College of Education

Educational Leadership Graduate Programs

The College of Education offers a full program of educational leadership graduate studies, from graduate certificates and leadership endorsements to the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degrees. The programmatic focus is on developing leaders in educational settings, with an emphasis on P-12 settings. For most graduates, program focus leads to professional building or district licensure as a school principal or superintendent.

Our primary goal is to prepare educational leaders to acquire knowledge, establish beliefs, and develop skills in the following areas.Specifically, we believe that an educational leader promotes the success of all students through the actions outlined in the Kansas Building and District Leadership Standards and the National Educational Leadership Preparation Program Standards.

  • Mission, Vision, and Improvement
  • Ethical Decisions and Professional Norms
  • Equity, Inclusiveness, and Cultural Responsiveness
  • Learning and Instruction
  • Community and External Leadership
  • Operations and Management
  • Policy, Governance, and Advocacy
  • Building Professional Capacity
  • Internship Experience

Some of our programming is available online (online program links below will take you to K-State Online website).

Educational Leadership Master's Degree (Online w/ Synchronous sessions)

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Educational Leadership is a professional degree program principally for preparing skilled practitioners. Students who desire a building-level (principal) endorsement should select this degree/program to meet the requirements of the state of Kansas for professional licensure. Additionally, students who intend to assume other significant leadership roles in public schools, apart from professional licensure, should consider this degree.

Educational Leadership Doctorate (Ed.D.)

(Distance with Synchronous class sessions)

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership is a professional degree program principally for preparing skilled practitioners. Students who do not already hold a district-level (superintendent) endorsement may tailor course work in their emphasis area to meet that license requirement. Each student’s program of study is individualized with the approval of the major professor and the supervisory committee to optimize the student’s interests, expertise, and goals.

Qualitative Research Graduate Certificate (Online)

This 18-credit hour graduate certificate is offered in response to the demand for trained qualitative researchers at the national and international levels. Students will be introduced to learning qualitative methods from a broad social science perspective so they understand how qualitative research has been taken up in education and other fields. This experience will allow students to make connection between different parts of the inquiry process, thereby developing a stronger understanding of how to conceptualize, execute, and report projects conducted through qualitative inquiry.

Indigenous Educational Leadership Graduate Certificate (Online)

This graduate certificate is designed to work with, and alongside, other educators serving American Indian students nationwide. Anyone working in the field of education looking to improve their ability to serve American Indian populations. Ideal for teachers, leaders, Indian education program coordinators, and tribal education and can be completed in one year.

 

Leadership Licensures

For more information about Educational Leadership graduate programs, contact Dr. Royce Ann Collins at racollin@k-state.edu.