Online Master of Science Educational Leadership

FIU’s master’s program in education leadership offers students the opportunity to advance their skills to seek management positions within the K-12 education environment. Our program provides students with the tools they need to make ethical and sound decisions while fostering a growth mindset within the school environment and in consideration of policy. Curriculum will examine models and theories of organizational development that can be applied to state, charter, private, and non-profit institutions. 

The master of science (M.S.) degree program in educational leadership comprises courses and experiences designed to develop entry-level competencies in the practice of educational leadership. The program incorporates coursework that address standards and competencies commonly found in most educational leadership programs nationwide. Standards are consequently grounded on four major leadership strands, including:

•     Student Achievement

•     Instructional Leadership

•     Organizational Leadership

•     Professional and Ethical Practice

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of elementary, middle, and high school principals is projected to grow 4 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for elementary, middle, and high school principals was $95,310 in May 2018. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $61,490, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $144,950.

Career Opportunities

• Assistant Principal

• Director or Supervisor

• District Administrator

• Instructional Coordinator

• Principal

Career Path

Assistant Principal/Principal, Dean of Students, Registrar, Department Chair, Educational Director or Supervisor, District Administrator, Instructional Coordinator, School Counselor, Career Counselor.

Non-traditional Career Paths

Standardized Test Developer

Education Policy and Research

Nonprofit and Charity

Grant Writing

Corporate Learning

Human Resources

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Educational Sales

Income Range

$50,000 - $152,000

Industry Outlook

FL: 7%⬆️

US: 8%⬆️

(Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics and onetonline.org)

The program of study (12 courses/36 semester hours) is as follows: 

Fall A

EDA 6061   Introduction to Educational Leadership

EDF 6608   Social, Philosophical, and Historical Foundations of Education

Fall B

EDA 6192   Leadership in Education

EDA 6232   School Law

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Spring A

EDF 5481   Foundations of Educational Research

EDA 6242   School Finance

Spring B

EDA 6503   Instructional Leadership

EDA 6195   Communication in Educational Leadership

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Summer A

EDA 6222   School Personnel Administration

EDA 6211   Psychological Foundations of Education

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Fall A

EDA 6271C Administering Educational Technology

Fall C – 16 weeks

EDA 6943   Administrative Internship*

Course sequence subject to change.

To ensure every student’s success, we have certain admissions requirements for our program. To help you through the application process, our enrollment advisors can help to answer your questions and guide you every step of the way.

Applications are accepted for a Fall Semester start.

Admission to the program is based on the following criteria: 

1. A baccalaureate degree and a grade point average of at least 3.25 (on 4.0 scale) in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework; 

2. At least three years of successful full-time teaching experience prior to application for admission to the program; 

3. A copy of Teacher Service Record or letter from current principal as evidence of a minimum of three years of successful full-time teaching experience 

4. Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on the applicant’s leadership potential and qualifications for successfully participating in the program; 

5. A current resume (curriculum vitae), including education, professional preparation, and employment history; 

6. A brief written statement (approximately 250 words) articulating the applicant’s professional career goals and aspirations;

7. A copy of a valid Educator Certificate; and

For state of Florida applicants: Our program may be used to satisfy part of the requirements of the Florida Department of Education for state certification in Educational Leadership.

For out of state applicants: We recommend applicants consult their state’s department of education for assurance that program coursework meets their state’s principal leadership standards and education code.

NOTE: The degree does not fulfill a state’s certification requirement. Rather, it satisfies the academic requirements of an educational leadership degree. Graduates are responsible for meeting their state’s certification requirements, if applicable.  

All application materials should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions via the online Graduate Application.  Please select the following plan/subplan when applying: 

• Academic Plan: EDLDR:MS
• Academic SubPlan: EDLONLINE

Use the graduate admission checklist to get started.

International Students

• Proof of English Language Proficiency. If you earned a bachelor's degree in a country whose official language is not English, you must demonstrate English language proficiency by earning a passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). TOEFL required minimum score: 550 (paper-based exam) or 80 (internet-based). IELTS required minimum score: 6.5. When requesting official scores, please refer to FIU Institution code 5206. TOEFL / IELTS scores are valid for two years. View list of TOEFL/IELTS-exempt countries.

  • Graduate programs can use the Duolingo English Test for the entering graduate classes through Fall 2023.

  • Please visit Duolingo English Test for more information about how to register for the exam.

  • FIU Minimum Duolingo English Test Score: 105

• Course by Course Evaluation. If your post-secondary educational history includes coursework outside the United States, you must submit a course-by-course credential translation and evaluation, with grade point average (GPA) calculation included, for all non-U.S. coursework. FIU accepts evaluations/translations from any NACES member evaluation service.

  FIU accepts evaluations/translations from any NACES member evaluation services, below are a few FIU recommends:

  Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., International Education Consultants
  7101 SW 102 Avenue
  Miami, FL 33173
  Phone: 305-273-1616 | Fax 305-273-1338
  www.jsilny.org | info@jsilny.com
  Visit the Josef Silny & Associates FIU Form for details

  World Education Services
  PO Box 745
  New York, NY 10113-0745
  212-966-6311
  www.wes.org | info@wes.org 
  
  Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
  PO Box 514070
  Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
  414-289-3400 | www.ece.org
  
  
• As a fully online degree, this program is ineligible to grant/provide F-1 Student visas.

Effective January 15, 2023 for Graduate applicants: If your post-secondary educational history includes coursework outside the United States, you must submit a course-by-course credential translation and evaluation, with grade point average (GPA) calculation included, for all non-U.S. coursework. FIU accepts evaluations/translations from any NACES member evaluation service. Please visit the NACES website here: NACES | Credentials Evaluations Provided by NACES Members

Pursuing your graduate degree is one of the best investments you can make – one that will open doors to personal and professional opportunities. Our tuition costs represent some of the best value in higher education, and we also offer financial aid support to help you reach your goals.

The total cost of the online MS in Educational Leadership is $21,232. Students pay for courses at the beginning of each semester. All fees are subject to change.

Scholarship opportunities available

Learn more about the details of our program by listening in to our information session.