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College of Education

Educational Leadership, M.Ed. / Ed.S.

Educational Leadership M.Ed. / Ed.S

Included in the overall #1 ranking for the Best Online Graduate Education Program by U.S. News and World Report, our online Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership programs are for experienced educators who want to learn how to serve students and communities collaboratively and to acquire the necessary skills to solve the complex problems facing schools today. 

 

  • Overview

    Our online Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership programs are for experienced educators who want to learn how to serve students and communities collaboratively and to acquire the necessary skills to solve the complex problems facing schools today. The M.Ed. and Ed.S. programs combine the educational excellence that Clemson University is known for with the flexibility that many educators need. The programs enable students to earn an advanced degree in educational leadership. The Ed.S. is a post-master’s degree and is appropriate for people who already have a master’s degree. Our graduates become principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, curriculum specialists, and serve in a wide variety of building-level and district-level leadership roles.

  • Admission Requirements

    The Educational Leadership master’s and specialist programs admits students for fall entrance only. Only complete applications are considered for admission.

    Application Deadlines

    • January 15, priority deadline 
      • Applications will be reviewed for early decisions. Applicants are encouraged to apply by this date as cohorts fill up quickly.
    • May 1, traditional deadline 

    Application Requirements 

    To be considered for the Program, applicants must: 

    • Have completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or from a recognized international University with a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a US bachelor's.
    • Be working in or have access to an educational setting.
    • Have a minimum of two years teaching experience.
    • Submit an online Graduate School application which requires:
      • Unofficial transcript(s) (official transcripts will be required if you are accepted into the program.)
      • A current resume
      • Three recommendation forms
        • Recommendation forms should be submitted by references who can speak to your teaching and/or leadership experiences.
        • At least one recommendation must come from a building-level or district-level leader
      • A personal statement 
        • Prompts will be provided within the application
      • Meet one of the following criteria:
        • Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores taken within the last five years 
        • A GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the last degree earned
        • At least five years of classroom teaching experience with at least two years in a leadership position (e.g., subject or team leader, department chair, after school program coordinator)
        • Alternative graduate level exam (e.g., MAT, LSAT, & MCAT)

    Students seeking building-level certification in South Carolina, or any other state in the United States, should consult the relevant educational authorities for information regarding certification requirements.

    Additional information concerning supporting materials

  • Program Delivery

    Courses are offered in eight-week terms (excluding summers, which are six-week terms). Taking one course at a time, students complete two courses each semester.

    With the support of CU Online, Clemson uses the most advanced online technology to provide a rich, supportive, seamless learning environment. Courses are asynchronous thus allowing students to access courses when and where they need. 

    While students have great flexibility in asynchronous learning, there are key deadlines in each course when learning modules must be completed. Students are provided with timely support from instructors and technology personnel so that learning is maximized. 

    Canvas, a very user-friendly learning management system, is used for all courses to guide the learning experiences. An orientation module will be provided before the start of the program to allow students to become comfortable with expectations and the technologies before classes formally start.

  • Master of Education (M.Ed.) Options - Building Level

    Master of Education (M.Ed.) Options- Building Level

    Option 1: M.Ed. with South Carolina building-level certification 
    Option 1 is for certified South Carolina educators. This option includes a 30-hour core and two internships and leads to either elementary or secondary building-level administrative certification. 

    Option 2: M.Ed. with potential for out-of-state building-level certification*  
    Option 2 is for educators certified in a state other than South Carolina. In this option, students may be able to apply for certification in their own state by completing Clemson’s 30-hour core and transferring in six internship credit hours from another accredited program. 

    * Clemson’s M.Ed. is fully accredited in South Carolina. Educators interested in receiving certification in another state are responsible for consulting with their state education agencies to determine their specific certification requirements.

    Option 3: M.Ed. 
    Option 3 is for educators desiring an educational leadership degree without certification. In this option, students may take the 30-hour core and add two graduate-level electives. Students may choose from a range of electives taught online from across Clemson’s College of Education. These courses are in areas such as athletic leadership, human resource development, online instructional design, literacy, and STEAM, and may be used to earn additional certifications. Students may also transfer in the six credit hours from another accredited university.

     

  • Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Options - Building Level

    Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Options- Building Level

    Option 1: Ed.S. with South Carolina building-level certification
    Option 1 is for certified South Carolina educators. This option includes a 30-hour core and two internships and leads to either elementary or secondary building-level administrative certification.

    Option 2: Ed.S. with potential for out-of-state building-level certification*
    Option 2 is for educators certified in a state other than South Carolina. In this option, students may be able to apply for certification in their own state by completing Clemson’s 30-hour core and transferring in six internship credit hours from another accredited program.  

    * Clemson’s Ed.S. is fully accredited in South Carolina. Educators interested in receiving certification in another state are responsible for consulting with their state education agencies to determine their specific certification requirements.

    Option 3: Ed.S. 
    Option 3 is for educators desiring an educational leadership degree without certification. In this option, students simply complete the 30-hour core.

     

  • Program Requirements - M.Ed. - Building Level

    The M.Ed. consists of 12 courses, totaling 36 credit hours, with a ten-course, 30-credit core. The six-semester program can be completed in 24 months with two courses offered each fall, spring, and summer. All courses are taken online and have field-based learning experiences embedded in them. The course sequence features a developmental approach to leadership in schools and communities with attention to the effects of rurality, poverty, and race on learning conditions and on student and community development. For those seeking certification, two internships are required. Non-certification students may choose from elective courses in programs across Clemson’s College of Education or transfer in electives from other programs. As the M.Ed. includes many applied experiences, students must be working in or have access to an educational setting. 

    – First Year –

    Fall 
    EDLL 8000 – Introduction to School Leadership 
    EDLL 8050 – Contemporary Issues in School Leadership

    Spring 
    EDLL 8200 – School Personnel Development 
    EDLL 8250 – Law and Ethics for School Leaders

    Summer 
    EDLL 8100 – Organizational Improvement in School Leadership 
    EDLL 8300 – Instructional Leadership I

    – Second Year –

    Fall 
    EDLL 8400 – Instructional Leadership II
    EDLL 8500/8550 – School Internship I or Elective

    Spring 
    EDLL 8150 – Community Relations for School Leaders 
    EDLL 8450 – Resource Management for School Leaders

    Summer 
    EDLL 8350 – Program Evaluation for School Leaders 
    EDLL 8510/8560 – School Internship II or Elective

    * Internship is only required for those seeking South Carolina certification (option 1)

  • Program Requirements - Ed.S. - Building Level

    Building-Level Certification
    The Ed.S. consists of a 10-course, 30-credit core, with two additional internship courses required for those seeking building-level certification. The six-semester program can be completed in 24 months with two courses offered each fall, spring and summer. All courses are taken online and have field-based learning experiences embedded in them. The course sequence features a developmental approach to leadership in schools and communities with attention to the effects of rurality, poverty, and race on learning conditions and on student and community development. For those seeking certification, two internships are required. As the Ed.S. includes many applied experiences, students must be working in or have access to an educational setting.

    – First Year –

    Fall 
    EDLL 8000 – Introduction to School Leadership 
    EDLL 8050 – Contemporary Issues in School Leadership 

    Spring 
    EDLL 8200 – School Personnel Development 
    EDLL 8250 – Law and Ethics for School Leaders 

    Summer 
    EDLL 8100 – Organizational Improvement in School Leadership 
    EDLL 8300 – Instructional Leadership I

    – Second Year –

    Fall 
    EDLL 8400 – Instructional Leadership II
    EDLL 8500/8550 – School Internship I or Elective

    Spring 
    EDLL 8150 – Community Relations for School Leaders 
    EDLL 8450 – Resource Management for School Leaders 

    Summer 
    EDLL 8350 – Program Evaluation for School Leaders 
    EDLL 8510/8560 – School Internship II or Elective

    * Internship is only required for those seeking South Carolina certification (option 1)

  • Program Requirements - Ed.S. - District Level

    District-Level Certification
    The district-level Ed.S. consists of a 10-course, 30-credit core, which includes two sequenced internship courses required for those seeking district-level certification. The five-semester program can be completed in 20 months with two courses offered each fall, spring, and summer. All courses are taken online and have field-based learning experiences embedded in them. The course sequence features a developmental approach to leadership in schools and communities with attention to the effects of rurality, poverty, and race on learning conditions and on student and community development. For those seeking certification, two internships are required. For those interested in the degree-only, two elective courses approved by the student’s advisor and two advising committee members, may be substituted for the two, sequenced internships. As the Ed.S. includes many applied experiences, students must be working in or have access to an educational setting. 

    – First Year – 

    Fall
    EDL 8050 – Advanced Educational Leadership: Theory and Practice 
    EDL 8150 – The Superintendency 

    Spring 
    EDL 8100 – School Facilities Planning 
    EDL 8200 – Politics of Education 

    Summer
    EDL 9250 – School System Instructional Leadership
    EDL 8300 – Finance in School Systems

    – Second Year –
     
    Fall 
    EDIS 9360 – Advanced Program Evaluation
    EDL 8400 – Field Problems in School Administration and Supervision of Instruction 

    Spring
    EDL 8500 – Internship in School System Leadership 1 
    EDL 8510 – Internship in School System Leadership 2

    OR

    Degree-Only (no certification) 
    Two elective courses, approved by advisor & two Ed.S. advising committee members

  • Financial Information

    Tuition and Fees
    Explore information on tuition and fees using the Student Financial Services’ tuition and fee calculator (be sure to choose the ‘online’ tab at the top of the page).

    South Carolina Teacher Incentive
    The Educational Leadership M.Ed. and Ed.S. offers a South Carolina Teacher Incentive reducing tuition by 10% for all SC K-12 teachers and leaders.

    Financial Aid
    For information regarding Financial Aid, please contact the office of Student Financial Aid.

  • Information Sessions & Calendar

    Review our College of Education Graduate Calendar to view upcoming events and information sessions.

  • Find Out More

    For more information regarding the program or questions associated with applying to this program, please contact us at coegrad@clemson.edu.

Department of Educational and Organizational Leadership Development
Department of Educational and Organizational Leadership Development | 330 Gantt Circle