After the rapid growth of some of the best educational leadership programs in Tennessee, the numbers of schools that are beginning to offer degrees of this nature is rapidly increasing. And rightly so. After all, many of the students who are enrolling in the aforementioned programs are doing so due to the fact that the classes are offered online, in the summer, over the weekend, and similar. Thus, the improvement in flexibility and accessibility to the advanced fields of study is making it easier for busy professionals to reach their goals.
East Tennessee State University
College of Education
The College of Education or Clemmer College at East Tennessee State University is one of the school’s most popular colleges that focuses on students who are interested in teaching, educational leadership, physical wellness, and more. To provide state-of-the-art education, there are six different departments equipped with twelve labs and four centers of excellence. Interestingly enough, the school got its name after Claudius G. Clemmer who taught 30 students without pay in his one-room schoolhouse during the Great Depression. Nowadays, students can also rely on a scholarship fund established by this educator to help cover their cost of study.
M.Ed. in Administrative Endorsement
Students who are looking for a program that will help them learn how to navigate some entry-level administrative positions should look no further than the master’s program in Administrative Endorsement at Clemmer College. The classes are structured in a manner that will help the students get through the Tennessee licensure to become eligible for full-time teaching. As with most other programs offered at this department, the courses are held online where the students operate as a part of a single group. The minimum required enrollment is six hours per semester which helps the students complete the 36-credit program in a timely manner. The college also requires students who are on the track towards a master’s to complete an internship relevant to their future job duties.
M.Ed in Student Personnel
As with the previous degree, the Student Personnel program will be done online where the students work in smaller groups. The focus here revolves around leadership knowledge for professionals who would like to work in entry or mid-level positions that deal with staffing. Successful completion is dependant on one’s performance during the 36 hours of courses that touch on topics like research, technical knowledge, and intangible skills. Also, finalizing the degree plan requires the student to fulfill a research project at the end of their program. This gives them a great opportunity to put together all of the acquired knowledge and do an extensive amount of research on a real-world topic that they are interested in. Thus far, the graduates have been able to secure a significant boost in salary or quick promotion.
Ed.S. in Administrative Endorsement
Individuals who are interested in more than just a Master of Education in Administrative Endorsement can further pursue the Educational Specialist route. Doing so will take them a bit longer, however, as this degree plan takes 43 credits to fulfill. As with the master’s, the studies are held online where the students get to complete the material at their own pace so long as they meet the necessary deadlines. Additionally, there is a mandatory supervised internship that has to be completed. Doing so, however, is an outstanding chance for all students to establish some professional connections, work on their networking, and polish their portfolio. That way, once they obtain the degree, they will often have new job openings. Once the 43 hours are satisfied, the students have to pass their administrative endorsement exam which serves as a cumulative evaluation of their ability to handle complex tasks within the industry.
Ed.D. in Administrative Endorsement
As with every other top-notch college in the country, Clemmer College prides itself in the wide array of doctorate degrees. One of them, which is extremely popular with students who are pursuing educational leadership, is the Doctor of Education in Administrative Endorsement. Although it is very similar to the aforementioned two specializations in terms of the course set-up, this degree plan goes on for 66 credit hours and takes approximately two years to complete. Those who deviate from the advised plan, however, may need more or less than that to get through all the classes. Additionally, the students have to complete an internship with no less than ten approved residency activities. These will then be submitted to the college for approval right before they go on to take the Qualifying Examination.
Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership
Previously known as the Service and Leadership, the Higher Education Leadership is a 66-hour program that will take students through a slew of exciting classes, interesting material, and great opportunities. The program is organized in a way that will maximize the odds of successful completion with carefully structured schedules where students get to choose when and what courses they would like to complete. As with all of the previous options, this degree plan also takes place online. Additionally, students who already have an educational specialist degree will only have to complete 42 of the 66 hours to get the doctorate. Additionally, they will need to get through a supervised internship where many real-life situations will help shape them into resourceful professionals. Of course, the students will get to utilize many innovative research tools that the department has to offer.
Ed.D. in School Leadership
The College of Education at East Tennessee State University also welcomes people who may already have some experience in the administrative field. This includes those who might have held jobs in central office positions of public schools such as principals. Well, in order to further improve their skillsets and update their knowledge on some recent changes in the laws and research, they can go through the School Leadership curriculum. This is a doctorate program with 66 hours that also includes a mandatory internship which has to be verified by an advisor. Individuals who graduate with a doctorate in school leadership can expect to get a noticeable increase in their pay grade as well as many more offers. Additionally, they will possess the ability to modify the way in which school districts go about allocating resources, budget for upgrades, and much more.
Ed.S. in School Leadership
Expectedly, people who do not want to go as far as a doctorate’s degree or may not be at that point of their career yet can pursue the Educational Specialist of School Leadership degree. Unlike the doctorate program, this alternative will have 31 hours with an option to take 12 extra credits that can count towards the Administration Endorsement track. As with the doctorate, however, the students will be exposed to a lot of real-world knowledge by taking an internship that will be supervised by an experienced practician. Moreover, completing this program will make them eligible to get a doctorate degree in School Leadership at some later point by only going through an additional 42 hours. As with every other program offered at the department, the classes are fully integrated for online meetings where the students can complete most of the coursework at their own pace.
Accreditations
- Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Tennessee Department of Education (TDE)
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling& Related Ed. Programs (CACREP)
- National Association of Sports Physical Education (NASPE)
Contact
P319 Warf-Pickel Hall, PO Box 70685
Johnson City, TN 37614
423-439-7626
info@etsu.edu
Middle Tennessee State University
College of Education
The College of Education at the Middle Tennessee State University has been around for north of a century. Its mission is to prepare teachers to handle the daily tasks of educating everyone from young adults to children who just began learning. The school’s mission revolves around their students and making sure that every graduate knows how to handle their job duties efficiently. The college offers two departments that include the Elementary and Special Education as well as the Womack Educational Leadership. Prospective students can look into one of the five undergraduate degree plans or more than twenty of graduate programs.
Administration and Supervision, Ed.S.
Students who have completed a community college or a four-year degree can further their education by getting an Administration and Supervision degree from the Middle Tennessee State University. This doctorate program will allow the students to specialize in higher education through a combination of foundation knowledge and multiple elective hours. Additionally, every student will have to choose between research and practicum path. Courtesy of individuals like Dr. Rodney D. Bennett, who is the tenth president of The University of Southern Mississippi, the program already has a lot of popularity. After all, Dr. Bennett is one of the many individuals who pursued both the doctorate and master program in Administration and Supervision. Going through the doctorate degree plan, however, helped him learn how to navigate college-wide resources and facilitate long-term plans for institutions of higher education.
Administration and Supervision, M.Ed.
Unlike the doctorate degree, the master program that helps students specialize in Administration and Supervision will allow them to focus on K-12 Public Schools. Thus, after graduation, they will be eligible to look for job opportunities within these sectors. As expected, getting through this master program at the College of Education will increase one’s odds of going through the doctorate degree plan later on. The teaching style that the program offers can be customized to the student’s preference. In other words, although one can actually come to face-to-face lectures, people can also take some courses online or over the weekend. That way, the professionals who are already working in the field of education will be able to continue doing so while still making progress towards the next degree. Also, students can even create their own cohorts that will take classes close to their location to minimize the traveling requirements.
Accreditations
- Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC)
- American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
- American Council of Education
- Association for Continuing Higher Education
Contact
200 North Baird Lane
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
615-898-5642
Robyn.Ridgley@mtsu.edu
The University of Memphis
Department of Leadership
The Department of Leadership at the University of Memphis focuses on students who want to work as managers, policy analysts, and administrative leaders. In order to offer them the best possible opportunities, people working at the department prioritize the students’ needs through transformational leadership, outstanding research, and state-of-the-art resources. The department focuses on two academic programs that include the Leadership and Policy Studies as well as the Higher and Adult Education. Moreover, the vision of every teacher who helps the students reach their goals is to shape “premier” leaders that can make long-term improvements to society.
Educational Leadership (EdD)
The Leadership and Policy Studies degree is available to those who are looking to specialize in educational leadership through a doctorate program. Some of the learning outcomes include interpreting and conducting educational research, understanding and analyzing P-12 leadership, as well as taking care of the P-12 administrative roles. Once they graduate, the students will be able to seek employment everywhere from higher education departments around the nation to certain positions within the Federal Government. Additionally, they will have a chance to get involved with both public or private universities and lead teacher training efforts. Successful completion, however, will mandate 54 additional course hours beyond one’s master’s degree. Out of that, 33 hours are considered to be the core fundamentals while the rest can be electives.
Contact
123 Ball Hall
Memphis, TN 38152
901-678-2369
leadership@memphis.edu
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
School of Education
As one of the most versatile schools in the region, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s School of Education welcomes everybody from first-year to doctorate students. Their programs allow the prospective applicants to plan for getting fully licensed as the degree plans make it possible to take all the classes needed for the Teacher Education Program. Also, every student will have to go through a mandatory residency that lets them get a plethora of hands-on experience. That way, they will understand what it takes to work with students before actually entering the field and starting their full-time career.
School Leadership M.Ed.
The School Leadership is a master’s degree that will help people prepare for the principal licensure through a program that was approved by the City’s Department of Education. The advantages of undergoing this plan of study include fast completion with five semesters that translate to 33 credits. These will allow the students to go through courses like the Methods of Educational Research, School Law, Management of the School, Practicum in School Leadership, and more. Additionally, the classes have to be accompanied by 450 hours of field experience that gets fulfilled throughout the actual coursework. Additionally, the vast majority of the classes will be delivered in a “hybrid” format where students get to combine face-to-face teaching with online lectures. Ultimately, students who get through all of the requirements will have to pass the State Exam (SLLA) in order to graduate.
School Leadership Ed.S.
Although the aforementioned master’s degree is custom designed for people who are interested in the principal positions, it will not equip them with the necessary knowledge for higher education facilities. The doctorate degree, however, will satisfy this effortlessly as it takes the entire program further and delivers more learning outcomes. The program will go through a total of six semesters where 36 credit hours will help students understand the basics of higher education and administrative leadership. Similar to the previous degree, the classes will include a lot of topics from School Law, Reflective Leadership, School Culture and Climate, Management of the School, and more. Also, the students will need to go through 450 hours of hands-on training and pass the State Exam before they become eligible to graduate with a doctorate designation.
Accreditations
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Education Programs (CACREP)
- National Association for the education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Contact
312 Hunter Hall, 615 McCallie Ave
Chattanooga, TN 37403
423-425-1781
Amanda-Chambers@utc.edu
Vanderbilt University
Peabody College
Peabody College is one of Vanderbilt University’s most successful departments. It offers an opportunity to complete various degree plans both online and in-person, thus assuring enough flexibility for those who might be holding full-time jobs. Two of the most notable programs that are offered include a Leadership and Learning in Organization, which is a doctorate degree, as well as a School Counseling Specialization, which is a master’s program. Students entering the college will further have to complete a capstone project or on-campus convenings to satisfy the graduation requirements.
Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning in Organizations
The Doctor of Education in Leadership and Learning in Organization is a 54-credit plan that will require between three and four years to complete. Of course, students will need to transfer no less than 30 hours from their master’s program in order to satisfy the full 84-credit requirement. Some of the important learning outcomes include teaching students how to be effective leaders, how to translate their knowledge of theory into practice, and conduct successful campaigns for organizational change. After obtaining the degree, the graduates will have an opportunity to work various institutions of higher education as administrative innovators. Their knowledge will also allow them to utilize a plethora of analytics tools and modern technology to help meet important deadlines and objectives. Not to mention the skills that will help them while creating long-term strategies for their organizations to follow. As mentioned, the finalization of the degree plan will depend on a capstone project that combines all of their previously attained skills.
Accreditations
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
- National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
230 Appleton Pl,
Nashville, TN 37203
615-322-8195
alfred.l.brady@vanderbilt.edu
Related Resource: Top 20 Master’s in Educational Administration Online
Although the competition in the field of educational leadership is fierce, there is no shortage of incredible programs to choose from. In fact, the recent boost in interest for this major and graduate degrees has made it possible for schools to invest more resources and expand their offering. Thus, individuals who are looking to gain more leverage when looking for jobs or negotiation salaries in Tennessee can almost effortlessly find a good school to attend.
