Master of Education (M.Ed.) - Educational Leadership

Program Coordinator:
Barbara Owens
Professional Development School Director
Assistant Professor of Education
304.367.4886 
Barbara.Owens@fairmontstate.edu 

The Masters of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership is a 30-credit hour online degree program that can be completed in as little as one year. This degree program includes principal licensure (18-credit hours), a superintendent endorsement (6-credit hours), and an applied research component (6-credit hours). Candidates will develop real-world skills through hands-on experiences with education leaders while learning to implement best practices based on current research in the field.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

This program provides candidates the opportunity to engage in all functions of effective school leadership. Program instructors are distinguished teacher-leaders, principals, and superintendents that are actively engaged in leadership roles within professional organizations. Instructors bring real world professional leadership experience into their virtual classrooms. They are more than instructors, they are mentors and well-connected members of your new educational leadership network in the state.  

After completion of this degree program, candidates will be eligible for West Virginia certification as a PreK-12 Principal and Superintendent. 

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES 

The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership degree program prepares graduates to be: 

• Assistant Principals (Grades PreK-12/Adult) 
• Principals (Grades PreK-12/Adult) 
• Superintendents (Grades PreK-12/Adult) 
• Central Office Administrators 
• Policymakers 

Graduates of this program may be employed and hold leadership positions in PreK-12 public, private, or charter schools; higher education institutions; and state Department of Education offices. 

Curriculum

Total Credit Hours: 30 (Online)

EDUC 5000: Principal as a Leader (3 credit hours)
EDUC 5005: Organizational Leadership (3 credit hours)
EDUC 5010: Ethics and School Law (3 credit hours)
EDUC 5015: Community Relationships (3 credit hours)
EDUC 5020: Transformational Leadership (3 credit hours)
EDUC 5025: Current School Issues (3 credit hours)
EDUC 5030: Superintendents Role Regarding Board, Community, and Curriculum (3 credit hours)
EDUC 5035: Superintendent as a Leader/Manager (3 credit hours)
*While most students intern at their employing school/district, individual placements are not guaranteed.

EDUC 6301: Research in Education (3 credit hours)
EDUC 6395: Capstone Research Project (3 credit hours)

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS 

• Submit admissions application to the Office of Admissions. Apply online now at fairmontstate.edu/apply 
• Pay $50 application fee along with application 
• Submit official college transcripts to the Office of Admissions 
• Minimum 2.75 undergraduate GPA 
• Once the Fairmont State Office of Admissions receives all of the required documents, your application file will be reviewed by the College of Education, Health and Human Performance. 

You can find Graduate School Application and other forms here.

APPLICATION DEADLINES 

Rolling admission (apply any time!).

If you are ready to take a leadership role in education, request more information or apply now. If you have any questions, contact Program Coordinator Barbara Owens (see contact information on the left). 

ADDITIONAL STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE

• Pass the Praxis 5412: Educational Leadership Administration and Supervision exam
• Complete the Evaluation Leadership Institute (ELI) offered by the West Virginia Department of Education.

The ELI prepares principals and central office administrators to evaluate personnel effectively. Aspiring administrators complete a brief online EDI course to obtain their provisional administrative certification. Once adminisrators are hired they must complete in-person ELI training within 90 days of employment.