Program Options
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Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) – Educational Leadership
Credit Hours: 30
The Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership is a post-master’s degree designed for educators who aspire to serve in district-level leadership and superintendent roles. Through advanced coursework and practical application, candidates develop the expertise needed to lead educational organizations, manage complex systems, and drive student success across an entire district.
The program focuses on building strategic leadership capacity while preparing graduates to navigate educational policy, finance, personnel management, community relations, and organizational change.
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District Level Leader Licensure
Credit Hours: 24
The District Level Leader Licensure program is designed for educators who already hold an advanced degree and wish to pursue superintendent licensure without completing an additional degree program.
Candidates develop the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions necessary to effectively lead school districts while meeting licensure requirements for district-level administration. Coursework focuses on strategic planning, educational leadership, district operations, finance, policy implementation, and community engagement.
Admission Requirements
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General Requirements
- Master's Degree with a Minimum 2.5 Cumulative GPA
- in Educational Leadership or related discipline from accredited institution
- Administrator's License
- Master's Degree with a Minimum 2.5 Cumulative GPA
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Letter of Recommendation
Candidates will submit a letter of recommendation from the superintendent, principal, or his or her designee at the school district. A letter template is provided. Signature of an administrator or designated supervisor is required on the letter. Letter is required to document teacher effectiveness and leadership abilities prior to admission.
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Interview
An online interview may be conducted during the fall or spring orientation for new candidates. Following the interview process, the candidate’s advisor will notify the Graduate Studies Coordinator of the candidate's status.
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Curriculum Plan
Candidates will complete the appropriate candidacy form for degree or program selected. Candidacy forms are available online and should be completed with the supervision of the candidate’s assigned advisor or the chair of the EDL department. Worksheets are provided to show course sequence and availability.
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SoR Prescribed Pathway for Proficiency Credential
Candidates are required to provide documentation of Science of Reading Phase 1 Prescribed Pathway for Proficiency during the application process. Phase I outlines professional learning that meets the knowledge and practices in scientific reading instruction approved by the DESE.
If a candidate does not have this credential at admission, he or she will be required to complete Phase 1 training prior to completion of the program. The candidate will have to complete one of the approved pathways listed on the DESE website.
Documentation of the Phase 1 training must be provided prior to the completion of the program for those working toward Arkansas licensure. This requirement will be communicated to the applicant throughout the application process. Candidates are encouraged to have all admissions items submitted prior to the end of the first semester enrolled. Candidates who are missing required admissions documents are notified frequently by the Educational Leadership office.
Courses
Required Educational Leadership courses (1 curriculum, 1 technology) for the Ed.S. - Educational Leadership and District Level Leader Licensure tracks.
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EDLE 71103: Executive Leadership
Credit Hours: 3
This course explores the personal leadership style, knowledge, skills, and attributes of effective leadership. It is designed to develop the skills of the school leader in developing vision and purpose of the school, use information, frame problems, and act ethically in the context of the role of educational leader.
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EDLE 72203: Facilities Management
Credit Hours: 3
This is a course in planning, financing, constructing, maintenance, and operations of the school plant. This course will prepare district leaders with increased knowledge for creating appropriate twenty-first century educational learning environments.
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EDLE 72303: Educational Specialist Research
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to prepare educational leaders to become more effective and efficient administrators through the application of educational research in the school setting. Emphasis is placed on the use of state and local school or district data, data analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
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EDLE 73603: Governance and Politics
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on relationships between the superintendent and the school board, collaborative duties of the superintendent and the school board, and requirements of the law for all issues concerning school district practices.
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EDLE 74703: Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction
Credit Hours: 3
This course encourages candidates to construct insight related to the philosophical, theoretical and historical foundations of curriculum and educational improvement. The main course goal is for students to examine curricular theory and research as they apply to educational transformation in leadership and instruction. Such 95 inquiry is conducted in the context of the social, psychological and political milieu for curriculum and schooling.
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EDLE 75903: Fiscal Resources and Accountability
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the development of sound fiscal management procedures, development of accountability and auditing factors associated with effective school management.
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EDLE 76103: Mentorship in Educational Leadership
Credit Hours: 3
With 217+ internship hours.
This course provides significant opportunities in the workplace that gives the leadership candidate the opportunity to synthesize and to apply the strategic, instructional, organizational, and contextual leadership competencies of the program of study. Candidates work under the guidance of a district level administrator and a university professor on authentic problems and activities that require candidates to demonstrate leadership skills and practices fundamental to the performance of a district level administrator. Experiences are jointly planned and supervised by university and district level personnel.
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EDLE 77273: Technology for District Administrators
Credit Hours: 3
District level leadership candidates will learn to use technology to collect and analyze data and examine security measures needed to protect district technology systems. Candidates will be introduced to social, legal and ethical issues arising out of the use of technology. The course will focus on district technology planning and funding.
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EDLE 73703: Program Improvement and Design (Curriculum Elective)
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides the candidate with opportunities to assess data and investigate strategies to improve instructional practices leading to improved student achievement. The candidate will examine a variety of program design and develop plans to evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs.
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EDLE 70103: Curriculum Alignment and Assessment (Curriculum Elective)
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces administrators to methods and procedures for effective curriculum design, development, and implementation. It includes the implementation of effective assessment practices.
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EDLE 77703: Integrating Technology (Technology Elective)
Credit Hours: 3
This course addresses specific technologies and how to integrate them into instruction. Integrating technology into the curriculum requires both technological skill and knowledge of curricular and pedagogical issues entailed in the process. Thus, in addition to developing specific technological skills, candidates will explore different ways of using technology in instruction, assessment, research, and professional development. Candidates examine current technological trends, pedagogical issues, and scholarly research addressing the integration of technology in teaching and learning.
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EDLE 71703: Communication for Leaders (Technology Elective)
Credit Hours: 3
In this course candidates will examine uses of technology to market school districts and to increase communication with all stakeholders. Candidates learn to use various technology to communicate with the school and business community.
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EDLE 71103: Executive Leadership
Credit Hours: 3
This course explores the personal leadership style, knowledge, skills, and attributes of effective leadership. It is designed to develop the skills of the school leader in developing vision and purpose of the school, use information, frame problems, and act ethically in the context of the role of educational leader.
-
EDLE 72203: Facilities Management
Credit Hours: 3
This is a course in planning, financing, constructing, maintenance, and operations of the school plant. This course will prepare district leaders with increased knowledge for creating appropriate twenty-first century educational learning environments.
-
EDLE 72303: Educational Specialist Research
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to prepare educational leaders to become more effective and efficient administrators through the application of educational research in the school setting. Emphasis is placed on the use of state and local school or district data, data analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
-
EDLE 73603: Governance and Politics
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on relationships between the superintendent and the school board, collaborative duties of the superintendent and the school board, and requirements of the law for all issues concerning school district practices.
-
EDLE 74703: Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction
Credit Hours: 3
This course encourages candidates to construct insight related to the philosophical, theoretical and historical foundations of curriculum and educational improvement. The main course goal is for students to examine curricular theory and research as they apply to educational transformation in leadership and instruction. Such 95 inquiry is conducted in the context of the social, psychological and political milieu for curriculum and schooling.
-
EDLE 75903: Fiscal Resources and Accountability
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the development of sound fiscal management procedures, development of accountability and auditing factors associated with effective school management.
-
EDLE 76103: Mentorship in Educational Leadership
Credit Hours: 3
With 217+ internship hours.
This course provides significant opportunities in the workplace that gives the leadership candidate the opportunity to synthesize and to apply the strategic, instructional, organizational, and contextual leadership competencies of the program of study. Candidates work under the guidance of a district level administrator and a university professor on authentic problems and activities that require candidates to demonstrate leadership skills and practices fundamental to the performance of a district level administrator. Experiences are jointly planned and supervised by university and district level personnel.
-
EDLE 77273: Technology for District Administrators
Credit Hours: 3
District level leadership candidates will learn to use technology to collect and analyze data and examine security measures needed to protect district technology systems. Candidates will be introduced to social, legal and ethical issues arising out of the use of technology. The course will focus on district technology planning and funding.
Resources
Contact
Dr. Holly Cothren
Associate Professor and Coordinator
870-230-5405
cothreh@hsu.edu