Master of Education in Educational Leadership online

Apply by: 12/8/24
Start Class: 1/6/25

Program Overview

What our online educational leadership master’s offers you

As low as $11,190* Tuition
As few as 12 months Program Duration
33 Credit Hours

The Master of Education in Educational Leadership online program from Florida Gulf Coast University is designed for teachers with at least two years of experience who are seeking the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Level 1 Educational Leadership certification to become an assistant principal.

In the Florida Gulf Coast University online M.Ed. Educational Leadership program, you will gain the knowledge and disposition needed to meet the challenges of leadership positions in the complex environments of P-12 schools. Learn from our highly qualified faculty through a curriculum aligned with the Florida Principal Leadership Standards and explore the principles of educational leadership.

You will study issues pertinent to curriculum planning and development, school budgeting, critical elements of human resources, and examine current educational issues and trends. This degree program leads to certification upon successful completion of coursework, internship, and passing of the Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE).

CAEP Accredited Provider

The Florida Gulf Coast College of Education educator preparation programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and meet rigorous national standards for educator preparation set by CAEP.

Best online programs by US News World Report

Ranked among the "Best Online Master's in Education Programs" by U.S. News & World Report (2024)

Graduates of this online educational leadership program will be able to:

  • Develop and implement an instructional framework that aligns curriculum with state standards, effective instructional practices, student learning needs and assessments
  • Manage the organization, operations, and facilities in ways that maximize the use of resources to promote a safe, efficient, legal and effective learning environment
  • Understand two-way communications and use appropriate oral, written, and electronic communication and collaboration skills to accomplish school and system goals by building and maintaining relationships with students, faculty, parents, and community
  • Employ and monitor a decision-making process that is based on vision, mission, and improvement priorities using facts and data; specifically, use critical-thinking and problem-solving techniques to define problems and identify solutions
  • Develop and implement an instructional framework that aligns curriculum with state standards, effective instructional practices, student learning needs and assessments
  • Manage the organization, operations, and facilities in ways that maximize the use of resources to promote a safe, efficient, legal and effective learning environment
  • Understand two-way communications and use appropriate oral, written, and electronic communication and collaboration skills to accomplish school and system goals by building and maintaining relationships with students, faculty, parents, and community
  • Employ and monitor a decision-making process that is based on vision, mission, and improvement priorities using facts and data; specifically, use critical-thinking and problem-solving techniques to define problems and identify solutions
  • Develop and implement an instructional framework that aligns curriculum with state standards, effective instructional practices, student learning needs and assessments
  • Manage the organization, operations, and facilities in ways that maximize the use of resources to promote a safe, efficient, legal and effective learning environment
  • Understand two-way communications and use appropriate oral, written, and electronic communication and collaboration skills to accomplish school and system goals by building and maintaining relationships with students, faculty, parents, and community
  • Employ and monitor a decision-making process that is based on vision, mission, and improvement priorities using facts and data; specifically, use critical-thinking and problem-solving techniques to define problems and identify solutions

This program prepares you for K-12 education roles such as:

  • Assistant Principal
  • Department Chair
  • Instructional Coordinator
  • District Administrative Support Staff
  • Assistant Principal
  • Department Chair
  • Instructional Coordinator
  • District Administrative Support Staff

Also available

FGCU offers a variety of specialized education degrees. Check out all of our online education programs.

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Tuition

Find out how and when to pay your tuition

The M.Ed. Educational Leadership program offers affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition. All fees are included in the total tuition.

Tuition breakdown:

$373 Per Credit Hour
As low as $11,190* Total Tuition
Program Per Credit Hour Per Course Per Program
M.Ed. Ed Leadership $373 $1,119 $11,190

*Tuition is as low as $11,190. Waiver available for out-of-state tuition. Prices subject to change at any time.

Calendar

Important dates you need to know for our online education program

FGCU online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year. Get started today!

Now enrolling:

12/8/24 Next Application Deadline
1/6/25 Start Classes
First StartsProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlineTuition DeadlineDrop/Add DeadlineLast Class Day
Spring 11/6/2512/8/2412/15/241/5/251/10/251/8/252/22/25
Spring 23/10/252/9/252/23/253/9/253/14/253/12/254/26/25
Ready to take the next step toward earning your online degree from FGCU?

Admissions

Being admitted to our online program

At FGCU, we've streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the online master’s in educational leadership, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them.

Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited university
GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
Teaching certificate required

You must meet the following requirements for admission to the M.Ed. Educational Leadership online program.

  • Submit graduate application and $30 application fee
  • Official academic transcripts from every college or university attended
  • Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • A minimum 3.0 overall GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 semester hours accrued to the undergraduate degree OR a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Teaching certificate required
  • Two years of teaching experience. Documentation confirms the candidate has successfully completed two years of classroom teaching experience at an effective or highly effective level from:
    • Current or former supervising principal (two evaluations)
    • A letter from employer HR
  • One-page personal statement about the applicant's career and personal goals connected with pursuing a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership.
  • For international students: a TOEFL exam with a minimum score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based)

Official transcripts, test scores and other documents should be sent from the granting institutions to:

Email address: [email protected]

Mailing address:

10501 FGCU Blvd. South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565
FGCU - Ranked #7

FGCU is ranked #7 (tie) among the “Most Innovative Schools, Regional Universities South” by U.S. News & World Report (2022)

Courses

What you’ll learn in your online M.Ed. Educational Leadership courses

For the M.Ed. Educational Leadership online program, you must complete 30-33 credit hours, which includes 320 internship hours. Internships are completed throughout the program.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is a survey course that introduces students to Educational Leadership as a profession. Consideration of organization, control, and support of the educational system. Typically, this is a student's first course in the program in Educational Leadership. Open to all graduate students.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Addresses leadership theory, change, and planning systems. Course focuses on historical and current best practices in leadership and change theory.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Basic essentials of School Law. A review of court decisions affecting American education with emphasis on Florida state statutes.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Financial support of education by local, state, federal sources, with emphasis on Florida; introduction to educational budgeting.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theory and application of statistical procedures to problems in education: descriptive statistics, probability sampling, inferential statistics, interpretation of results, and introduction to computer programming for statistical analysis.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of statistical terms and differentiate between descriptive and inferential statistics.
  • Identify measurement scales of variables.
  • Summarize data using measures of central tendency and measures of variation.
  • Describe and interpret data using appropriate techniques.
  • Identify distributional shapes and attributes.
  • Apply, calculate, and interpret several univariate statistical procedures.
  • Identify a correct statistical procedure based on real research questions.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines instructional leadership as it is related to curriculum development and continuous school improvement with a focus on organization of the curriculum, learning, accountability, and assessment issues.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Enables educational leaders to explore issues that are pertinent to curriculum planning, development, implementation, and evaluation, and to make informed, research-based decisions related to instructional design, teaching, and learning.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on critical elements of human resource development in educational settings. Particular emphasis is on staff development and on improving and evaluating instruction.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Provides information and skills necessary for administrators and teachers to effectively use the computer and application software to manage information. Students use programs such as word processors, database managers, and spreadsheets to facilitate management tasks at the school and classroom level. In addition, general computer education topics are covered which provide for the computer literacy of school administrators.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Field Experience Workshop will be waived for candidates who have successfully completed external field experience activities prior to enrollment into EDA 6948 Final Leadership Seminar. Waiver of EDA 6942 will reduce the program of study to 30 credits.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Course designed to allow educational leadership candidates to complete their last internship/field experience, complete their portfolios, write, and defend their final essay, and get ready to successfully complete the Florida Educational Leadership exam (FELE)

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