Educational leadership degree programs in Kentucky prepare students for a wide array of careers involving leadership positions in education. Just a sample of the many options that educational graduates can choose from after graduation include school principals and vice principals, school directors, college and university deans, instructional coordinators, and school or district administrators.
Kentucky is a great place for aspiring educational leaders to obtain their education and training. There are many top quality universities here that provide graduate-level degrees in educational leadership. And to help students choose the school that will best suit their needs, the following list includes information pertaining to some of the best universities in Kentucky that provide educational leadership programs. To see more accredited educational leadership programs, visit Educational Leadership Degree Programs in Kentucky (A-N).
Spalding University
Department of Graduate Programs
The Department of Graduate Programs at Spalding University offers a large variety of programs in eight areas of study: athletic training, business, creative writing, education, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, and social work. Current education programs offered by the department include a Doctor of Education in Leadership program, a Master of Arts in School Guidance Counseling program, a Master of Arts in Education – Teacher Leadership program, and a Master of Arts in Teaching program with four specialty tracks that consist of elementary, middle grades, secondary, and learning behavior disorders.
Master of Arts in Education – Teacher Leadership
The Master of Arts in Education – Teacher Leadership program offered by Spalding University’s Department of Graduate Programs is designed to prepare current pre-K through 12th grade teachers for positions in educational leadership. To be approved for entrance to this program, applicants must have at least a 2.75 GPA, a valid Kentucky teaching certificate, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, and two letters of recommendation. This is a 30 credit-hour program that includes such areas of study as instructional design, multimedia applications, advanced technology, language development, and literacy assessment.
Doctor of Education in Leadership
Spalding University’s Doctor of Education in Leadership program is a rigorous 60 credit-hour program that combines online and traditional classroom training. Students who would like to participate in this program must apply before the May 15th deadline of the year in which they would like to enroll. Other requirements include completion of a master’s degree from an accredited university, an interview with the director of graduate programs, three letters of recommendation, a three to five page leadership essay, an updated resume, and an on-the-spot critique of a journal article chosen by the student’s interviewer.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- The Kentucky Council on Post-Secondary Education
- The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board
Contact
901 S. Fourth Street
Louisville, KY 40203
(502)585-9911
llapinta@spalding.edu
https://spalding.edu/education/doctor-of-education-in-leadership/
The University of Kentucky
College of Education
The University of Kentucky’s College of Education offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in such areas as special education, kinesiology, school counseling, educational policies, and educational leadership. Current programs offered within the category of educational leadership include a master’s degree program in teacher leadership, education specialist programs in teacher leadership and principal preparation, two doctorate programs in educational leadership, and several undergraduate and graduate certificate programs.
Master of Education in Teacher Leadership
The Master of Education in Teacher Leadership program offered by the University of Kentucky’s College of Education is an online program that full-time students can complete in about five semesters. This program is designed to prepare working teachers for more formal educational roles such as technology coordinators, department chairs, or grade-level team leaders. Students who would like to earn this degree will need to complete 30 credit hours of coursework and a unique electronic portfolio. They also have the option of adding one or more of the following graduate certificates if they wish: a Certificate in Instructional Coaching, a Certificate in Leadership for Deeper Learning, and a Certificate in School Technology Leadership.
Specialist in Education in Teacher Leadership
The Specialist in Education in Teacher Leadership degree program offered by the College of Education at the University of Kentucky is also administered fully online. This program has many of the same course requirements as the college’s master’s degree program in teacher leadership. To be eligible for this program, prospective students must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, submit a short essay describing why they would like to complete the program, submit a professional resume, and provide at least three letters of recommendation written by such educational professionals as principals, superintendents, or past instructors.
Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership
Also conducted solely online, the Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership degree program offered by the College of Education at UK can be completed within about four years by full-time students. This program is divided into three distinct areas of study: leadership (21 credit hours), research (12 credit hours), and electives (nine credit hours). Examples of the courses that students will need to complete during the course of this program include Leadership in Educational Organizations, Design Thinking in Education, Research in Educational Leadership, Foundations of Inquiry, and Politics of Educational Leadership.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Contact
111 Dickey Hall
Lexington, Kentucky 40506
(859)257-8921
justin.bathon@uky.edu
https://education.uky.edu/edl/edd/
Union College
Department of Graduate Studies in Education
Union College’s Department of Graduate Studies in Education provides a broad range of programs in such areas of study as health and physical education, teacher leaders, special education, curriculum and instruction, supervisors of instruction, and educational leadership. The department is comprised of experienced educational professionals who are committed to providing top quality training and education for students in their respective programs of choice.
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
Union College’s Master of Arts in Educational Leadership degree program is a hybrid program that requires both online and on-campus attendance. The primary goal of this program is to develop students’ skill sets so that they will be able to address the unique needs of diverse classrooms. For students to complete this program, they will need to complete a research-focused capstone project. Persons who are interested in enrolling in the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program can apply online or email the school to request a paper application.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board
- The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- The Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Contact
310 College St.
Barbourville, Kentucky 40906
(800)489-8646
contact@unionky.edu
https://www.unionky.edu/admissions-aid/graduate/educational-studies-unit
University of Louisville
College of Education and Human Development
The College of Education and Human Development at the University of Louisville provides top quality training in several areas including elementary education, early childhood education, educational counseling, sports sciences, and educational leadership. The college offers programs on both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and students who would like to apply for enrollment can do so online. Admission requirements may vary depending on the selected program.
Ed.D in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development
The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development program offered by the University of Louisville is perfect for individuals who are interested in pre-k through 12 administrative positions. To be accepted into this program, students must have a master’s degree in a similar area and at least three years of teaching experience. Other requirements for admission include a 3.5 or higher GPA, graduate record exam scores, three letters of recommendation, a current resume, and a short essay pertaining to educational leadership. Cohorts begin in the fall of each year, and students can typically complete the program within about three to five years.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Contact
2301 South 3rd Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40292
(502)852-6475
eadvise@louisville.edu
http://louisville.edu/education/degrees/edd-elod
University of the Cumberlands
Department of Education
The University of the Cumberlands was founded in 1888 by a small group of Baptist ministers. At this time, the school was known as the Williamsburg Institute and it provided training for students who wanted to become servants of faith. Today, the university offers a large variety of programs, and within the Department of Education, students will find seven exceptional programs on the graduate level including a Doctorate in Educational Leadership program, an Educational Specialist program, a Ph.D. in Leadership program, a Masters in Education program, and a Masters in Teaching program.
Ph.D. in Leadership
The Ph.D. in Leadership degree program offered by the Department of Education at the University of the Cumberlands is conducted fully online. The program is divided into three separate study areas: core courses in leadership (30 credit hours), professional research (18 credit hours), and specialty area courses (18 credit hours). Current areas of specialty include business, criminal justice, health sciences, nursing, information systems, and student personnel services. Examples of the courses required for program completion include Program Planning and Assessment, Grant Writing and Proposal Development, Leadership and Theory in Practice, and Advanced Research Methods.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Contact
6985 College Station Dr.
Williamsburg, Kentucky 40769
(606)539-4390
gradadm@ucumberlands.edu
https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/graduate/programs/phd-leadership
Western Kentucky University
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Western Kentucky University’s College of Education and Behavioral Sciences provides degree tracks in a broad range of areas including counseling and student affairs, military science and leadership, psychology, and education. Within the category of education, students will find undergraduate and graduate degree programs in such fields as teacher education, educational administration, educational leadership, and educational research.
Educational Leadership Doctoral Program
The Educational Leadership Doctoral Program offered by Western Kentucky University is a 60 credit-hour program that is conducted partially online and partially on-campus. Students enrolled in this program can choose one of four areas of specialization: organizational leadership, teacher leadership, P-12 administrative leadership, or post-secondary leadership. Applicants for this program must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution and must submit the following items: official transcripts, a current educational and occupational resume, an in-depth personal statement, three letters of recommendation, and GRE exam scores.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board
- The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Contact
1906 College Hts Blvd.
Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101
(270)745-3061
tony.norman@wku.edu
Related Resource: Top 20 Best Master’s in Educational Leadership Online
Educational leadership is a flexible field that offers many great career options. And for individuals who would like to earn their degrees in Kentucky, the educational leadership degree programs described above may very well be just what they are looking for.
