Program Overview
What our online educational leadership master’s offers you
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).
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.
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.
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:
| 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:
| First Starts | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Drop/Add Deadline | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/6/25 | 11/25/24 | 12/2/24 | 1/5/25 | 1/10/25 | 1/8/25 | 2/22/25 |
| Spring 2 | 3/10/25 | 2/3/25 | 2/14/25 | 3/9/25 | 3/14/25 | 3/12/25 | 4/26/25 |
| Summer 1 | 5/5/25 | 3/30/25 | 4/16/25 | 5/4/25 | 5/9/25 | 5/7/25 | 6/21/25 |
| Summer 2 | 6/23/25 | 5/18/25 | 5/25/25 | 6/22/25 | 6/27/25 | 6/25/25 | 8/9/25 |
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.
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. SouthFort Myers, FL 33965-6565
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.
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.
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