EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT M.Ed. Program
About the Program|Admission|Financial Aid|Advising|Program of Study|Documents|Practicum|FELE|Portfolio|Graduation|Other

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About the Program
The M.Ed. program in Educational Leadership Development is designed for teachers and other practicing school professionals who want to earn a master’s degree and Florida K-12 Instructional Leadership certification. The program’s constructivist, standards-based approach to studying school leadership provides a balance between theory and practice. It is structured to build the requisite skills and knowledge needed to successfully complete the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) and enable graduates to be effective leaders in today’s educational settings. Course design and scheduling address the needs of working professionals and candidates.

Candidates must maintain at least 3.0 grade point average (GPA) with no course lower than a C. An approved Planned Program (36 graduate hours) and an Electronic Program Portfolio in the Collaborative Digital Network (CDN) must be successfully completed for graduation. Passage of the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) will be required for graduation, effective for all candidates admitted fall semester, 2008 and after.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the following:

• A. Present satisfactory evidence of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution (include official, original and unsealed, transcripts with application).
• B. Hold a current Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate (include a copy with application).
• C. Have a minimum of two years teaching experience or its equivalent under a full time contract (include documentation with application).
• D. Meet at least one of the following:
  • 1. Shall have earned a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with at least a 3.0 GPA, or
  • 2. Shall have earned a “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) GPA or better in all work attempted while registered as an undergraduate student, or as an upper division undergraduate student, working for a baccalaureate degree, or
  • 3. Shall have a total verbal plus quantitative GRE General Test score of 1000 or higher, taken within five years preceding application.
• E. Complete a letter of intent, briefly stating goals for the degree (include letter with application).
• F. Submit documentation of completion of 60 hours of English for Speaker of Other Languages (ESOL) or written plan to complete 60 hours before graduation.
• G. Submit three letters of recommendation (professional references, at least two from current administrators) with application.

Financial Aid / Scholarships Information
Please visit our Financial Aid / Scholarships section to navigate through the financial aid and scholarships information.

Advising
Rory Morris-Richardson,
Graduate Advisor
727-873-4273
rorym@stpt.usf.edu

Program of Study (Program Courses)

Program of Studies Sequence, Effective Fall of 2005

• Area A:
  EDA 6061 Principles of Educational Administration (3)
  EDG 6931 Technology and Data Analysis (3)

EDG 6627 Foundations of Curriculum & Instruction (3)
EDF 6492 Applied Educational Program Evaluation (3)

• Area B:
  EDG 6285 School Curriculum Improvement (3)
  EDA 6232 School Law (3)
  
  EDS 6050 Principles & Practices of Educational Supervision (3)
  EDA 6242 School Finance (3)
  
  
• Area C:
  EDA 6106 Administrative Analysis and Change (3)
  EDA 6503 The Principalship (3)
  
  EDA 6192 Educational Leadership (3)
  EDA 6945 Administrative Practicum (3)

Total Program Hours 36 credit hours

All program coursework is sequenced and all courses in a level must be taken before proceeding to the next level. It is recommended that Areas A and B be completed before taking the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE).

Forms/Documents for Students
Please visit our Forms & Documents for Students section to download and print documents and forms.

Practicum Information

Attaintment of the Bridging proficiency level or above on the ten Florida Principal Leadership Standards is required for participation in the administrative practicum.

PREPARING FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICUM

• Complete and submit the Administrative Practicum Application to your advisor by the 5th day of the semester, one semester prior to enrolling in the practicum.
• Speak with an administrator at your school that you feel would be a good mentor. Ask him/her if he/she is willing to be your mentor.
• Succesfully complete your practicum proposal by the required deadline, including a copy of the Collaborative Digital Network (CDN) Leadership Full Report indicating you have met the ten Florida Principal Leadership Standards at the Bridging Proficiency Level or above.

INTRODUCTION

The primary goal of the Administrative Practicum is to link the theoretical and philosophical frameworks of educational leadership to practice. The course requires students to serve in a school setting assisting an organizational leader. During the practicum, the student is expected to assist in significant and varied administrative responsibilities under the guidance of a supervising administrator or mentor. The goal is to develop the aspiring administrator’s leadership and management abilities by engaging in problem analysis, data collection, and problem-solving with others at the work site, addressing areas such as budgeting procedures, school/community relations, facility maintenance and repair, interpretation and use of statistical data especially for school improvement planning, curriculum development, student and program evaluation, staff development, scheduling, and the uses of technology.

Beyond the practical experience provided, these experiences are designed to assist students with integrating knowledge from course work and to provide a basis for assessing their professional strengths and their needs for further development. Through a combination of course work and field experiences, candidates should begin to develop the necessary competencies to lead a learning community.

You may find that being in a leadership role, such as a team leader or department chair, will be advantageous during the practicum, as it provides additional opportunities to practice administrative skills and decision-making. Those who have been in a leadership role for one or more years prior to the practicum will find that this enriches their administrative practicum experience immensely.

You should be prepared to devote preparation time, lunches, and evenings to administrative experiences. Supervision of after school and evening student activities is a normal and expected part of the administrative experience, as is lunch supervision. Many discipline problems take extended time to resolve, and the use of professional or personal leave is often the only way that a teacher can gain the uninterrupted full days necessary to handle a problem situation from beginning to end.

It is the practicum student’s responsibility to negotiate and schedule his/her time.

• Arrangements that may be made in one school may not be allowed in another.
• Students should not assume that release time would be available, even if it has been previously available for other students. This is entirely at the discretion of the district, and in some districts, at the discretion of the building principal. The student should discuss his/her needs with the supervising administrator and accept the decision made by that person.

COURSE GOALS

You are encouraged to identify an administrator in your work site who would be receptive to working with you and to assisting you in acquiring experiences beneficial to both your goals and the work of your school. During your practicum experience, you should: 1) gain additional experience and confidence in your abilities, 2) provide real administrative assistance in your work setting, and 3) increase your visibility as a potential administrator in the eyes of those with whom you work and who might be helpful in advancing you toward your career objectives.

The internship is to be done during the last semester of a student's program. All or nearly all required coursework should be completed. Before a student will be allowed to enroll for the practicum, he/she must be admitted to the USFSP College of Education program in Educational Leadership Development.

MAJOR COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• Attend on campus seminars.
• Perform duties as assigned by the supervising administrator.
• Create a practicum portfolio as identified by the practicum syllabus.
• Maintain a practicum activities log; log 120 clock hours.
• Reach the Bridging proficiency level on the ten Florida Principal Leadership Standards

FELE Information
Please visit our FELE exam section to navigate through the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) process.

Portfolio / E-Portfolio
Please visit our Portfolio section to navigate through the portfolio/e-portfolio process.

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for graduation, a candidate must earn an overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. No grade of C- or below will be accepted toward degree requirements. For candidates admitted to the program in fall 2007 or thereafter, all requirements for the master’s degree must be completed within five years. Successful completion of a comprehensive exam if admitted prior to January of 2004, or successful completion of a program portfolio by the posted due date if admitted January of 2004 and after is required. The successful completion of an electronic, rather than paper, program portfolio is required if admitted or readmitted spring 2007 or thereafter. The portfolio must contain evidence of a proficiency level of Fulfilled on the ten Florida Principal Leadership Standards. Candidates must be enrolled in a minimum of 2 credit hours the semester that graduation is applied for, and that the comprehensive exam or portfolio is submitted. Evidence of passage of the FELE will be required for graduation, effective for all candidates admitted fall semester, 2008 and after.

• Complete and submit the USF Graduate Degree Application to your advisor by the 15th day of the semester, one semester prior to anticipated graduation. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 2 credit hours the actual semester of graduation.
• Complete and submit an Application for Master’s Comprehensive Examination/Portfolio Submission (CE or PS) to your advisor by the 15th day of the semester, one semester prior to anticipated completion of the comprehensive exam or the portfolio. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 2 credit hours the actual semester of taking the comprehensive examination or submitting the program portfolio.
• Complete required registration information by the designated deadline in order to participate in the commencement ceremony.
• The registration form, other information, and announcements regarding the commencement ceremony can be found at: http://usfweb2.usf.edu/commencement/stpete.asp.

Other Information

STATE CERTIFICATION
Apply to the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) to add Educational Leadership to your certificate. The FDOE requires passage of the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) for certification.