Let’s start touring the “Natural State” with six CAEP accredited educational leadership degree programs in Arkansas that train administrators for PreK-12 and higher positions. According to the Census Bureau, 23.6 percent of Arkansas’ 3 million residents are under 18 years old. Over 485,000 pupils attend the 269 school districts dotting the Arkansas map for an average 14:1 student-teacher ratio. Eight of these districts, including Little Rock Schools, Springdale Schools, Pulaski County Schools, and Bentonville Public Schools, rank in the top 1,000 largest nationally. The U.S. News & World Report considers Arkansas the 42nd best state for education with the 25th highest graduation rate. In May 2017, the Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that Arkansas had 4,510 educational administrators across grade levels who earned a mean wage of $74,698. To see more accredited degrees, visit Educational Leadership Degree Programs in Arkansas (U-Z).
Arkansas State University
College of Education & Behavioral Science
Known for its Dr. Eugene W. Smith Educational Leadership Fellowship, Arkansas State University is a public, coed Sun Belt school opened by Senator Robert W. Glover in 1909 that’s budgeting $282 million to inspire 3,709 master’s-level Red Wolves in Jonesboro, Paragould, and online. A-State is crowned America’s 130th best standout college on Niche, 120th top university in Washington Monthly, and 396th best value by College Factual. The College of Education & Behavioral Science has two 2018 Faculty Achievement Award winners who help confer one of the accredited educational leadership degree programs in Arkansas ranked 180th by the U.S. News & World Report.
Online MSE Educational Leadership
Chaired by Dr. Joan Henley, Arkansas State’s Online MSE Educational Leadership option lets currently licensed teachers access seven-week Blackboard sessions to advance their building-level management practices. It’s open to all education bachelor’s degree holders with minimum 2.5 GPAs and letters of recommendation from superintendents or principals. The 36-credit, application-based curriculum focuses on developing LiveText portfolios with real administrative experiences. Currently costing $301 per credit, the master’s integrates 20 months of courses like School Law, Philosophies of Education, and Evaluation of Teaching. The final seven-week term is devoted to supervised internships at partners, such as Fayetteville High, Nettleton Intermediate, and Fox Meadow Elementary.
Accreditation
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
2301 E. Johnson Suite A
Jonesboro, AR 72401
(870) 972-2920
academicpartnerships@astate.edu
https://degree.astate.edu/programs/mse-in-educational-leadership.aspx
Arkansas Tech University
Center for Leadership & Learning
Registering 100+ clubs, including the Chi Sigma Alpha Graduate Honor Society, Arkansas Tech University is a public, coed research institution on the National Register of Historic Places that’s budgeting $151 million to accommodate its 17th record-high enrollment of 12,054 Bulldogs in Pope County. ATU was declared America’s 68th best college for social mobility by CollegeNET, 372nd top teaching school on Niche, and 168th best master’s university in Washington Monthly. The Center for Leadership & Learning trains “Professionals of the 21st Century” in one of the accredited educational leadership degree programs in Arkansas ranked 142nd nationally on College Factual.
Master of Education – Educational Leadership
Adhering to ISLLC standards, Arkansas Tech’s Master of Education – Educational Leadership currently costs $284 in-state or $568 out-of-state per credit for future principals to further their awareness of today’s school climate. Since 2014, the Lead 21 Program has also funded cohorts of 20 teachers from Pulaski County and the Delta Region. The 34-credit degree headed by Dr. Christopher Trombly mandates at least two years of classroom experience. Available in Russellville or online with Blackboard after a two-day Lake Point retreat, the curriculum pairs courses like Organizational Change, School Finance, and Working with the Marginal Performer. Graduation requires a four-credit administrative internship, professional portfolio review, and GPA above 3.0.
Accreditation
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Tomlinson Hall 113
1507 N. Boulder Avenue
Russellville, AR 72801
(479) 498-6022
cll@atu.edu
https://www.atu.edu/cll/edleadership.php
Harding University
Canon-Clary College of Education
Home to the Betty Ann Watson Education Resource Center, Harding University is a private, nonprofit liberal arts GAC member founded by the Churches of Christ in 1924 that’s endowed for $117 million to instruct 5,904 Bison from 54 countries at its 48-building campus in White County. Harding was chosen America’s 169th best teaching college on Niche, 100th top master’s institution in Washington Monthly, and 501st best value by Money magazine. The Canon-Clary College of Education presently bills $561 per credit for another of the accredited educational leadership degree programs in Arkansas with the 138th highest-paid graduates according to College Factual.
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Offering the $1,500 Meredith Susanne Floyd Scholarship, Harding’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership is a face-to-face, P-12 licensure program where teachers or library media specialists can shift their focus to whole school development. The 33-credit degree organized by Dr. Raymond Lee admits bachelor’s grads with 2.75 GPAs or better and two years of experience each Summer. Rooted in Christian ethics, the program builds ePortfolios on Chalk and Wire through courses like Curriculum Mapping, Action Research, and Educational Technology before two internships. Graduates might also engage with the Literacy Lab Project, join the AASA, study at the North Little Rock location, add the District Level Administrator (Superintendent’s) Endorsement, and take Finley STEM Center workshops.
Accreditation
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
915 E. Market Avenue
Campus Box 12261
Searcy, AR 72149
(501) 279-4117
edleadership@harding.edu
Henderson State University
Teachers College
Bestowed the 2015 Path to Teach Best Value Award, Henderson State University is a public, coed service-centric COPLAC member established by Rev. McLaughlin that’s now employing 169 full-time professors to teach 3,500 Reddies in 53 degrees at its 151-acre campus with the M.H. Russell Center for Education. HSU was lauded America’s 265th most conservative school on Niche, 301st best education program by College Factual, and 350th top value in The Economist. The Teachers College is nationally recognized by the ELCC for one of the accredited educational leadership degree programs in Arkansas ranked in the top 291 on the U.S. News & World Report.
Educational Leadership MSE Online
Powered by Blackboard/Angel, Henderson State’s Educational Leadership MSE Online equips teachers for licensed, senior-level administrative jobs planning and managing teaching activities every 10-month school calendar. Accepting $70 applications until March 1st or October 1st, the 30-credit program directed by Dr. Gary Smithey suits distance learners with bachelor’s GPAs above 2.75. Online study is customized with four tracks: Building Level Administrator, Curriculum Instructional Facilitator, Special Education Director, or District Level Administrator. Expect flexible courses like School-Community Relations costing $269-$336 per credit to end with a 217-hour internship and portfolio defense. Some might continue for the Educational Leadership Ed.S. approved in December 2017.
Accreditation
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Education Building 247
1100 Henderson Street
Arkadelphia, AR 71999
(870) 230-5267
hsuinfo@hsu.edu
http://www.hsu.edu/EdLeadership/index.html
John Brown University
College of Education and Human Services
Hosting the Head of School Retreat each June, John Brown University is a private, nonprofit Christian CCCU member of the Sooner Conference that’s grown a $113 million endowment since 1919 to inspire 2,613 Golden Eagles with 82 percent retention from its 200-acre Benton County campus. JBU was judged America’s 262nd best private university in Forbes, 162nd best teachers college on Niche, and 182nd top value by The Economist. The College of Education and Human Services offers another of the faith-focused, accredited educational leadership degree programs in Arkansas ranked 408th nationally on College Factual for $420 per credit.
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
Admitting average cohorts of 20, John Brown’s M.Ed. in Educational Leadership places teachers with passing Praxis scores and more than three years of experience in live or anytime online courses to critically analyze problems affecting school-wide operations. The 33-credit, non-thesis program managed by Dr. J. Richard Ellis, editor of New Directions for Higher Education, trains visionary decision-makers from a Christian worldview. Blackboard access is convenient for classes like Curriculum Assessment, Organizational Dynamics, and Parent Relations. Graduates present an online portfolio after one K-6 and another 7-12 internship placement, such as Allen Elementary, Colcord High, or Leach Public School. Other opportunities include studying abroad in Northern Ireland, reading the Education Blog, earning Building-Level Administrator licensure, and becoming Soderquist Leadership Fellows.
Accreditation
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
2000 W. University Street
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
(479) 524-9500
REllis@jbu.edu
Southern Arkansas University
College of Education
Maintaining the Educational Leadership Hall of Fame since 2017, Southern Arkansas University is a public, coed GAC teaching college drawing on its 110 years of excellence and $102.2 million Blue & Gold campaign to enroll 1,484 post-grad Muleriders in 19 programs from its 574 hectares in Columbia County. SAU was decreed America’s 286th best Greek life college on Niche, sixth most affordable choice by Best Value Schools, and 116th top master’s institution in Washington Monthly. The College of Education was also ranked 224th by the U.S. News & World Report for online accredited educational leadership degree programs in Arkansas chaired by Dr. Kim Bloss.
Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision
Presently priced at $9,960 in-state or $14,010 out-of-state total, Southern Arkansas’ Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision has 16 full-time faculty teaching an average class size of 17. The 30-credit program models the ethical leadership strategies for boosting student and teacher achievement in diverse school communities. Via Blackboard, teachers with at least two years of experience engage in active online discussions and projects to earn Building-Level Administrator license. Individuals spend 24 months on courses like Principalship and Instructional Development with an Elementary or Secondary emphasis. Online study culminates in a 15-week administrative internship and capstone research using the Center for K-12 Education’s resources.
Accreditation
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Nelson Hall 228
100 E. University
Magnolia, AR 71753
(870) 235-4150
kkbloss@saumag.edu
Related Resource: Top 20 Best Master’s in Educational Leadership Online
The Arkansas Department of Education requires at least a master’s and four years of PreK-12 classroom experience to earn the Building Level Administrator license. The accredited educational leadership degree programs in Arkansas will prepare you to score at least 163 on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment and begin positively touching thousands of learners’ lives.
