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Online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership

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100% Online

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37 Credits

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$567/cr.

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Application Deadline: August 15 (Fall Semester Start Only)

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No GRE/GMAT Required

About the Program

The online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership prepares you to lead a 21st-century educational institution and build positive relationships with the community it serves. You’ll gain an understanding of your personal leadership style and organizational dynamics, enabling you to confidently lead groups and engage stakeholders to achieve academic and institutional goals. 

Cohort Model

In a cohort model, students take all their classes together while working toward their degrees. Cohorts allow students to learn from their peers and professors in a collaborative environment.

Contact Us

Have questions about earning your M.Ed. in Educational Leadership online with UMaine? Contact a UMaineOnline advisor.

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Amanda Hafford, M.Ed.

UMaineOnline Senior Advisor

207.370.4199 amanda.hafford@maine.edu

Schedule a Meeting

Student Experiences

The opportunity to share my passion for education with a reputable faculty that cares about my success and interact with fellow professionals who value the future of education has transformed my own vision of instructional leadership.
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Aaron W.

Curriculum

Our curriculum takes a developmental approach to leadership growth. Courses are taken in a sequence designed to build your leadership skills as you progress through the program. Throughout your coursework, faculty will support and counsel you to ensure you get the most out of the program in a way that works for you.

Learn how to understand your school’s environment better using different perspectives.

  • EAD 560: Functions and Theories of Educational Leadership (3 credits) Fall
  • EAD 656: Social and Ethical Foundations of Educational Leadership (3 credits) Spring
  • EAD 565: Inquiry and Evaluation in Schools, Part I (3 credits) Summer

Explore leadership’s role in shaping interpersonal, interpersonal, and group dynamics.

  • EAD 566: Inquiry and Evaluation in Schools, Part II (3 credits) Fall
  • EAD 510: Educational Supervision (3 credits) Spring
  • EAD 567: Stakeholder Engagement (3 credits) Summer

Start practicing your skills and take on leadership roles in your school.

  • EAD 563: Individual Leadership: Problems, Paradoxes, and Possibilities (3 credits) Fall
  • EAD 690: Principal Internship (4 credits) Spring
    OR EAD 691: Internship in Educational Leadership (4 credits) Spring
    OR EAD 692: Superintendent Internship (4 credits) Spring
  • EHD 569: Seminar in Educational Leadership (3 credits) Summer

These courses may be taken simultaneously during years one–three or may be completed during an additional year.

  • EAD 531: School Law for Administrators (3 credits) Summer
  • EAD 616: Resource Based Decision Making for School Leaders (3 credits) Spring
  • SED 520: Law and Policy Affecting Individuals with Disabilities (3 credits) Fall, Spring, and Summer

Admissions

Applications are due by August 15 for the Fall semester. The program only begins in the Fall semester of each year.

  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university
  • Current teaching certification/licensure
  • Current employment in schools, community agencies, or other educational roles or settings that allow access to student-level data

Before you apply, please review the application instructions. When you’re ready to apply, please submit the following:

  • An online application
  • Current résumé or CV
  • Official academic transcripts from all institutions attended
  • A 250-500 word essay describing your motivation for obtaining an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
  • Copy of current teaching certification/licensure
  • Three letters of recommendation
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Careers

The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership program prepares students for leadership roles such as assistant principal, principal, special education director, curriculum coordinator, and superintendent. Graduates can also use their skills with nonprofit and government agencies specializing in education policy.

This degree can lead to Maine certification in:

  • Superintendent (010)
  • Assistant Superintendent (015)
  • Administrator of Special Education (030)
  • Assistant Administrator of Special Education (035)
  • Building Administrator (Principal) (040)
  • Assistant Building Administrator (Assistant Principal) (045)
  • Curriculum Coordinator (078)

Specific information regarding Maine certification is available through the Maine Department of Education.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 20,200 openings for elementary, middle, and high school principals are projected each year, on average, over the decade. The median annual wage for principals was $103,460 in May 2023, higher than the median yearly wage for all occupations of $48,060.

NC-SARA Statement

This program will prepare students to be eligible for licensure within the State of Maine. Visit the UMS State Authorization & Licensure page to learn more about the licensure requirements in other states and territories and the contact information needed to inquire further into the licensure requirements associated with this program.