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 successful passing of current DESE state assessments. The program is offered in an 8-week 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 admission, if they provide one of the following:
   1. Four years successful employment experience (validated by a letter of recommendation from a supervisor based on good evaluations).
   2. An acceptable GRE score for verbal and quantitative tests.
6. A felony background check and FBI fingerprint check must be completed and clearance received for admission.
7. Child abuse and neglect screening.

​Note: If items 7 and 8 above have been completed for current employment for the U.S. military, a copy of the same may be submitted.

Program Requirements

The coursework for this 30-credit hour area of emphasis is offered in an 8-week format, either in a hybrid model (60% face-to-face and 40% online) or totally online. Advanced candidates must successfully pass the School of Education Disposition Instrument for Advanced Candidates for admission into ED 634 - Directed Field Experience .

Note: A Graduate Education student who disagrees with a disposition evaluation may appeal the evaluation to the Committee for Selection, Admission, Retention and Appeals (CSARA). The appeal shall be submitted in writing to the chair of the CSARA using the appropriate appeal form. Documentation supporting the appeal must accompany the appeal form where applicable.

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 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 school leader requires passing the appropriate DESE assessments with a passing score.
• 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.