Educational leadership is a lucrative field that not only pays quite well, but it also offers many great career opportunities. An educational leadership degree allows students to combine their leadership skills with their passion for education into one satisfying and thrilling career. The goal of these programs is to provide aspiring and current educational professionals with the knowledge and training they will need for a wide array of leadership careers including such positions as school principals, college deans, district administrators, faculty directors, and superintendents.
To begin a career as an educational leader in South Carolina, students will need to earn a graduate level degree in educational leadership from an approved institution of higher learning. Many of South Carolina’s universities offer these types of programs leading to master’s, doctorate, and/or specialist degrees. The following schools are among some of the best of these facilities. All of these schools are fully accredited by national accrediting agencies and are approved to provide the necessary training to students so that they can obtain positions as educational leaders or administrators.
Furman University
The Department of Graduate Studies
One of the most popular universities in South Carolina is Furman University. And Furman University’s Department of Graduate Studies provides a broad range of graduate-level certificate and degree programs in many different areas of study. Some of the main areas of study that can be found in the Department of Graduate Studies include education, chemistry, strategic design, and community engaged medicine. Within the area of education, potential students can choose among such top-rated programs as special education, literacy, early childhood education, educational leadership, teaching, and teaching English to speakers of other languages.
Master of Arts in School Leadership
For students to earn the Master of Arts degree in School Leadership offered by Furman University’s Department of Graduate Studies, they will need to participate in a year-long internship, complete a graduate capstone course, and complete 30 credit hours of program-related coursework. Some of the courses that are required for completion of this program include Research in Education, Schools and the Law, Strategic Planning and Thinking in Education, and Leadership in Educational Organizations. Students enrolled in the Master or Arts in School Leadership program must also maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all of their coursework and receive a passing score on the Praxis II exam to graduate.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Contact
3300 Poinsett Hwy.
Greenville, South Carolina 29613
(864)294-2000
enroll@furman.edu
https://catalog.furman.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=3&poid=796
North Greenville University
The College of Education
The College of Education at North Greenville University offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in several popular fields of interest. On the undergraduate level, students can choose from programs in such fields as elementary education, secondary education, or early childhood education. Students looking to earn graduate degrees can choose from a master’s degree program in education or a doctoral degree program in educational leadership. The doctoral degree program in educational leadership offers two tracks for students to choose from: K-12 leadership or higher education leadership.
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in K-12 Leadership
The Doctor of Education program with a concentration in K-12 leadership offered by Greenville State University’s College of Education requires completion of 60 credit hours of coursework. This is a hybrid-type program that requires both online and on-campus participation. This is also what is known as a cohort program, which means that all students must begin the program at the same time and complete their courses in a pre-determined sequence to graduate on schedule. Samples of required coursework in the Doctor of Education in K-12 Leadership program include Social Foundations, Organizational Development, Today’s Student, Learning and Instruction, and Politics of Education.
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Higher Education Leadership
Greenville State University’s Doctor of Education program with a concentration in higher education leadership is also a hybrid, cohort program and requires 60 credit hours of coursework. The coursework required in this program is a bit different than the program for students who choose the K-12 leadership concentration. Samples of required coursework in the Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership program include Advanced Ethical Leadership Studies, Law and Policy in Higher Education, Field Analysis of Current Practices, Finance and Human Resources, and Conflict Resolution and Personnel Management.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Contact
405 Lancaster Ave.
Greer, South Carolina 29650
(864)663-7522
maria.kithcart@ngu.edu
https://www.ngu.edu/doctor-of-education.php
South Carolina State University
The College of Graduate and Professional Studies
Another popular school in South Carolina is South Carolina State University. South Carolina State University’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies has been offering graduate degree programs since the year 1946. At that time, most of its programs were related to agriculture. Today, the college provides graduate programs in many other popular areas including individual and family development, speech pathology and audiology, counselor education, business administration, rehabilitation counseling, nutritional sciences, and educational leadership. In addition to master and doctoral degrees, South Carolina State University’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies also provides a large variety of certificate programs on the graduate level.
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership
The College of Graduate and Professional Studies’ Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership degree program consists of 33 to 45 credit hours of coursework depending on the student’s available transfer credits. Students who wish to begin this program in the fall must submit their applications no later than April 1st of the same year. In addition to their application, they will also need to submit a current resume, three letters of recommendation, and a valid educator certificate. Examples of the courses that students may need to complete in the Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership degree program include School Building Planning, Educational Planning, Public School Finance, Policy Formulation and Analysis, and Schools and the Law.
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership
Students who wish to earn the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership degree from South Carolina State University’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies will need to complete 75 hours of coursework or 30 hours if they possess an Educational Specialist degree. Admissions criteria for this program includes a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, at least five years of experience in education, an admissions interview, and a written examination. Samples of the coursework in the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program include Technology in Education, Educational Issues, Advanced Data Analysis, Advanced Research Methods, and Dissertation Procedures.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Contact
300 College St.
Orangeburg, South Carolina 29117
(803)536-7064
graduateschool@scsu.edu
Educational Specialist Degree – http://www.scsu.edu/schoolofgraduatestudies/educationalspecialist.aspx
Doctor of Education Degree – http://www.scsu.edu/schoolofgraduatestudies/doctorofeducation.aspx
The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina
The Graduate College
The Military College of South Carolina, commonly known as the Citadel, is best known for its exceptional military programs. However, it does provide many superb non-military related programs as well, and the Graduate College reflects this. Students will find many fantastic programs in the Citadel’s Graduate College, and just some of the areas of study offered by the Graduate College include intelligence and security studies, clinical counseling, sports management, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, school psychology, and educational leadership. A number of graduate certificate programs are available at the Citadel’s Graduate College as well.
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
Aspiring Citadel students who would like to gain admission into the Graduate College’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership degree program must have at least a 2.5 overall grade point average. They will also need to submit proof of a current South Carolina teaching certificate and must be in good standing with the South Carolina Board of Education. To successfully complete the Master or Education in Educational Leadership program, students are required to participate in two internships and complete 33 credit hours of coursework related to the field of educational leadership. Students will earn a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and will be eligible for administration and principle certification after graduating from the program.
Ed.S. in Educational Leadership
The Specialist in Educational Leadership degree program provided by Citadel’s Graduate College is designed to prepare students for superintendent certification. Entry into this program requires a minimum of a 3.25 grade point average, at least three years of teaching experience, and at least two years of experience in an educational administration position. This program also requires an internship and completion of 33 credit hours of coursework. During the Specialist in Educational Leadership degree program, students will examine such areas of study as staff development, community relations, goal setting and problem diagnosis, research in administration, school building trends, and program budgeting.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Contact
171 Moultrie St.
Charleston, South Carolina 29409
(843)953-2064
kathy.brown@citadel.edu
Master’s Degree – http://www.citadel.edu/root/educational-leadership-graduate-programs/med-educational-leadership-school-administration-and-supervision
Specialist Degree – http://www.citadel.edu/root/educational-leadership-graduate-programs/eds-educational-leadership-school-superintendent
The University of South Carolina
The College of Education
The University of South Carolina is yet another extremely popular higher education facility in South Carolina. And the College of Education at the University of South Carolina prepares students for a large variety of exciting careers in the field of education. The college currently offers both graduate and undergraduate programs for students who are interested in such fields as counselor education, educational technology, foreign language education, language and literacy, physical education, special education, and educational leadership. Students interested in educational leadership have the option of working towards a specialist, master’s, or doctoral degree in education administration.
Master of Education in Education Administration (M.Ed.)
Students who complete the Master of Education in Education Administration degree program at the University of South Carolina’s College of Education will be eligible for certification as a school principle or administrator in South Carolina. This is a 36 credit hour program that includes such courses as Supervision of Instruction, Legal Basis of Educational Organization and Administration, Introduction to Educational Administration, and School Leadership. Students who enroll in the Master of Education in Education Administration degree program will need to select one of two areas of specialization: elementary school or high school.
Ph.D. in Education Administration
The Ph.D. in Education Administration program offered by the University of South Carolina’s College of Education also offers two areas of specialization: PK-12th grade and higher education. Depending on the area of specialization that students may choose, the Ph.D. in Education Administration program can prepare graduates for positions as school superintendents, school district administrators, university administrators, and principles. Samples of some of the courses found in this program include Theories of Educational Leadership, Advanced Methods of Instructional Supervision, Advanced Educational Policy Analysis, Leadership in Higher Education, and Legal Aspects of Higher Education.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges
- The Commission on Higher Education
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Contact
820 Main St.
Columbia, South Carolina 29208
(803)777-3802
emilydavis@sc.edu
Master of Education – https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/education/study/administration_and_leadership/education_administration/education_administration_med/index.php
Ph.D. in Education – https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/education/study/administration_and_leadership/education_administration/education_administration_phd/index.php
Winthrop University
The Department of Graduate Studies
Another great school to consider in South Carolina is Winthrup University. Winthrop University’s Department of Graduate Studies offers several excellent graduate level programs in such areas as teaching, special education intervention, educational leadership, literacy, learning design and technology, counseling and development, and sports and fitness administration. Within the realm of educational leadership, the Department of Graduate Studies offers two graduate level degrees: a Master of Education in Educational Leadership degree and an Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership degree. Both degrees are designed to prepare students for careers as elementary or secondary school principles.
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
For students to be admitted into Winthrop University’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership degree program, they will need to submit two professional letters of recommendation, a statement of career goals, and a copy of their current education certificate. They will also need to participate in an admissions interview and complete a pre-entrance assessment. This 36 credit hour program includes an internship and such program-related courses as School Law, Techniques of Supervision, Fiscal and Business Management in Schools, School Personnel Development, and Curriculum Leadership in Schools.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Contact
106 Withers Bldg.
Rock Hill, South Carolina 29733
(803)323-4726
hoyles@winthrop.edu
https://www.winthrop.edu/graduateschool/med-in-education-leadership.aspx
Related Resource: Top 20 Best Master’s in Educational Leadership Online
People in South Carolina who are aspiring to become leaders in the field of education have many great options available to them. South Carolina is home to a broad range of exceptional universities that provide training in educational leadership, and some of the best of these facilities are described in the sections above.
