If you’re interested in distinguishing yourself from other educators as you advance in your career, perhaps you’re wondering if it is possible to specialize a degree in school administration. You do have the choice to earn a master’s or doctoral degree in education and pursue a concentration in school administration as part of that degree; many noteworthy academic institutions offer this combination of degree and specialization. But if you’ve decided for sure that you want to pursue a career in school administration, it seems more straightforward to focus your efforts specifically on learning what a school administrator needs to know as the main focus of your master’s or doctoral degree — and then perhaps specializing further by opting for a concentration within the school administration degree.
A closely related course of study is that of educational leadership; educational leadership students often have the choice to concentrate in higher education, secondary school administration or elementary school administration.
A school administration degree is already quite specialized, so it seems that many of the academic institutions that offer this degree are choosing not to provide additional concentrations. There are exceptions. The most common exceptions we’ve observed are as follows:
Technology for Education and Training
Instructional technology is a hot topic among educators these days, and numerous opportunities are arising for teachers and administrators who have cutting edge expertise in this field. School principals are viewed as technology leaders. Any aspiring school principal or administrator who is deficient in understanding current instructional technologies would benefit greatly from the knowledge that this specialization can provide, according to the Southeast Education Network.
Institutional Research and Assessment
Many academic institutions have teams specifically dedicated to institutional research and assessment. Team members are typically responsible for collecting and assimilating data that can be useful to helping administration make crucial decisions, assessments and academic policy formulations.
With the rise of “big data” revolutionary changes are afoot in the methods that public school administrators are using for improving student outcomes and using their budgets more effectively, according to Forbes. Expertise in conducting institutional research and assessment is one important key to tapping into this knowledge. Current info provided in this specialization can keep you ahead of the trends in this area.
School District Superintendent
There are school administration degree programs that actually provide a school district superintendent track. So if you are interested in pursuing a superintendent job in the future, this specialization could be helpful in differentiating yourself from other applicants for the role.
PreK-12 School Principal
Similarly, there are school administration degree programs that provide a track intended just for teaching students what they need to know to be successful school principals. So if you’re positive that a school principal position is what you aspire to, this specialization is well worth considering.
Related Resource: Top 20 Best Master’s in Educational Leadership Online 2018
All of these specializations are worth pursuing if they are available in the location where you want to study. The most important thing is to find a school administration degree program that suits your goals, schedule, and budget regardless of whether a further option for specialization is available. It’s fantastic if the degree program you choose also happens to offer a concentration in a specialized area that interests you; but if a concentration is not available, do keep in mind that a school administration degree is quite specialized to start. While it is possible to specialize a degree in school administration, a concentration is not necessary for success in a school administration career.
