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.

Employment of postsecondary education administrators is projected to grow 7 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Growth is expected because of increasing student enrollment in colleges and universities. People will continue to seek postsecondary education to accomplish their career goals. As more people enter colleges and universities, more postsecondary education administrators will be needed to serve the needs of these additional students.

Career Opportunities

• Assistant Principal

• Director or Supervisor

• District Administrator

• Instructional Coordinator

• Principal

The program of study (13 courses/39 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 6232   School Law

EDA 6192   Leadership in Education

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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

EDF 6211   Psychological Foundations of Education

EDS 6115   School Personnel Administration

Summer B 

EDA 6930   Seminar in Educational Leadership

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Fall A

EDA 6271C Administering Educational Technology

Fall – 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. Three 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; 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.

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 $22,824.34. Students pay for courses at the beginning of each semester. All fees are subject to change.

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