Applicants seeking an accredited educational leadership degree have no problem in finding programs online and in brick-and-mortar environments. West Virginia recognized the necessity of educational leadership early on and instituted several programs in its public universities. Private universities soon followed suit and began offering educational leadership curriculums as well. Educational leadership grew out of the cacophony created when education for children k-12 was federally mandated. Educational leadership positions bridge the gap between chaos and order while involving the community in the educational needs of its children. With the advent of the Internet, many students have opted to take advantage and continue their education while working.
Concord University
Department of Education Online Graduate Programs
Concord University’s Department of Education is one of the few in the country that has completely embraced the Internet as an instructing tool. One of the pioneering schools that demonstrated the advantages that enterprising students could exploit, Concord University reaches far more students with its online graduate level programs than it ever could in its campus classrooms. The online programs offered by the Department of Education at the graduate level include 15 credit-hours of studies in traditional educational studies and 21 credit-hours of specialized studies that lead to certifications as a reading specialist, a special education provider, and toward educational leadership positions.
Master in Education in Educational Leadership & Supervision
The Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Supervision program at Concord University is offered within the Department of Education as an online program. The program is an extension of education for existing licensed teachers k-12 or those qualified for licensure in public schools within West Virginia. The program is uniquely intended for use in the k-12 arena; it is not intended to qualify candidates for District or State employment. Candidates who achieve this Master level enjoy an accredited curriculum that includes classes exploring core courses and classes specializing in leadership inside the k-12 environment. Within the core curriculum, students learn essential elements of education, including advanced techniques in educational research, new elements of technology incorporated in education programs, and evaluation techniques to supervise and lead. The specialized curriculum in leadership concentrates on public school laws, organization, administration, and leadership techniques through classroom study and action internships.
Accreditations
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
Concord University
Vermillion Street
P.O. Box 1000
Athens, WV 24712
(800) 344-6679
Marshall University
Graduate College
Marshall University’s recent elevation to an “R-2” research school by the prestigious Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is an accolade that transfers to its Graduate College where Education research has contributed to the advancement of school/community relations. The new designation allows the school accreditation in several new graduates level programs. Named as one of the leading universities in the U.S. by U.S. News, College Choice, and Best Value Schools, Marshall is experiencing an incredible surge in graduate-level participation, especially in the field of Education where its graduates are finding employment in upper-level management positions at record rates.
Doctor of Education in Leadership Studies
The online Doctor of Education in Leadership Studies at the Marshal University Graduate College has expanded in recent decades to qualify graduates to works as administrators, supervisors, and department heads in both public and private schools, With Marshall’s accreditations and growing respect in the educational community, the likelihood of advancement in diverse areas of society. Graduates that seek advancement in their public or private employment find that a Doctor of Education in Leadership studies works in every field of human endeavor, including the military, social service organizations, school, colleges and universities, NGOs, non-profit organizations, philanthropies, and local, state or federal government. Working toward this elevated degree online allows the participating student to work while advancing in their studies and eventually in their career. Students learn research techniques in practical application with the resulting dissertation required to pass muster as an instrument that contributes toward the advancement of society.
Accreditations
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
Marshall University
1 John Marshall Drive
Huntington, WV 25755
Phone: (304) 696-3170
Salem University
Salem School of Education
Applicants to Salem University’s Salem School of Education are assured of accreditation through an arduous process of recognition by various educational organizations. The Salem School of Education offers Bachelor degrees as well as Master degrees in several fields within the education community. Their programs received national recognition for graduate and undergraduate programs in educational leadership through the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) based on the intensity of the curriculum and the advancement in employment of its graduates. The school offers its courses in both the traditional format of brick-and-mortar presentations and an inventive online approach that allows students to work and study simultaneously.
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
The Salem School of Education offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership for experienced teachers and administrators that have demonstrated an ability to lead. Essential to the programs in leadership presented by the Salem School of Education is the knowledge and capability to achieve excellence in and out of the classroom—often requiring the applicant to produce references of community involvement. Recognizing the necessity of leadership in schools from K-adult, Salem School of Education offers an accelerated program to get the student out of the classroom and into the community a soon a possible. Salem University offers two pathways toward the Master of Education in Educational Leadership. The Principal Track is a 30-hour curriculum delivered over 11 months that leads to employment as a principal in schools from k-adult. The Full Certification Track demands a 36-credit-hour presentation taken over 15 months that delivers qualifications for employment as a principal in k-adult schools, superintendents, general supervisors.
Accreditations
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
Salem University
223 West Main Street
Salem, WV 26426
(844) 462-9128
Website
West Liberty University
College of Education and Human Performance
It is appropriate that West Liberty University gains recognition as a forward-looking institution with a fine complement of faculty and incredible accreditations to enhance the lives of those students lucky enough to attend and graduate from there. The school ranks sixth overall in the Southern region of Colleges amongst the Top Public Schools. The College of Education and Human Performance carries only 476 students, including those at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Maintaining a small class size and a student to faculty ratio of 15 to one, the school concentrates on the benefits and challenges of modern education, providing its graduates with a reputation as skilled and compassionate.
Master of Arts in Education in Leadership Studies
Successful applicants for the Master of Arts in Education in Leadership Studies at West Liberty University enroll in a unique leadership study dedicated to the student’s continued discovery of the role of leadership in their community. The program prepares students to lead in the respective school where they teach and act as respected liaisons between the schools and the community that surrounds and supports them. The curriculum calls for 30 credit hours of study including 12 credit hours of common core for all Educational Graduate Studies at West Liberty University and 18 credit hours dedicated the exploration of the responsibilities and characteristics of leadership. The common core includes courses on writing proficiency, assessment and evaluation techniques, and modern research methodology. Leadership studies address human resource issues, community collaboration, and leadership models. All Masters of Arts in Education programs are offered online and on campus at West Liberty University.
Accreditations
- The Higher Learning Council
- National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
West Liberty University
208 Liberty Drive
West Liberty, WV 26074
(304) 336-5000
West Virginia State University
Online Programs
West Virginia State University, founded in 1890, is an all-black school offering multiple degrees for undergraduates and graduates. Today, West Virginia State is a diversified and accredited school guided by a principle that demands that it connect with as many students as possible to offer education in fields of study that are inclusive and pertinent. West Virginia State University recognized the value of online education at an early point and is one of the pioneers in the development of robust, informative, and imaginative online courses. While offering several undergraduate degrees attainable fully online, the school offers only one graduate-level course fully online—the M.Ed in Instructional Leadership.
M.Ed in Instructional Leadership
Many programs copy the structures set up online by West Virginia State University for the continued education of teachers who wish to enter the realm of leadership. However, not many can keep up with the advances West Virginia State University makes every year. The M.Ed in Instructional Leadership program is an excellent example of how a school can excel in its presentation of materials while staying on the edge of technological and professional innovations. The curriculum concentrates on cutting edge techniques that graduates take into their professional role as facilitators of staff and teachers. The core belief is that leadership means more than leading; it is a combination of leading, encouraging, and pointing the way to the advancement of the careers for employees under the care and tutelage of their graduates. Graduates of this program are eligible to become school principals, policy and curriculum developers, and child-care directors.
Accreditations
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and School (HLC)
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
West Virginia State University
P. O. Box 1000
Institute, WV 25112-1000
(833) 564-6463
West Virginia University
College of Education and Human Services
The College of Education and Human Services at West Virginia University houses several sub-schools, each with its emphasis on select portions of the education community. With curriculums that include both graduate and undergraduate degrees, the college has developed some original educational techniques over its nearly 100-year history. The principles guiding the school propose the establishment and maintenance of an education system that provides students the ability to reach beyond what they are told and to think critically. With that principle in mind, the College of Education and Human Services offers Master’s and Doctorates in several fields, one of which is the Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration.
Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration
The Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration offered by the College of Education and Human Services at West Virginia University is a hybrid curriculum with some courses offered only in the classroom, some offered part face-to-face and part online, and some courses offered fully online. Successful graduates of this Doctorate demonstrate their ability to produce, analyze, and publish original research on cutting edge subjects that enhance the educational community. Those receiving their Doctorates are eligible for consideration as school principals, District superintendents, curriculum developers and administrators, heads of departments, and state or federal education officials. Those with this degree who enter into the higher reaches of authority in the field of education are expected by the education community to excel beyond the mere attainment of their elevated position. It is not uncommon for these graduates to introduce innovative educational techniques that run against long-established practices.
Accreditations
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
West Virginia University
College of Education and Human Services
Allen Hall, 355 Oakland Street
P. O. Box 6112
Morgantown, WV 26506-6122
(304) 293-5703
Website
Related Resource: Top 20 Best Master’s in Educational Leadership Online
The theory and practice of educational leadership in West Virginia are alive and well. Whether the student is concentrating on moving into an administrative position or to the head of a department, educational opportunities abound in the state. Any applicants selecting from this list of accredited educational leadership programs in West Virginia grow into a well-established seat in the areas of community improvement, student excellence, and faculty competence.
