Accredited educational leadership degree programs in Florida exist to help fill the constant need for administrators in the school system. The educational system is constantly in a state of change as leaders attempt to figure out how to resolve the pressing current issues facing today’s schools that include budget cuts, gun violence, bullying, and the increasing demand for higher student academic achievement. Selecting a quality program allows individuals to become properly trained and highly knowledgeable about the current issues in education. Individual needs should be considered when comparing the characteristics of the educational leadership program, especially since many options exists. To see more accredited programs in Florida, visit Educational Leadership Degree Programs in Florida (A-T).
University of Florida
College of Education
According to the 2019 U.S News & World Report, the college is ranked number 14 as the best public graduate education school, number 24 as the best graduate education school, number two for the best online graduate education programs, number five as the best graduate counselor education program, and number five as the best graduate special education program. The college seeks to prepare students to be model scholars and practitioners, to solve vital issues that exist in education, and to develop and share information regarding human development, teaching, and learning.
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
This accredited educational leadership degree program in Florida offers two program options with one leading to certification as a principal in Florida. Both programs require 36 hours for completion or 39 hours for those in the certification program without previous English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) training. Courses include 27 hours of educational leadership, policy, and foundation courses and nine hours of electives. Students in the certification program without ESOL training must take 30 hours of educational leadership, policy, and foundation courses. Students complete a written and oral comprehensive exam or a master thesis including a defense of the thesis. Students in the certification program must pass the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) before graduation.
M.A.E. in Educational Leadership
This master of arts in education program in educational leadership requires 30 credit hours for completion. Twenty-four credit hours of courses in departmental educational leadership courses are completed. Out of these 24 credit hours, only one specific course, Educational Leadership: The Individual, is required. Students can select the courses based on their preferences for the remaining 21 credit hours needed for this requirement as long as the courses are permitted based on approval by the department. Six credit hours are completed in coursework regarding master-level research. Students in this accredited educational leadership degree program in Florida must complete either a written and oral comprehensive exam or complete a master thesis including a defense of the thesis.
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership
Ninety credit hours are required for this accredited educational leadership degree program in Florida. The program consists of five separate components. One component includes 30 credit hours for departmental courses. Two courses are required while the remaining courses are selected by the student pending approval by the supervisory committee. Another component is clinical experience where students complete three to six hours of a supervised practicum. For the third component, students need to complete 12 hours of research courses. The fourth component involves 24 credit hours of work on a dissertation. Successful completion of the written and oral parts of the doctorate qualifying exam is necessary. The fifth component requires 18 to 21 hours of elective courses.
Ph.D. in Educational Leadership
Students in this program complete 90 credit hours from four program components. Thirty credit hours of departmental courses are selected at the student’s discretion pending approval by the supervisory committee. Twenty-two hours of research courses are completed with 12 of the hours being courses required by College of Education. The remaining courses are selected by the student and require approval by the supervisory committee. Twenty-four hours are allotted for research for the student’s dissertation. Students must successfully pass the written and oral portions of the qualifying exam that is based on the dissertation in this accredited educational leadership degree program in Florida. Fourteen hours of elective courses must also be completed by students in the program.
Accreditations
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
1215 Norman Hall
P.O. Box 117049
Gainesville, FL 32611-7049
(352) 273-4332
contact-el@coe.ufl.edu
https://education.ufl.edu/educational-leadership/
University of North Florida
The Graduate School
The Graduate School’s mission is to provide programs that are useful to students and the communities being served, to allow for students to obtain advanced skills and knowledge in their respective fields, and to promote scholarship with an emphasis on research. The school offers over 44 degree and certificate programs throughout five colleges with majors offered in the areas of business, computing and engineering, arts and sciences, health, and education. The 2019 U.S. News & World Report ranked the school as having the 115th best online graduate education program.
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
The program seeks to develop leaders in education who are effective and believe that the main purpose of schools is to provide teaching and learning. Throughout the program, students develop their personal vision of excellence. There is a focus on studying topics based on research regarding instructional leadership, educational policy, effective schools, successful advances in practice, and management skills. Students obtain between 36 and 39 credit hours that are completed in approximately two years. From this accredited educational leadership degree program in Florida, students select a concentration from the many areas offered that include educational technology, training, and development; athletic administration; advanced teaching and learning; school leadership; and early childhood.
Accreditations
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
The Graduate School- University of North Florida
1 UNF Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32224
(904) 620-1360
graduateschool@unf.edu
http://www.unf.edu/graduateschool/
University of South Florida
College of Education
The college aims to support education that transforms and improves social justice by conducting thorough research and providing advanced teaching while being active participants in global and local partnerships. The college offers 62 programs throughout the bachelor, master, specialist, and doctoral degree levels in addition to three undergraduate minors and 17 graduate certificate programs through three departments that include majors related to teaching and learning, educational and psychological studies, leadership, counseling, and higher education. Several programs offer partially online or fully online options instead of the traditional on-campus format.
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
This accredited educational leadership degree program in Florida leads to a level one educational leadership certification through the state of Florida. Program emphases include excellence, equity, partnership in the community, and leadership that is relevant in the local culture. The program is a member of the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA), which is a group that accepts programs that are active in research. Consequently, the curriculum is enhanced to meet UCEA’s standards. Students complete 30 credit hours in the program with 15 hours of courses addressing educational core knowledge and 15 hours for education leadership Praxis and field experience requirements. Students complete practicums during the second half of the program.
Ed.S. in Educational Leadership
The program is intended to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for individuals looking to transform under-performing schools. Students learn to make decisions that are beneficial to students by thoroughly examining data addressing research, theory and ideal practices. Teamwork is a focal point as students work in teams to create intervention plans and school improvement reports based on their findings from conducting research. The program, which is an accredited educational leadership degree program in Florida, requires 30 hours for completion. Fifteen hours are obtained through core knowledge courses, nine hours are obtained through elective courses, and six hours are assigned for a capstone project that is completed in groups of three to four students.
Ph.D. in Educational Leadership
This accredited educational leadership degree program in Florida is intended for those seeking to pursue a career in research that addresses policy studies and educational leadership topics or for those wishing to become practitioners who emphasize research-based practice. Students obtain a knowledge base on topics such as curriculum leadership, organizational leadership, policy leadership, and research methodologies. The program requires 63 credit hours with 12 hours of foundational courses, 18 hours of educational leadership courses, 15 hours of research methods courses, 12 hours of a doctoral cognate, and 6 hours for dissertation courses. The courses selected to meet the doctoral cognate requirement are based on the student’s specific research interests, thus creating an individualized program.
Accreditations
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
College of Education
4202 E. Fowler Ave., EDU105
Tampa, FL 33620
(813) 974-3350
vquintas@usf.edu
https://www.usf.edu/education/index.aspx
University of South Florida Sarasota Manatee
School of Education
The school has adopted a set of guiding principles for their programs that include learning, leading, inspiring, and transforming in addition to the programs being based in practices guided by research that have arts-based instruction that was developed with a network of collaborators. The school offers two bachelor and five master level degree programs as well as three certification programs with programs placing an emphasis on graduates being able to meet the needs of diverse populations. Some programs offer evening and online courses allowing for schedule flexibility.
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
The program seeks to produce graduates that are exemplary supervisors, leaders, and administrators in schools across the United States. Students will be exposed to a curriculum that is based on research, is up-to-date, and has applications for all educational levels. Students learn about the seven leadership standards domains, ways to practice ethically, techniques for creating a culture of positive learning, and effective decision-making strategies. Three concentrations are offered in this accredited educational leadership degree program in Florida that includes curriculum leadership, k-12 public school leadership, and non-public or charter school leadership. The k-12 public school leadership concentration leads to a Florida level one k-12 educational leadership certification. The program requires 36 credit hours.
Accreditations
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
School of Education
8350 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34243
(941) 359-4638
alanagoodman@usf.edu
http://usfsm.edu/academics/college-of-liberal-arts-and-social-sciences/school-of-education/
University of South Florida St. Petersburg
College of Education
The college aims to develop students into stellar school leaders and teachers who are prepared to work in diverse settings by offering students programs that have an applied research base, clear learning outcomes, and that are dedicated to serving diverse communities. Practices and policies are guided by the three areas of the conceptual framework that includes reflective teaching, knowledgeable professionalism, and collaborative leadership in the bachelor degree, master degree, and certification programs offered. The college boasts a 98 percent rate for graduates who are offered teaching positions.
Master’s of Education in Educational Leadership
This accredited educational leadership degree programs in Florida is intended for individuals seeking a k-12 instructional leadership certification through the state of Florida. A standards-based method is used that allows for balancing both practice and theory. Graduates are fully prepared to be influential school leaders and to be ready to adapt to the changing society. Class schedules are designed for and offered at times that accommodate working professionals. Program completion requires 36 credit hours over three areas, successful passage of the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE), and successful completion of a portfolio where students must exhibit proficiency on vital assignments as they are based on the leadership standards for Florida principals.
Accreditations
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
Educational Leadership
140 7th Ave. South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 873-4947
ohodges@usfsp.edu
University of West Florida
Graduate School
The Graduate School supports and promotes quality graduate education by delivering superior programs, wide-ranging services, and by promoting the goals of the university in scholarship and research. Bachelor, master, specialist, and doctoral degree programs are offered in over 50 concentrations as well as a variety of certification programs. The school offers an accelerated bachelor’s – master’s (ABM) program that allows for high-achieving students to apply as many as 12 hours of graduate level work towards the total credit hours for the bachelor and master degrees, which saves both time and money.
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
This master level program is intended for those with at least three years of teaching experience who are seeking educational leadership certification. Students are provided with the leadership skills, knowledge, and the opportunities to take action so that they become leaders who are problem solvers, decision makers, lifelong learners, critical thinkers, ethical moral professionals, and counselor/mentors. This accredited educational leadership degree program in Florida is only offered entirely online and requires 30 credit hours for completion. In addition to the program requirements, students must successfully pass the Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE) to have their degrees issued. The program offers discounted pricing for students who are employees of certain partner school districts.
Accreditations
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
Bldg. 85/Rm. 196
11000 University Pkwy.
Pensacola, FL 32514
(850) 474-2893
dted@uwf.edu
https://uwf.edu/ceps/departments/teacher-education-and-educational-leadership/
Related Resource: Top 20 Best Master’s in Educational Leadership Online
A variety of programs with varying concentrations provide students desiring to obtain educational leadership positions with the knowledge and skills that are necessary to function effectively in the field. Accredited educational leadership degree programs in Florida allow students to receive this necessary training to successfully lead and positively impact schools in need of exemplary leaders.
