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Masters Degree (Ed.S. / M.Ed.) in
Educational Leadership

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PROGRAM DETAILS

Next ArrowFORMAT
Fully Online
Next ArrowTOTAL CREDITS 30
Next ArrowCREDENTIALS Ed.S. / M.Ed. Degree
Next Arrow COST PER CREDIT $607.00
NEXT APPLICATION DATE:
June 15, 2025

About this Program


Expand your expertise as a leader in the education system by preparing to become a principal. This graduate-level program is for teachers, instructors, and leaders who wish to earn a a Master of Education (M.Ed.) or a Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) degree and go into principal leadership within primary and secondary schools. This program requires students to be concurrently enrolled in and seeking principal certification through our Principal Certification program.

Kentucky students in the Masters of Educational Leadership may achieve either Rank II or Rank I designations through the Education Professional Standards Board. 

Kentucky students in the EdS program may achieve either Rank II or Rank I designations through the Education Professional Standards Board.

As part of this program, students are concurrently enrolled in the  School Principal Certification Program.

Designed For

This program is suited for educators who aspire to take on administrative roles such as principals, vice principals, or department heads within K-12 schools or higher education institutions. Prospective students typically have at least 3 years of teaching experience and are committed to enhancing school management, curriculum development, and student success through effective leadership and educational policies.

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Masters Degree in Educational Leadership

Offered by the College of Education

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Learn more about the Educational Leadership online program.

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What You’ll Learn


  • Develop the skills needed to foster a learning-centered school environment where all students can achieve their highest level of performance.
  • Identify research strategies that can be used to diagnose problems in classrooms and schools and identify solutions.
  • Use data to make informed decisions that improve learning outcomes across classrooms and schools.
  • Cultivate a network of teacher leaders to consult with after you graduate.

 

Career Stats

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Course Examples

  • EDL 700 Knowledge Base
  • EDL 701 Leadership in Educational Organizations I
  • EDL 702 Leadership for Organizational Learning
  • EDL 703 Leading Organizational Change
  • EDL 571 Design Thinking in Education
  • EDL 669 Leadership for Creative Problem Solving

GOT QUESTIONS?

Schedule time to meet with a representative from the Educational Leadership program to talk about your unique situation.

How to Apply

Admissions Criteria

  • M.Ed. applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree, preferably education-based, from a fully accredited institution of higher learning in the USA or from a recognized foreign institution with cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Ed. S. applicants must have successfully completed a master’s degree, preferably education-based, from a fully accredited institution of higher learning in the USA or from a recognized foreign institution with cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Experience working as a P12 teacher or as another type of educational practitioner is highly recommended.
  • International applicants whose native language is not English must submit either a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score. See Graduate School admissions for specifics.

Application Requirements

  1. CV
  2. Official transcripts 
  3. Personal Statement
    • Please write 2-3 double‐spaced pages, word‐processed in either Times New Roman 12‐point or Arial 10‐point, page numbers and your name in upper right corner about why you are applying to the program. If you cite literature/resources to support your comments, adhere to the academic writing guidelines provided in 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
  4. Writing Sample
    • If applying for Teacher Leader Endorsement or rank change prepare a Professional Reflection (2-3 double-spaced pages, word-processed in either Times New Roman 12-point or Ariel 10-point, page numbers and your name in upper right corner). Describe how your classroom evidences the components of highly effective teaching and learning (i.e., learning climate, classroom assessment and reflection, instructional rigor and student engagement, instructional relevance, knowledge of content). If you cite literature or resources to support your comments, then you must adhere to the academic writing guidelines provided in 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
  5.  If applying for Teacher Leader Endorsement or rank change a copy of your valid K12 teacher certificate.
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Program Contact

Lu S. Young
Program Director

Deadlines

Fall 2025

Application Due Date:
06/15/2025
Start Date:
08/25/2025

Sign up for a Virtual Open House

Join an upcoming information session to learn more about the program, curriculum and faculty

The course selection provided me with fundamental knowledge and skills so I could effectively initiate change within my own school community.

Jack Young
Alumni and Principal, Country Day School

Why UK Online

Once you become a student, you will have access to a wide variety of academic support services to maximize your success. 

No GRE Icon No test scores required.
Grad tuition cap Icon Save money by paying for only 9 standard credit hours per semester, even if you take more.
Flexible schedule Icon Fit learning into your busy schedule with no prescribed class times.
Be Supported Icon Access supporting services and success coaches to help you succeed.

Frequently Asked Questions

About

If you already have a Master’s, you will likely choose the Education Specialist degree (EdS) which is a terminal degree earned by 30 credit hours beyond the MEd.  

Yes – most of our students are concurrently earning a degree (MEd or EdS) along with Kentucky principal certification.

Yes!  Most of our students are full-time educators.

Admissions

Please view the Admission Criteria section, located under "How to Apply" on this page.

Tuition

The tuition rate for this program is listed at the top of this page. If you still have questions, please reach out to the program representative.

Graduate students should review the Student Funding information available through the Graduate School. Specific programs may offer additional funding that is unique to that program. Contact the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in the department in which you wish to enroll with questions about the availability of assistantships and the application process.

For our fully-online programs, it does not matter what state you live in. The rate is the same no matter where you live.

Online Learning

It's important to know how to approach learning in an online program. Online classes are not harder nor easier than in-person classes, but they are different due to their asynchronous modality. This means students should expect to:

Develop a routine: Login to your online class routinely (we recommend at least once daily) to receive updates and contribute meaningfully to any ongoing discussions.

Be good time managers: Determine when you have time to work on coursework throughout the week so you don't fall behind or put off assignments until the last minute.

Communicate: If you are having any trouble, message your peers and/or your instructor right away to ask for help or clarification. Never be afraid to reach out to your instructors or Student Affairs if you need assistance--we have many resources to help you, but we need to know your situation to act accordingly on your behalf.

If you need additional support in navigating the online classroom, Canvas (our learning management system) has a number of helpful tools, including a module for new students that walks through everything you need to know about navigating information in your online class.

No, you are awarded the same diploma from UK as students who take classes in-person. There is no denotation of “online” on your diploma or your transcripts.

Yes. Our faculty are happy to meet with our students by phone call, email, or an online meeting. You are also welcome to set up an in-person appointment if you ever find yourself in Lexington.

No, there is no on-campus requirement.

We meet synchronously via Zoom about 6 times per semester.  The remaining coursework is done asynchronously on the UK Canvas course site.

Ready to Take Your Next Step?

Our team is here to help you with the next stage of your journey. Reach out to us today!

Distance Learning Authorization & Licensure

Where you live matters when completing distance education activities. If you will live outside of Kentucky while completing your program, please check the Distance Learning Authorization & Licensure page to confirm that the program can be offered in your state or country, and if relevant, that it meets professional licensure requirements in your state. Please note: Admission and enrollment in a fully-online program can NOT lead to the issuance of a J-1 or F-1 student visa.

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University of Kentucky has been approved to participate in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

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