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It's time to take your education career to the next level.

If you're a superintendent, principal, or career special education director, this program trains you for the next step in your career. Southeast's specialist degree accommodates busy schedules of practicing educators like you with our 100% fully online program. 

Since Southeast has been preparing educators since 1873, you can feel confident in our history, our reputation, and our accreditation. We're consistently recognized for academic excellence by the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings for institutions in the Midwest and fully accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. 

What You'll Do

As a specialist administration student, you will learn the tools to become transformative leaders who develop high quality programs to inspire, empower, and prepare students to succeed. More specifically, you’ll have the opportunity to: 

  • Participate in an innovative project-based learning curriculum 
  • Continue working,and balancing life’s other responsibilities by taking online courses. 
  • Engage in productive learning relationships with students from a variety of districts. 
  • Gain real-world experience with an internship experience in your district. 

What Can You Do with a Specialist Degree in Educational Administration?

The Specialist in Educational Administration Program prepares students to work in administrative roles in schools and school districts as superintendents, career principals and career special education directors.  

The program also prepares students for non-certificated administration roles such as director of curriculum, director of finance, and director of transportation. Test prep for the Missouri certification exam is built into the program. 

Career Opportunities

  • Superintendent  
  • Elementary career principal  
  • Secondary career principal  
  • Career specialist education director 

Educational Administration by the Numbers

  • 98%

    Successful Outcomes Rate

    Students graduating with degrees from the Department of Leadership, Middle and Secondary Education report being employed or furthering their education six months after graduation. 

  • $98K

    Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for elementary, middle, and high school principals is $98,490.

  • $66K

    Instructional Coordinators

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for an instructional coordinator is $66,970.

Online: Educational Administration Specialist Degree Map

Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree

Ed.S. Educational Administration Curriculum

The degree program is designed to be completed in five semesters including summer. Students should contact an academic advisor each semester and use Degree Works to monitor their progress. Students may begin the degree during any semester.

In addition to the criteria established for general admission to graduate studies, applicants must have the following: 

  • A graduate GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale 
  • A master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. The master’s degree must be appropriate to the student’s educational objective. If not, the student will be required to take additional graduate work before regular admission is granted. 
  • A valid professional teaching certificate 

In addition, international applicants must have a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 OR TOEFL score of 95. This requirement is for non- United States citizens who are not native English speakers. Students from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are exempt from English proficiency verification. 

Probationary Admission 

Probationary admission will be considered when the applicant presents a GPA that is less than 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. The admissions committee may permit the student to take nine hours in the program area. The student will be required to achieve a 3.66 GPA with a minimum grade of ‘B’ in each course. 

Choose One of the Following Specialty Tracks:

Superintendency:
  •  EA707 Personnel Management in Education (3) 
  • EA709 Leadership and Communications (3) 
  • EA710 Leading District Improvement (3) 
  • EA737 Administration of Curriculum (3) 
  • EA743 Data for Continuous Improvement (3) 
  • EA755 Ethics, Law, and Policy (3) 
  • EA756 Financial Management and Leadership (3) 
  • EA760 Internship I: Specialist Level (3) 
  • EA761 Internship II: Specialist Level (3) 
  • EA785 School Plant Planning and Operation (3) 
  • GR799 Education Specialist Oral Examination (0) 
Advanced Principalship
Required Courses
  • EA707 Personnel Management and Leadership (3) 
  • EA709 Leadership and Communications (3) 
  • EA710 Leading District Improvement (3) 
  • EA737 Administration of Curriculum (3) 
  • EA743 Data for Continuous Improvement (3) 
  • EA755 Ethics, Law, and Policy (3) 
  • EA756 Financial Management and Leadership (3) 
  • EA785 School Plant Planning and Operation (3) 
Choose 6 hours from the following:
  • EA718 Instructional Leadership Strategies (3) 
  • EA722 Equity in Educational Leadership Practices (3) 
  • EA727 Curriculum Development and Alignment (3) 

NOTE: All prerequisites must be completed before any 700 level classes. Prerequisites are the courses required for principal certification.

  • EX390 Psychology and Education of the Exceptional Child
  • EA625 Foundations of Educational Administration
  • EA630 Elementary Administration
    OR
  • EA635 Secondary Administration
  • EA634 Supervision
  • EA653 Curriculum for Educational Leaders
  • EA646 and 656 Elementary Internship I and Internship II
    OR
  • EA647 and EA657 Secondary Internship I and Internship II
  • EA651 School Law
  • EA655 School Business/Facilities Management/Public Relations
  • EA660 Administration and Supervision of Special Education
  • GR691 Methods of Research
The degree requirements in Educational Administration are based on (1) the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL), (2) the National Education Leadership Preparation standards (NELP), and (3) the Missouri Leaders Standards

 

 

The Specialist degree in School Administration is a 30-hour program that prepares candidates for certification as a superintendent (K-12), career principal (K-8/7-12), and career special education director (K- 12). For students entering the program with a masters’ degree in school administration, only the 30 hours of core courses are required, and the program can be completed in five semesters including the summer. All courses are taught online with the 6 hours of internship conducted in the student’s school district. 

For students who enter the program with a masters’ degree other than school administration, the advisor will determine the required prerequisite courses. All 600 level prerequisite courses can be taken online. For initial principal certification, Missouri requires a degree in administration. This means that a student must complete the prerequisites and the specialist degree before applying for the initial principal certificate. 

Students who have one year of experience as a building level principal or special education director and do not desire the superintendent certificate may opt out of the internship. They would substitute two other courses for the 6 hours of credit. Students should discuss this option with their advisor. 

College of Education, Health and Human Studies

This degree is housed within the College of Education, Health and Human Studies. The college boasts programs that train students in mind, body, and soul. So, whether you want to teach, to care, to support, or to fix, we have a program to get you there.

Become a Redhawk.

Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.

Online Learning at Southeast

When it comes to your success, we do whatever it takes. Online learning at Southeast takes the same reputable college courses taught by Southeast faculty and makes them available anytime, anywhere.

Accreditations

  • Apple Distinguished School logo
  • CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) logo

Getting the Job

Your education is just one piece to launching an extraordinary career. Once you’ve mastered the material, you still have to find the job you want, make the right connections, sell your knowledge and experience—and if all this is giving you anxiety, don’t panic. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to help you with the next step. They’ll provide the expertise and support you need, so you’re landing your dream job in no time.

Phone
Advising
(573) 651-5184
Location
Office Location
Kent Library 305
Mailing Address
One University Plaza, MS 4610
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

Take the Next Step