Specialist in Educational Leadership (Online)
This program is offered fully online via a blend of synchronous and asynchronous courses to meet the needs of working professionals.
Offered fully online, the specialist degree in educational leadership in the Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology at Western Michigan University will prepare you for leadership roles in educational administration positions and is appropriate if you are seeking a post-master's degree, but not a doctoral degree. In addition to the Ed.S. degree, a student can be recommended to receive Michigan Administrator Certification.
Why specialist in education leadership at Western Michigan University?
- The Ed.S. degree is a great option for those who already have a Master's degree, and are seeking additional advanced graduate learning.
- Full alignment with the state administrator certification, including an option to earn the school-level administrative certificate, and an option to earn the central office endorsement.
- To support working professionals, ALL required courses are available fully online.
- New! Earn up to 12 of the 24 required credits with our Prior Learning Assessment program. Learn more.
Interested in learning more? Please join us for an upcoming virtual information session!
Ed. Specialist options and course requirements
- EDLD 6300 – Data-Informed Decision-Making, Research and Evaluation
- EDLD 6610 – School Law & Ethics
- EDLD 6620 – School Business Management
- EDLD 6640 – Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Leadership
- EDLD 6670 – The Principalship
- EDLD 6730 – Instructional Leadership and Supervision
- EDLD 6740 – School Community Relations and Cultural Competence
- EDLD 6793 – Principal Internship I
- *EDLD 6060 – Organizational Change for Complex Systems
- EDLD 6630 – Maximizing Human Capacity with Adaptive Personnel Practices
- *EDLD 6650 – Principles and Practices of Adult Learning
- EDLD 6720 – Strategic District Finance and Operations
- EDLD 6800 – High Impact District Governance and Community Relations
- EDLD 6810 – Law, Policy, and Ethics for District Leaders
- EDLD 6850 – Dynamic Systems for District-level Instructional Leadership and Assessment
- EDLD 7120 – Professional Field Experience/Internship
Admissions
Applicants to the Ed.S. program should review admission deadlines, criteria for admission, and application link, which can be found on the admissions requirement page. A student must have a completed master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA prior to beginning the Ed.S. in educational leadership program. No GRE required!
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Admission decisions take approximately two weeks after all materials are received.
Note: To complete many course assignments, and to have a mentor for an administrator internship, applicants must be employed within a K-12 setting OR have access to a school district setting.
Admissions requirements
- A professional resume or curriculum vita
- Must have at least three years of professional career or leadership experience.
- A written narrative describing applicant's professional goals and how this specialist degree program fits with those goals. If you are NOT currently employed within a school district, explain how you will have access to such a setting for various assignments, and to a mentor for your required administrative internship.
- Applicants must have a master's degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or better as indicated on an official transcript.
- Applicants must submit an official transcript from the institution from which you received your Bachelor degree, as well as a transcript from institution(s) where any graduate level courses or degrees have been taken/completed. Applicants are not required to submit an official transcript of courses taken/completed at Western Michigan University.
- General GRE scores are no longer required for application to this program.
Multi-year course offering/planning tools
Newsletter
The Lead is a monthly online publication that highlights the work of our Educational Leadership (K-12) programs, and contains a wide-array of information relevant to school administrators; it also celebrates the work of our alumni, students and faculty. Visit The Lead newsletter page for all issues.
Licensing
Starting, January 2025, the State of Michigan will be requiring state testing for those that are wanting to attain a School Administrator license for either the Central Office or Building Level. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.
Cost & Funding
Helpful links
Questions?
