’s degree (with an overall GPA of 2.75 or a 2.75 on the last 60 hours attempted at a regionally accredited institution of higher education)
Valid teaching certificate or proof of pending teacher certification
Meet all Graduate School requirements
Complete application screening process, including:
- Review of past academic performance
- Professional resume
- Two letters of recommendation
- Service record
Additional program documents provided online at www.wtamu.edu/edleadership
- Transcript Evaluation form
- Ethics form

Degree requirements:

Graduate Core in Education (six hours):

EDPD 6303 - Education Research 3
Select ONE course (3 SCH) from the following options:
EDRD 6345 - The Science of Teaching Reading 3
EDPD 6307 - Applying Cognitive Science to Learning and Teaching 3
EDPD 6310 - Educational Technology: Instructional Theory and Design 3
EDLD 6391 - Experiential Leadership (requires documentation of successful completion of approved leadership academy and approval by the Department of Education Competency Credit Faculty Review committee)

Competency Based Credit Statement:

Candidates may be eligible to earn three (3) hours of competency-based graduate credit from successful completion of an approved Aspiring Administrator or Leadership Academy training. The competency-based credit will replace EDLD 6391 .

The three (3) hours of competency-based credit will be applied toward the Master of Educational Leadership degree after the candidate provides thorough documentation of their successful completion of an approved Aspiring Administrator or Leadership Academy.

All requests for competency-based credit must be approved through a Department of Education Competency Credit Faculty Review committee before the credit will be awarded.

Required Educational Leadership Courses (24 hours)

Field experiences, clinical teaching, practicums, and internships required for Texas certification must be completed in a school accredited by the Texas Education Agency and approved by West Texas A&M University (WTAMU). A non-certification option is available for candidates whose residency is outside the state of Texas.

EDLD 6307 - Leading Learning 3
EDLD 6309 - Ethics, Equity, and Diversity 3
EDLD 6311 - Executive Leadership and Group Dynamics 3
EDLD 6313 - Human Capital 3
EDLD 6315 - Strategic Operations 3
EDLD 6317 - School Culture 3
EDLD 6399 - Educational Leadership Practicum 3 (Complete a total of 6 hours of EDLD 6399 during consecutive fall and spring semesters.)

Note:

Upon completion of prescribed coursework and associated practicum field experiences, the candidate must successfully complete and pass the master’s comprehensive exam. The comprehensive exam is taken during or after the last semester of enrollment and is required for the conferral of the M.Ed. degree. Documentation of two years of creditable teaching experience and successful completion of the TExES principal exams is required to earn the Texas principal certificate.

Requirements for Principal Certification only:

(Major Code: 5475)

Master’s degree and valid teaching certificate
Two years of creditable teaching experience
Completion of requirements for the principal certification program
Successful completion of the TExES principal exams

Required courses for principal certification (24 hours):

EDLD 6307 - Leading Learning 3
EDLD 6309 - Ethics, Equity, and Diversity 3
EDLD 6311 - Executive Leadership and Group Dynamics 3
EDLD 6313 - Human Capital 3
EDLD 6315 - Strategic Operations 3
EDLD 6317 - School Culture 3
EDLD 6399 - Educational Leadership Practicum 3 (Complete a total of 6 hours of EDLD 6399 during consecutive fall and spring semesters.)

Requirements for Superintendent Certification only:

(Major Code: 5476)

Master’s degree and valid teaching certificate
Principal certification (must be held prior to completion of superintendent certification program)
Completion of requirements for the superintendent certification program
Successful completion of the TExES superintendent exam

Required courses for superintendent certification (15 hours):

Six credit hours from:

EDLD 6309 - Ethics, Equity, and Diversity 3
EDLD 6313 - Human Capital 3
EDLD 6315 - Strategic Operations 3
EDLD 6317 - School Culture 3
Note: Other course work from a principal certification program may be considered.

And nine credit hours:

EDLD 6320 - Executive Leadership of the Educational Community 3
EDLD 6322 - Executive Administrative Leadership 3
EDLD 6324 - Executive Instructional Leadership 3
Note: Practicum field experiences are integrated within these three courses for superintendent certification.

Note:

*Changes in the Texas Administrative Code can impact program requirements.