Educational Administration (EdS)

Admission Requirements

  • Evidence of bachelor’s and master's degrees
  • Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work

Admission to this Program

  • A 3.3 grade point average from the master's degree program
  • Signed copies of the following forms: Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement and Professional Code of Ethics for Kentucky School Personnel
Includes both Principal Certification and Supervisor of Instruction Certification

Degree Program Admission Requirements

  • Joint screening by ELEOD Department and local school district personnel
  • A written rationale for pursuing the degree (limit of one page)
  • A current resume
  • Your philosophy of education (not to exceed two pages)
  • Two written letters of recommendation attesting to the candidate's skills and understanding of (a) ability to improve student achievement, (b) leadership, (c) advanced knowledge of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. One must be from the current site supervisor.
  • Three years of successful K-12 teaching experience in Kentucky or three years (one year = 140 contract days) of successful K-12 teaching outside the state of Kentucky.

Program Requirements

LEAD 633Systems and Structures for School Improvement3
LEAD 634FUNDAMENTALS OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP3
LEAD 635Building and Sustaining Professional Learning Communities3
LEAD 636Creating Equitable & Reliable Learning Environments3
MIDPOINT ASSESSMENT
Satisfactory dispositions assessment 1
LEAD 637Ensuring High Performance School and Community Engagement3
LEAD 620Education Law and Policy Review in P-12 Education3
LEAD 622Fiscal and Human Resources in P-12 Education3
LEAD 782Reflective Practice for School Leaders3
Total Hours for Level 1 224
LEAD 609Internship in Educational Leadership3
LEAD Electives 33
EXIT ASSESSMENT 4
Minimum Total Credit Hours for EdS30
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Rank I 560

Degree Program Completion Requirements

A grade point average of 3.3 in all courses counting on this program

Successful completion of a capstone in LEAD 782 at the completion of Level 1

Successful completion of a program portfolio at the end of Level 2. Information about the portfolio is found in "Guidelines for Portfolio Completion Requirement," available from your advisor

Certification requirements

The Education Professional Standards Board is responsible for issuing and renewing certificates for all Kentucky teachers and administrators. Candidates for principal certification must pass both the SLLA and the KYTP. These tests may be taken during the last semester of coursework for Level 1 Principal Certification. Current information about the Kentucky assessment program may be retrieved from epsb.ky.gov.

Completion of three years of full-time teaching experience 

1

Satisfactory completion of hallmark/dispositions assessments in LEAD 633, LEAD 634LEAD 635, and LEAD 636. Must maintain a GPA of 3.3.

2

Refer to program completion requirements for Level 1 prior to Level 2

3

TBD by student and advisor - may be a course leading to additional certification

4

Students in the EdS program will be required to complete an exit portfolio in their last semester of the program.

5

Completion of a Rank 1 program requires a minimum of 60 credit hours in approved program. For Rank 1 purposes, approved graduate hours at the master's level may be counted to reach 60 credit hours, though some of those hours may not count toward certification. Students seeking Rank 1 simultaneously with this certification program must complete the appropriate form with the advisor. The advisor must approve electives/unnamed courses.

The Specialist in Education In Educational Administration (EdS) program prepares students to meet the requirements for certification and/or licensure.  If you plan to pursue professional licensure or certification you should first determine your state’s criteria for examination and licensure to see how/if our program meets those requirements prior to enrollment. We recommend that you also contact your state’s licensing board directly to verify that the requirements have not changed recently and to answer any questions especially those regarding additional requirements beyond the degree. 

More information about certification or licensure is available at the following website: louisville.edu/oapa/licensure-information (you may search by school or by the name of the program then click on 'View Details' to display the information).

For programs with an online option, more information about certification or licensure is available here: https://louisville.edu/online/About-Us?tab=disclosures