Accredited educational leadership degree programs in Virginia provide students with the training and experience they need to work as school administrators. Administrators are responsible for things such as planning the budget for the coming school year and making sure that the school has the supplies that it needs. They can also hire new teachers and other workers and create programs for both students and faculty members. Educational leadership programs may include an internship or a practicum as a way to make sure that students understand what they will do in the field. Virginia offers several top programs for students with an interest in educational leadership.
Radford University
College of Graduate Studies and Research
Students looking for the top accredited educational leadership degree programs in Virginia should consider Radford University. It offers both a graduate and a doctoral program through its College of Graduate Studies and Research. One of the best features of these programs is that they are available online to accommodate the busy schedules of teachers and administrators. Both program use Zoom, which incorporates new forms of technology to help students interact with all their teachers and others in their classes. Those who already have a valid Virginia teaching license can use these programs to add other endorsements to their licenses too.
M.S. in Educational Leadership
The Master of Science in Educational Leadership offered by Radford University has two different formats available. One version of the program features only 30 credits of classes and accepts students who either have a teaching license or a graduate degree. The other version of the program includes 36 credits of classes and accepts students who have only a bachelor’s degree. Those seeking a license must do 360 hours of fieldwork. They can work in schools close to them or let the university pick settings for them. The full program includes 10 required classes and an internship, while the shorter program only eight classes and an internship. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher and take a comprehensive exam. Some of the classes available for educational leadership majors include Introduction to School Administration, Educational Leadership for Diverse Learners, Organization and Management of Public Schools and Legal and Ethical Dimensions of School Administration.
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
Another program offered by Radford is a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program. Available only online, it is a cohort program that allows students to start every two years. The university opens the application process at the beginning of June every year that ends in an even number. Students take seven-week classes and do fieldwork. Radford offers this as a part-time program that takes three years to finish and does not require that students take any classes on its campus. The program includes online software that recreates the feel of being in a classroom to help students better focus on the work they do in their cohorts. Students must also take research courses that help them complete a dissertation. Those classes ensure that they find the best articles and other research to back up the claims they make in their final papers, which they’ll present before they graduate.
Accreditation
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
Buchanan House
PO Box 6928
Radford, VA 24142
(540) 831-5724
https://www.radford.edu/content/grad/home.html
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of Education
Virginia Commonwealth University offers a number of degree programs through its School of Education. Undergrads can enroll in programs that include student teaching work in the field, which helps them get licenses to teach in Virginia when they graduate. A variety of graduate programs are also available, including Master of Education programs in adult learning, counselor education, reading, special education and curriculum and instruction. Those who have a bachelor’s degree but no teaching experience can also work with the university to complete programs that help them meet the requirements to get a teaching license and add endorsements to those licenses.
EdD in Leadership
The education doctoral program offered by Virginia Commonwealth University is one of the best accredited educational leadership degree programs in Virginia. This program follows a fast pace that helps students finish their degrees in only 16 months. It does not help students become licensed teachers or administrators though because they must have two years of educational experience before they can begin the program. Prior to starting the leadership program, students must meet with an advisor and select the classes they want to take. They will need to take 15 credits of electives from fields such as adult education or special education. All of the adult education programs help students who want to work in a community college or university. All majors must take some required leadership classes too, including Leadership for Educational Change and Improvement, Multiple Dimensions of Leadership and Understanding Diversity and Leading for Social Justice.
Accreditation
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
Box 842020
1015 West Main Street
Richmond, VA 23284-2020
(804) 827-2670
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
School of Education
One of the oldest schools in Virginia is Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, which offers both research and liberal arts programs. With multiple campuses offering education programs, students can choose one in the same city where they live and work or sign up for an online program. The university has campuses in major cities such as Richmond and Roanoke and in smaller areas that include Blacksburg and the southwest region. All the educational leadership programs offered by Virginia Polytechnic are cohort programs. Students have the chance to form working relationships with their peers and to form deep connections with their teachers.
Educational Leadership & Policy Studies (M.A.Ed.)
The Master of Arts in Education in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies ranks as one of the more popular accredited educational leadership degree programs in Virginia. Students can enroll in a residential program on one of the university’s six campuses or complete the program online. Six of the 30 required credits will come from the two internships that students do. One internship must involve leadership and team building, while the second can include working in a special education or a similar setting. Students will complete 30 credits and take several classes on working in preschool through 12th grade settings. Though the educational leadership program does not include a thesis, it does offer classes for those who want to research special topics on their own or develop better research skills. Students can take classes such as Planning Educational Facilities, Leader and Change in P-12 Education and Contemporary Issues in Special Education.
Educational Leadership & Policy Studies (Ed.S.)
Another program available from the university is an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies. This program looks at how schools establish the educational policies that they use and how administrators can implement those policy changes. Virginia Polytechnic worked with a professional organization to determine the skills that administrators need and created a program that addressed those 200 skills and subject areas. Students spend two years or five semesters in the program and complete 39 credits of work, which include two internships that are each worth six credits. One of the courses they can take is Research and Thesis, which helps them prepare for the research and work they will do on a thesis. Most of the classes in the program are worth at least three credits. Those classes include School Personnel Administration and Instructional Supervision, Legal and Regulatory Issues in Special Education and Public School Finance.
Educational Leadership & Policy Studies (Ph.D.)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University also offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies. Open to those who have a strong background and some educational experience, the program includes 78 credits of work and opportunities for students to complete research projects. those who want to earn an educational doctorate degree only need to take 69 credits of classes. The university offers financial aid in the form of assistantships too. Research assistants work with professors on educational research projects, while teaching assistants help professors grade exams and other assignments and teach classes. Most students finish the program in four years, including two to three years of classes and one year of dissertation work. Instruction Leadership P-12 Education, Administrative Issues in Special Education, Administration of Special Needs Programs and School Law are some of the classes available. Most students focus on either P-12 education or special education.
Accreditation
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
226 War Memorial Hall (0313)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540) 231-1802
https://liberalarts.vt.edu/departments-and-schools/school-of-education.html
Virginia State University
College of Education
The College of Graduate Studies and the College of Education at Virginia State University oversee its programs in educational leadership. Students in the counselor education program learn how to work with students and help them overcome the issues they have both at home and while in school. This program can also help students get their school counseling licenses. Those applying to the educational leadership graduate programs need a high score on the PAXIS exam, a GPA of at least 2.8 and some teaching experience. If they want full acceptance into the program and take classes to become a principal, they will also need to submit three letters of recommendation.
M.Ed in Educational Administration and Supervision PK-12
One of the top accredited educational leadership degree programs in Virginia is the Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision offered by Virginia State University. Designed for those who want to work in public and/or private schools, it prepares graduates to work with children ranging in age from preschool through high school. Students have the choice between taking 42 credit hours of classes and doing a thesis/final project or not doing a thesis and taking 45 credits of classes instead. Those who follow the thesis track will take fewer courses because some of their credits come from their thesis work. Before they can graduate, students must also pass a written exam that can include questions from all their classes. The program includes an oral exam where faculty members ask questions that students must answer too.
M.S. in Educational Administration and Supervision
Both the written and the oral exams required of students in the last program are also required of students in the university’s Master of Science in Educational Administration and Supervision. This program does not include the PK-12 focus and prepares students for working in any school setting, including with students in vocational schools and colleges. The master’s program also includes a thesis requirement. Students must pick a subject area and meet with an advisor to get approval to use that topic for the thesis. They will complete their work by the end of their final semester and present the thesis to get the credit that they need to graduate. At least 36 of their credits will come from the professional content area, including Supervision of Instruction, Personnel Administration, Evaluation of Instruction, School and Community Relations and Schools Finance. Virginia State requires that students do an educational administration and supervision internship also.
Ed.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision
The Department of Educational Administration and Supervision at Virginia State offers an education doctoral program in educational administration and supervision. Students need to have a GPA of 2.8 or higher to get full acceptance into the program. A lower GPA may result in the student receiving conditional acceptance, which will require that the student regularly meet with an advisor and take some prerequisites. The university accepts only 12 new students each year because it follows a cohort format. This ensures that students get the low class sizes they need and that they receive more direct learning. It takes only two years to finish the required courses and electives in the program, but students will spend one to two years or more on their dissertations. Virginia State asks students to prepare a dissertation and a dissertation defense, which they will present to a panel of professors and others from the department.
Accreditation
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
1 Hayden Dr.
Virginia State University, VA 23806
(804) 524-5000
http://www.gradstudies.vsu.edu/programs/education.php
Related Resource: Top 20 Best Master’s in Educational Leadership Online
Between its larger cities and smaller towns, Virginia is home to a number of school districts. Those districts hire teachers and administrators who can work with other professionals and students. Those who want to work in this area can gain the skills they need in any of the accredited educational leadership degree programs in Virginia.
