School of Education, Health, and Society
Educational Leadership
School Leadership Program
- Guiding
Philosophy - How to
Apply - Financial
Aid - Program
Requirements - Admission
Resources - Program
Forms - Contact
Us
The School Leadership Program (SLP) leads to the M.Ed. degree and is designed for educators with a minimum of three years of K-12 teaching experience who wish to become school principals or administrators. The 33- hour program structure allows teachers to complete their masters and licensure requirements in two years of part time enrollment while working full time. Most SLP courses are taught by full-time Miami faculty; some are taught by current school leaders, and most courses are offered in a hybrid format—a blend of traditional class sessions and on-line components.
A distinctive feature of the SLP program is the cohort system. Students are accepted in cohorts, reflecting the department’s vision of educational leadership as a collaborative process. Under the cohort system, a selected group of individuals who aspire to building leadership roles progress together through a designed program, creating networks and mutually supportive practices as they advance through their coursework.
Integral to the program is a one-year internship. Each student identifies a school principal mentor to observe and test the application of theory to a field site. The internship provides professional networks as well as leadership mentors.
Guiding Philosophy
The need to restructure administration preparation programs has led Miami’s EDL Department to reorient its leadership program around problems of practice. The program recognizes that school administration must change to reflect the more collaborative organizational structure of schools. In a participatory structure, problems are solved in teams where members collaborate and share their experiences and specialized knowledge. Successful teamwork demands a particular set of skills, which need to be learned and practiced. Academic study must include an emphasis on the “craftlike” nature of administration by recognizing the clinical dimension of professional practice and by examining theory as it occurs in administrative practice.
How to apply
Admission is limited to no more than 20 students each year. The admissions process is competitive, resulting in a select group of highly motivated, capable students. This provides opportunities for close interaction between students and faculty and enhanced placement opportunities.
Candidates must apply and be accepted by both the Graduate School and the Department of Educational Leadership. The Graduate School requires an applicant to have a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 (or 3.0 in the last 60 hours).
Other minimum entrance requirements:
- Completion of an undergraduate degree
- Possession of a professional teacher licensure
- Three years teaching experience in early or middle childhood (for elementary/middle school principal) or young adult (for middle school/high school principal)
- Written essay application and interview
- Scores from either the Miller Analogies Test or the Graduate Record Examination.
1. Submit a Graduate School Application form, a $50 non-refundable application fee, and two* official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate course work to:
The Graduate School
102 Roudebush Hall
Miami University
Oxford, Ohio 45056
Miami graduates need to supply only one official transcript; graduates from other institutions must provides two.
Detailed information, including an application, can be found here.
2. Submit an EDL School Leadership Information form* and three references to:
School Leadership Admissions Committee
Department of Educational Leadership
Miami University
Oxford, Ohio 45056
3. Submit three references, using the School Leadership Recommendation Form, from colleagues, teachers, or peers who can attest to your professional work, potential for successful graduate study, and potential for making a positive contribution as a school leader. Send references to:
School Leadership Admissions Committee
Department of Educational Leadership
Miami University
Oxford, Ohio 45056
4. The Miller Analogies Test (preferred) or Graduate Record Examination General Test score is required for admission to the SLP program. You may take the MAT at a college or university testing center near you. If you prefer, you may take the MAT at the Miami University Student Counseling Service. Call 513-529-4634 to schedule a test date.
Additional information about the MAT can be found here. Information about the Graduate Record Examination can be obtained from: Educational Testing Service, Graduate Record Examination CN 6000, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6010 (telephone 609-771-7670), or by visiting their website at www.gre.com.
Wherever you take the MAT or Graduate Record Examination General Test, you must request that your score be sent to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Educational Leadership, 304 McGuffey Hall, Oxford, Ohio 45056
5. Interviews of prospective candidates will be conducted about three months before a cohort is scheduled to begin course work.
6. Writing sample. Applicants meeting initial screening criteria will be invited to do an on-site writing sample when they meet with the Admissions Committee. Writing samples will be evaluated based on evidence of scholarly writing ability.
7. Deadline for applications are on a rolling basis. Contact the program coordinator, Dr. Steven R. Thompson at thompss3@muohio.edu or 513-529-0165
Financial aid
- TEAM Scholarship for Ohio educators. The TEAM Scholarship at Miami provides a 50 percent tuition and fee scholarship to professional educators for graduate course work. Go here for more information.
- A limited number of other scholarships are available to EDL graduate students. The Principal’s Academy Scholarship is awarded to one or more full- or part-time students enrolled in the SLP program who are preparing for leadership in elementary schools. The average award is about $1,000 annually. For more information on scholarships, fees and financial aid, go to the Financial Aid / Team Scholarship section of this site.
Program Requirements for Master's Degree
Administration Strand (18 hours)
- EDL 601 Educational Leadership Theory (3)
- EDL 602 The Principalship and Change (3)
- EDL 607 School Law (3)
- EDL 609 Educational Politics, Policy, and Ethics (3)
- EDP 614 Family School Commuity Partnerships (3) -
- EDL 630 A&B Applied Studies in Educational Administration (4)
- EDL 645 Supervision of Teaching (3)
- EDL 646 Curriculum Development for Instruction (3)
- EDL 710 Internship in Educational Leadership(3)
- EDL 721 Pupil Services Programs (1)
- EDL 723 School Finance (3)
- EDL 725 Staff Personnel Administration (1)
Total credit hours = 33
