Educational Leadership (M.Ed., Ed.S.)
About
Our graduate programs in Educational Leadership are designed for experienced educators interested in building skills for effective school leadership and administration. Students work with nationally recognized faculty experts committed to developing competent and visionary leaders for schools in Maine and beyond. Our 100% online Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degrees offer a comprehensive, flexible program of study focused on equipping leaders with the awareness, knowledge, interpersonal skills, and personal/professional values to position schools for positive change and student outcomes. Graduates of these programs gain a deeper understanding of how to collaborate successfully with other educators, students and community members, how to inspire and model the best qualities of lifelong learning, and contemporary issues facing K-12 education in society. Coursework includes simulation, reflective journals, observation and feedback in practice, and examination of group dynamics, as well as conventional graduate-level learning activities, all sequenced to build leadership skills.
Program Highlights
Requirements
Program Delivery
These programs are fully online with synchronous courses taught via videoconferencing approximately one evening per week to meet the needs of working professional educators. In our continuous cohort model, students take all of their classes together while working toward their degrees. This allows you to learn from your peers and professors in a collaborative and personal environment. All coursework is aligned with Maine Department of Education competency areas for leadership certification.
M.Ed. requires 37 credit hours, including coursework in organizational and educational theory, leadership practice, and evaluation and research. A variety of electives ensures you’re in control of the learning outcomes you need to achieve your goals.
The Ed.S. is a terminal degree requiring 30 credit hours beyond the master’s (39-45 hours for those with a master’s degree in a related field). Ed.S. students take additional coursework in leadership practice and educational evaluation and research, as well as additional electives.
NOTE: We are not currently admitting students directly into the Ed.S. program. For more information, contact Senior Lecturer of Educational Leadership Maria Frankland, maria.frankland@maine.edu.
Certificates
In addition to our master’s and Ed.S. programs, we offer graduate certificates in Educational Leadership that allow you to build knowledge and skills in focused areas. If you don’t already have a graduate degree, you can apply the courses taken in your certificate program toward an M.Ed. or Ed.S. should you choose to continue your studies. Our graduate certificates include:
Advising & Support
The College of Education and Human Development provides students with academic guidance and personal support before they set foot on campus through graduation and beyond. Our graduate students work with faculty advisors, who build genuine relationships and provide timely information to help you navigate your program, your work in schools and communities, and whatever else is on your plate.
Program Learning Outcomes
We assist our students in fulfilling objectives encompassed in the following six knowledge domains that correspond to learning skills and knowledge in the cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal dimensions. Since we follow a developmental model, we know that people are at different points in their learning with regard to any standards or objectives; nevertheless, we and our students use these domains to gauge their growth and guide further learning.
Careers
Graduates of the Educational Leadership M.Ed. and Ed.S. programs work as teacher-leaders, assistant principals, principals, special education directors, curriculum coordinators and athletic directors. In addition, our graduates are prepared to work for nonprofit and government agencies specializing in education policy. Schools in Maine and across the United States are in need of qualified building and district-level leaders to fill open positions and to prepare for vacancies created by educators who retire or leave the profession for other reasons.
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, median pay for elementary, middle and high school principals is more than $104,000 per year. Median pay for instructional coordinators is approximately $74,000 annually.
For students wishing to continue on in graduate school, an M.Ed. provides an outstanding foundation for doctoral study in Educational Leadership, as well as related fields such as general education, special education and STEM education.
At a Glance
College of Education & Human Development
Degree Level
Master
Degree Earned
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Education Specialist in Educational Leadership
Mode of Study
Online
time to Complete Degree
37 Credits
Featured Courses
XXX 101
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XXX 101
Research Learning Experience
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Scholarships
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Accreditation
Our master’s and Ed.S. in Educational Leadership programs are designed for practicing educators who have already achieved initial teacher certification. Students who take certain electives can apply earned course credit toward Maine Department of Education Building Administration certification (MDOE certification 040). Contact Maine DOE for more information about certification and credentialing.
If you are interested in becoming certified as a K-12 teacher, check out one of our other programs that lead to initial licensure.
Next Steps
Contact
Education & Human Development
Maria Frankland
Senior Lecturer of Educational Leadership
Shibles Hall
umaine.edu/edhd
P
207.581.2738
International
Chadbourne Hall, Room 122
go.umaine.edu/international-undergraduate-admissions/
P
207.581.3437
F
207.581.2920
