Educational leadership
Education Specialist, Educational Leadership
Lead change
Prepare to become a district superintendent ready to direct change, lead technology integration and encourage student achievement with the Education Specialist, Educational Leadership degree in educational leadership.
You may have been an educator for several years and with experience in developing lesson plans and interacting with students and their guardians. Now you seek to support others by stepping into a director or administrative position. University of Idaho’s program outlines a path toward your goal.
Building off your master’s degree, the Ed.S.Ed.Ldrshp. in educational leadership aligns with state competencies for school principals and superintendents. Once enrolled, you’ll acquire a leadership mindset and essential skills for enacting and influencing policy, developing new initiatives and shepherding schools and their communities — toward educational equity, academic success and a love of learning.
You’ll learn to contribute to the conversation around educational leadership from local to national levels. The program’s curriculum touches on key theories, ethics and state standards, plus strategies for creating long-term plans and strengthening relationships with the surrounding neighborhood, town or city. Become a more culturally knowledgeable educator who’s ready to handle staff or community disputes, plan and maintain new facilities and manage finances in relation to resources and productivity. At the same time, you’ll explore ideas rooted in psychology and sociology to discover your leadership style and gain a clear understanding of what schools and districts expect of their superintendent.
Program fast facts
- Prepare to become a district superintendent, program administrator or classroom educator.
- Earn a total of 60 credit hours between your Ed.S. and master’s degrees. The program involves a two-semester internship, and no thesis is required.
- Completing the Ed.S. degree in Educational Leadership makes you eligible to sit for the Standard Administrative Certificate with a principal, special education director and superintendent endorsement.
- We’re a statewide leader of educational leadership: for 30 years, graduates from the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences have shaped classrooms and school districts across the state of Idaho.
- Approved by the state of Idaho and CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation).
- Available online.
- Rolling admissions mean you can apply for the next available semester at any time.
Overview
Related Topics
Educate and elevate
Application information
Applicants for the education specialist in educational leadership program must meet the following degree-specific admission requirements:
- Education level: Master’s degree in a related field of education
- GPA: 3.0
- GRE: No
- TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo: 79/6.5/115 (for applicants whose education was completed in countries where English is not an official language)
- Number of references: Three
- Other requirements: Yes
- Writing sample: Provide one professional sample (thesis, journal article, term paper or handbook, etc.) previously completed by you.
- Prior degree requirement: The Educational Leadership Ed.S. requires for admission the achievement of a prior master's degree in a related field of education. If you do not meet this requirement, please switch your degree selection to Educational Leadership M.Ed.
- Letters of recommendation: Demonstrated support for your potential as an eventual school administrator is one of the criteria for admission into the Educational Leadership Program. Please include at least one Letter of Recommendation from a recent supervisor such as a principal or superintendent.
Program availability
- Semester intake: Fall, Spring, Summer
- Not eligible for international students who require F-1 or J-1 visa status
- Deadlines: general application deadlines
Visit Graduate Admissions to learn more and start your application.
Contact information
Leadership and Counseling contact:
Bethani Studebaker
bstudebaker@uidaho.edu
Graduate Admissions contact:
graduateadmissions@uidaho.edu
208-885-4001
Tuition and fees
To learn about various ways to fund your graduate degree, check out Graduate Funding.
For detailed information about the cost of attendance, visit Financial Aid.
Degree fit
This program could be a good fit if you:
- Have an academic and professional background in education, whether in public, charter, or private school settings
- Aspire to become a superintendent, principal, or charter school executive director who leads with integrity and purpose
- Have a desire to make positive, systemic changes that promote equity, inclusion, and student success
- Are passionate about shaping policy, improving organizational culture, and strengthening community partnerships
- Possess strong leadership, collaboration, and communication skills that inspire others toward shared goals
- Value innovation and continuous improvement in teaching, learning, and educational systems
- Seek a flexible, accredited program that supports growth as a transformational leader in Idaho and beyond
Hands-on learning
The educational leadership program emphasizes the importance of hands-on learning for reinforcing new concepts. You’ll do this through an internship, where you’ll observe and learn from a practicing administrator in a district office.
Career outcomes
Current job openings
739 in ID, WA, OR, MT and HIPotential careers and mid-career salaries
- Education Administrators for Elementary and Secondary Schools
$132,202 - Education Administrators for Preschool and Childcare Programs
$56,658 - Postsecondary Education Administrators
$104,984
* Career data provided by Lightcast.