Master of Education, Educational Leadership/Principalship, M.E. Locations  

Purpose

The Master of Education with an area of emphasis in educational administration is designed for educators desiring to work as a building-level administrator in a school setting. Completion of Park’s 30 credit hour program earns a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership/Principalship. Certification as a principal is earned by the additional passing of current DESE state assessments. The program is offered in an 8-week online format, classes meeting in a hybrid model (60% face-to-face and 40% online) or totally online. Full-time enrollment is one course per 8-week term. Full time enrollment during the academic year and one or two courses for two summers allows completion in two calendar years.

Admission Requirements

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a valid state teaching certificate (applicant must provide copy of certificate). Note: This must be completed before the completion of the first three credit hours
2. School employment as a teacher is required in order to fulfill 300 hours of administrative field experience in the school setting.
3. Students seeking Educational Leadership/Principalship must have two years’ teaching experience by the time they apply for state certification. DESE requires a Missouri state teaching certificate in order to apply for principal certification.
4. Minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
5. Advanced candidates with a GPA between 2.75 and 3.0 may be considered for provisional admission.
6. A felony background check and FBI fingerprint check must be completed and clearance received for admission.

Graduation Requirements

All advanced candidates must successfully complete the required 30-credit hours with a 3.0 grade point average, with no more than 2 “C’s” and no grade lower than a “C”. See Academic Regulations and Policies  section in this catalog for more information.

• In addition to graduation requirements stated in the Academic Policies section, an approved portfolio is required, which addresses satisfactorily, the Missouri Leader Standards for initial principal certification. If the DESE Missouri School Leaders Professional Assessment (MoSLPA) is a requirement for principal certification, it will replace the Park Educational Leadership portfolio.
• Advanced candidates must successfully pass the School of Education Disposition Instrument for Advanced Candidates for completion of the program.
  Note: Certification as a building-level administrator requires passing the current Missouri Department of Elementary and Seconary (DESE) assessments.
• An application for graduation is required before a completion statement is posted to the transcript. The application for graduation is available in MyPark/student academic information (under the student tab). Candidates must return the completed form with the appropriate fee. See the Graduation Requirements  section in this catalog for more information.