Description
Two master’s degrees are offered in educational leadership: Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Master of Arts (M.A.). The M.Ed. is intended for those who wish to work in leadership positions and administrative careers in education. The M.A. is designed to prepare students for leadership positions in student personnel administration in higher education and education-related fields, and does not fulfill state certification requirements.
The program also offers Education Specialist (Ed.S.) and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership degrees. The Ed.S. program is designed for those who are currently employed in or interested in decision-making positions in educational organizations. The Ed.D. program provides advanced graduate studies for students aspiring to leadership positions in education; candidates for the Ed.D. degree can concentrate their doctoral study in either K-12 or higher education administration.
Degrees OfferedEducation Specialist in Educational Leadership Master of Arts in Educational Leadership - Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education Track
Master of Education in Educational Leadership Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Admission
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Graduate Catalog. Applicants are encouraged to apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).
Master’s Programs
In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must provide:
- Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
- GPA of 3.0 and minimum GRE of 840; if GPA is below 3.0, minimum GRE of 1000
- For M.Ed. program only: evidence of course work approved for basic State of Florida bachelor's teaching certificate
- For applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, an official score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required.
Ed.S. and Ed.D. Programs
Admission to the Ed.S. program is separate from admission to the doctoral program. Upon completion of the Ed.S. degree, the candidate may apply for admission to a doctoral program.
In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must provide:
- Official score of at least 1000 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). A second score must be submitted if the score is less than 1000.
- Master’s degree
- GPA of 3.0
- Transcripts from all previously attended institutions
- Three letters of recommendation
- Professional resume
- Goal statement
- For applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, an official score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required.
Application Due Dates
All students applying for fellowships or assistantships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.
U.S. Applicants
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| Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership |
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Jun 20 |
Sep 20 |
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| Education Specialist in Educational Leadership |
Feb 1 |
Jun 20 |
Sep 20 |
Feb 1 |
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| Master of Arts in Educational Leadership |
Feb 1 |
Jul 15 |
Dec 1 |
Apr 15 |
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Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education Track |
Feb 1 |
Jul 15 |
Dec 1 |
Apr 15 |
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| Master of Education in Educational Leadership |
Feb 1 |
Jul 15 |
Dec 1 |
Apr 15 |
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International Applicants
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Spring |
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| Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership |
Feb 1 |
Feb 1 |
Jul 1 |
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| Education Specialist in Educational Leadership |
Feb 1 |
Feb 1 |
Jul 1 |
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| Master of Arts in Educational Leadership |
Feb 1 |
Feb 1 |
Jul 1 |
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Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education Track |
Feb 1 |
Feb 1 |
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| Master of Education in Educational Leadership |
Feb 1 |
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Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Minimum Hours Required—39 Credit Hours
The M.Ed. program provides the theoretical and conceptual knowledge base required for principalship and for Florida Level I Educational Leadership certification. Courses required in the program address the eight competency domains specified by the Florida Department of Education and included in the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE). Students are required to pass a comprehensive examination.
An M.Ed. in Educational Leadership or its equivalent, three years of teaching experience, and successful completion of the FELE are required by the state of Florida for certification in educational leadership (certification is subject to Florida Department of Education approval).
Modified Leadership Core Program
If an individual holds a graduate degree with a major other than Educational Administration, Administration, Supervision or Educational Leadership, certification may be obtained through completion of an approved modified program in Educational Leadership. The UCF modified program consists of the eight courses in Area B (“specialization”) of the Educational Leadership M.Ed. degree. Request an evaluation of prior graduate course work (required for admission into the program) on the folowing website: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~educlead/.
Degree Requirements
Area A: Core—9 Credit Hours
- EDF 6432 Measurement and Evaluation in Education (3 credit hours)
- EDF 6481 Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education (3 credit hours)
Select One:
- EDF 6155 Lifespan Human Development and Learning (3 credit hours)
- EDF 6259 Learning Theories Applied to Classroom Instruction and Management (3 credit hours)
- EDF 6517 Perspectives on Education (3 credit hours)
- EDF 6608 Social Factors in American Education (3 credit hours)
- EDF 6886 Multicultural Education (3 credit hours)
Area B: Specialization—24 Credit Hours
It is recommended that these courses be taken in the following sequence:
- EDA 6061 Organization and Administration of Schools (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6232 Legal Aspects of School Operation (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6240 Educational Financial Affairs (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6260 Educational Systems Planning and Management (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6931 Contemporary Issues in Educational Leadership (3 credit hours)
- EDS 6123 Educational Supervisory Practices I (3 credit hours)
- EDS 6130 Educational Supervisory Practices II (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6946 Graduate Internship (3 credit hours; students must have teaching experience to complete the internship)
Area C: Electives—6 Credit Hours
- EDA 6300 Community School Administration (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6502 Organization and Administration of Instructional Programs (3 credit hours)
- EDG 6223 Curriculum Theory and Organization (3 credit hours)
- EDG 6253 Curriculum Inquiry (3 credit hours)
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Educational Leadership
Minimum Hours Required—42 Credit Hours
The M.A. program prepares students for leadership positions in student personnel administration in higher education and education-related fields. A track in Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education is offered in this program. Students are required to pass a comprehensive examination.
The M.A. options do not fulfill state certification requirements.
Degree Requirements
Area A: Core—15 Credit Hours
- EDF 6155 Lifespan Human Development and Learning (3 credit hours)
- EDF 6481 Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education (3 credit hours)
- EDF 6517 Perspectives on Education (3 credit hours) OR
- EDF 6608 Social Factors in American Education (3 credit hours)
- EDF 6401 Statistics for Educational Data (3 credit hours) OR
- EDF 6432 Measurement and Evaluation in Education (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6909 Research Report (2,1 credit hours)
Area B: Specialization—9 Credit Hours
Approved by adviser
Area C: Administration—18 Credit Hours
It is recommended that these courses be taken in the following sequence:
- EDA 6061 Organization and Administration of Schools (required) (3 credit hours)
- EDS 6123 Educational Supervisory Practices I (3 credit hours) OR
- EDS 6130 Educational Supervisory Practices II (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6232 Legal Aspects of School Operation (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6240 Educational Financial Affairs (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6260 Educational Systems Planning and Management (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6931 Contemporary Issues in Educational Leadership (required) (3 credit hours)
Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education Track
Area A: Core—6 Credit Hours
- EDF 6481 Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education (3 credit hours)
- EDF 6432 Measurement and Evaluation in Education (3 credit hours) OR
- EDF 6401 Statistics for Educational Data (3 credit hours)
Area B: Specialization—24 Credit Hours
- EDA 6540 Organization and Administration of Higher Education (3 credit hours)
- EDH 6065 History and Philosophy of Higher Education (3 credit hours)
- EDH 6505 Finance in Higher Education (3 credit hours)
- EDH 6935 Capstone Seminar in Student Personnel (3 credit hours)
- EDH 6407 Ethical and Legal Issues in Student Personnel (3 credit hours)
- EDH 6634 Student Personnel Services in Higher Education (3 credit hours)
- EDH 6044 Career Exploration in Higher Education (3 credit hours)
- EDH 6047 The College Community and the Student (3 credit hours)
Area C: Electives—3 Credit Hours
Approved by adviser
Area D: Professional Field Experience— 6 Credit Hours
- EDH 6946 Higher Education Internship (3 credit hours)
- EDH 6947 Practicum in Student Personnel (3 credit hours)
Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Program
Minimum Hours Required—36 Credit Hours beyond the master’s degree
The Ed.S. is an advanced professional degree designed specifically for individuals who have completed a master’s degree in a field other than Educational Leadership and who wish to meet the requirements for Florida Level 1 Educational Leadership Certification while working toward a degree. Students who complete an Ed.S. degree in Educational Leadership may apply for admission to the doctoral program.
Degree Requirements
- Have an overall 3.0 grade point average on all graduate work attempted.
- The completed planned program must include a minimum of 12 graduate-level credit hours in the specialization area and a minimum of 6 graduate-level credit hours in research/statistics.
- Pass all required examinations.
Area I—Educational Leadership Core—9 Credit Hours
- EDA 7101 Organizational Theory in Education (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6946 Internship (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6909 Research Report (3 credit hours)
Area II—Specialization—21 Credit Hours
- EDA 6061 Organization and Administration of Schools (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6232 Legal Aspects of School Operation (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6240 Educational Financial Affairs (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6260 Educational Systems Planning and Management (3 credit hours)
- EDA 6931 Contemporary Issues in Educational Leadership (3 credit hours)
- EDS 6123 Educational Supervisory Practices I (3 credit hours)
- EDS 6130 Educational Supervisory Practices II (3 credit hours)
Area III—Co-requisites/Electives—6 Credit Hours Minimum
- EDF 6401 Statistics for Educational Data (3 credit hours)*
- EDF 6481 Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education (3 credit hours)*
- Electives (as approved by advisor) (6 credit hours) to total 36 hours
* Required if not completed in master’s degree
Examinations
Educational leadership majors must successfully complete one three-hour examination in general educational leadership.
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership(Ed.D.)
The Ed.D program consists of approximately 100 semester hours (including a maximum of 30 transfer hours and credit for research toward the dissertation). Content is offered in the areas of political and organizational theory, leadership, systems theory, planning and evaluation, school law and finance, decision making, communications, organizational planning, institutional climate and assessment, staff development, program analysis and evaluation, curriculum and instruction, and educational policy studies. The doctoral program provides structure essential to quality control, and also flexibility to permit specialization.
Candidates for the Ed.D. degree can concentrate their doctoral study in either K-12 or higher education administration. Students who are enrolled in the K-12 track are typically employed in public and private K-12 settings and are expected to complete, if they have not already done so, all coursework required for Florida Level 1 Educational Leadership Certification. This includes a minimum of eight educational leadership courses (or their equivalent). Students who have not completed courses in graduate research methods and foundations of education must also include these courses in their program of study. Students who pursue the higher education concentration are typically employed in two or four-year colleges or universities. Their programs of study require them to complete a minimum of 18 semester hours of specified courses plus two elective courses. Students must complete the higher education core in addition to the educational leadership core, research, specialization, cognates and dissertation.
Prerequisite Courses
Educational Leadership Core Courses—19 Credit Hours
- EDA 7101 Organizational Theory in Education (3 credit hours)
- EDA 7192 Educational Leadership (4 credit hours)
- EDA 7195 Politics, Governance, and Financing of Educational Organizations (4 credit hours)
- EDA 7205 Planning, Research, and Evaluation Systems in Educational Administration (4 credit hours)
- EDA 7225 Educational Personnel Aministration (4 credit hours)
Cognate Courses—6 Credit Hours Minimum
The cognate component is satisfied through the completion of at least six semester hours of graduate study outside the College of Education. The courses serve to support the students area of specialization and academic interests. Typical areas of cognate study include public administration, communications, psychology, labor relations, and business administration.
Area of Specialization—12 Credit Hours Minimum
Research and Data Analysis—9 Credit Hours Minimum
- EDF 6401 Statistics for Educational Data (3 credit hours)
- EDF 7403 Quantitative Foundations of Educational Research (3 credit hours)
- EDF 7463 Analysis of Survey, Record, and Other Qualitative Data (3 credit hours)
Dissertation—21 Credit Hours Minimum
Doctoral students must present a prospectus for the dissertation to the doctoral adviser, prepare a proposal and present to the dissertation committee, and defend the final research submission with the dissertation committee. Registration for dissertation hours is not permitted until the student is admitted to candidacy.
Candidacy
To enter candidacy for the Ed.D., students must have an overall 3.0 grade point average on all graduate work included in the planned program and pass all required examinations.
Candidacy examinations will be scheduled near the tenth week of the fall and spring semesters, and summer exams will be scheduled for the sixth week of the term. Students must be enrolled in the university during the semester an examination is taken. The exams are: general educational leadership (five-hour exam), and area of specialization (three-hour exam).
Financial Support
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Key points about financial support:
- If you’re interested in financial assistance, you’re strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
- You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
- If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
- UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. All admitted graduate students are automatically considered in this nomination process. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. To receive need-based fellowship awards, the student must have demonstrated need as determined by FAFSA. Merit fellowship awards are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
- Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application).
- For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program coordinator of your major.
Contact Info
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
William Bozeman, Ph.D. , Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-1471
bozeman@mail.ucf.edu Education Specialist in Educational Leadership
William Bozeman, Ph.D. , Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-1471
bozeman@mail.ucf.edu Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
Douglas Magann, Ed.D. , Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-1467
dmagann@mail.ucf.edu Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Douglas Magann, Ed.D. , Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-1467
dmagann@mail.ucf.edu Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education Track
Levester Tubbs, Ed.D. , Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-1466
ltubbs@mail.ucf.edu
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Graduate Students
