Educational leadership degrees are perfect for experienced teachers who would like to move upward in their careers. They are also ideal for persons who are wishing to begin a new and exciting career in educational leadership. These degrees qualify graduates for many terrific positions including school principals and vice principals, program directors, college deans, headmasters, and even athletic directors.
Educational leaders are needed on all grade levels as well, from pre-school through college. And for persons in Virginia who would like to earn an educational leadership degree, they will be delighted to learn that there are several schools here that they can choose from. Some of these excellent facilities are described below along with short descriptions of the educational leadership degree programs that they offer.
George Mason University
The College of Education and Human Development
George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development offers just over two dozen programs in many popular career fields for persons who are seeking bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees. Current fields of interest that are available to students in the College of Education and Human Development include human development and family science, elementary education, kinesiology, counseling and development, educational psychology, educational leadership, and curriculum and instruction. The college also offers several certificate programs in such areas as applied behavior analysis, educational policy, foreign languages, and learning technologies.
MEd in Education Leadership
The Master of Education in Education Leadership degree program offered by George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development requires the completion of 30 credit hours of coursework. To graduate from this program, students must participate in an educational leadership internship and maintain a B average in all required courses. Some of the classes students will encounter during the Master of Education in Education Leadership program include Contemporary Issues in Education Leadership, Using Research to Lead School Improvement, Leading Schools and Communities, and Adult Motivation and Conflict Management in Education Settings.
PhD in Education Leadership
The College of Education and Human Development’s PhD in Education Leadership degree program is a rigorous program that requires a dissertation, a portfolio, and 66 credit hours of coursework. Students are required to complete a total of 15 credit hours of coursework relating to research and 24 credit hours of coursework relating to educational leadership. The remaining 27 hours are to be completed through electives and the dissertation. Typical courses that are required in the PhD in Education Leadership program include Social and Political Forces in Education Leadership, Emerging Issues in Administration and Supervision, Contemporary Organization Theory, and Leadership and Decision-Making.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Contact
4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
(703)993-3633
admissions@gmu.edu
Master Degree Program – https://gse.gmu.edu/education-leadership/academics/masters-in-education-education-leadership
Doctoral Degree Program – https://gse.gmu.edu/education-leadership/academics/phd-in-education-education-leadership-specialization
James Madison University
The Department of Professional and Continuing Education
The Department of Professional and Continuing Education at James Madison University offers a wide array of courses and programs for both degree-seeking and non-degree seeking individuals. The department also provides a number of certificate programs, youth programs, and courses aimed at helping students prepare for various certification and licensure exams. At the current time, the Department of Professional and Continuing Education offers degrees in the following areas of study: mathematics, reading specialist, nursing, educational leadership, educational technology, and speech language pathology.
MEd in Educational Leadership
The Master of Education in Education Leadership degree program that can be found within the Department of Professional and Continuing Education is a 36-39 credit hour program. Students who wish to earn this degree are required to complete an internship and a variety of coursework that is related to education and educational leadership. The core curriculum consists of five education-related classes, and the concentration curriculum is comprised of seven courses pertaining to educational leadership. Examples of some of the courses that are required of the concentration curriculum include School Finance and Business Management, Leadership for School-Community Relations, Technology for Administrators, and Fundamentals of Educational Administration.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- The Educational Leadership Constituent Consortium
Contact
395 South High Street
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
(540)568-8012
crowderg@jmu.edu
http://www.jmu.edu/coe/ltle/edleadership.shtml
Liberty University
The Graduate School
Liberty University’s Graduate School offers hundreds of programs in a broad range of fields for persons who are seeking master’s or doctoral degrees. All of these programs are offered online for the convenience of students who are unable to attend traditional, on-campus courses. Just a sample of the fields of study that can be found in Liberty University’s Graduate School includes theology, business administration, criminal justice, counselor education and supervision, nursing, osteopathic medicine, higher education administration, and educational leadership.
EdD in Educational Leadership
The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership degree program offered by Liberty University’s Graduate School requires the completion of 60 credit hours of coursework and can typically be completed in about three years. Basic admissions requirements for the program include an overall grade point average of 3.0 and proof of English proficiency. In addition to completion of a dissertation, students who wish to earn the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership degree will need to enroll in such courses as Leadership Principles and Ethics, Theories of Educational Leadership, School Finance and Management, Organizational Analysis and Problem Solving, and Educational Law.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
- National Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Contact
1971 University Boulevard
Lynchburg, Virginia 24515
(800)424-9596
luograd@liberty.edu
https://www.liberty.edu/online/education/doctoral/education/educational-leadership/
Longwood University
The College of Education and Human Services
Longwood University’s College of Education and Human Services is made up of three different departments: Social Work and Communication Sciences; Health, Athletic Training, Recreation, and Kinesiology; and Education and Counseling. The Department of Education and Counseling offers several top-rated programs in the areas of counseling, teaching, special education, autism spectrum disorders, school librarianship, reading and literacy, elementary and middle school mathematics, health and physical education, and educational leadership.
Educational Leadership (M.S.)
The College of Education and Human Services’ Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership degree program requires a combination of online and on-campus participation. This is a 36 credit hour program that has been designed to prepare graduates for such career paths as college or university deans, school principals or assistant principals, office directors, or school superintendents. Examples of some of the required courses in the Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership degree program include Finance and Resource Allocation, School Personnel Administration, School Operations and Management, School Law, and Supervision and Evaluation of Instruction.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Contact
201 High St.
Farmville, Virginia 23909
(434)395-4872
tannerandersonsl@longwood.edu
http://www.longwood.edu/edleadgrad/
Old Dominion University
The Darden College of Education and Professional Studies
The Darden College of Education and Professional Studies at Old Dominion University offers just over a dozen undergraduate programs and 60 graduate programs in several popular fields of study. The college consists of six distinct departments: Human Movement Sciences, Counseling and Human Services, Communication Disorders and Special Education, STEM Education, Education Foundations and Leadership, and Teaching and Learning. In the Department of Education Foundations and Leadership, prospective students will find an excellent educational leadership program leading to a master of science degree.
Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership
The Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership program that is offered by the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies focuses on preK-12 educational administration and supervision. Students who are enrolled in this program are required to complete an internship and various program-related coursework in such areas as fiscal management, strategic human resource management, data analysis and decision making, leadership for school improvement, and leading collaborative communities. When applying to the Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership degree program, students will need to submit three letters of reference, a current resume, and three admissions essays. Information pertaining to the admissions essays can be found on the educational leadership program webpage of the university’s website.
Accreditations
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Contact
5115 Hampton Boulevard
Norfolk, Virginia 23529
(757)683-6694
SMyran@odu.edu
https://www.odu.edu/efl/academics/els/msed
Related Resource: Top 20 Best Master’s in Educational Leadership Online
Educational leaders in Virginia are key in improving educational programs and facilities. These professionals use their knowledge and skills to create and manage change that will benefit both the educational system and the local community. There are many schools in Virginia that offer educational leadership degree programs, and the universities that are described above are among the best.
