Educational Leadership (Graduate)

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Faculty

Kara M. Chism, Chair, Associate Professor
Amy L.  Benton, Professor
F. Jane Cobia, Professor
Leslie S. Ennis, Professor
Monique Gardner Witherspoon, Professor
Lisa L. Beckham, Assistant Professor
William T. Cleveland, Assistant Professor

Graduate Programs and Requirements

Degrees
Master of Science in Education (MSE) - Class A Certification
          Instructional Leadership   

Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL)
          Organizational Leadership   

Educational Specialist (EdS) - Class AA Certification
          Instructional Leadership   

Doctor of Education in Educational and Organizational Leadership (EdD)

Certificate
Instructional Leadership (CRE) 
_________________________________________________
The Department of Educational Leadership offers graduate education programs at two levels of certification (provided current certification requirements of the Alabama State Department of Education have been met): a master of science in education (MSE) degree with Class A certification in instructional leadership and an educational specialist (EdS) degree with Class AA certification in educational leadership. The department also offers a master of science in organizational leadership (MSOL) degree. At the doctoral level, the department offers a doctor of education (EdD) in educational and organizational leadership (see the Educational Leadership-Doctoral section for more information).

Candidates currently holding a master’s degree and Class A certification may complete an 18-hour certification program in instructional leadership.

Master of Science in Education (MSE); Educational Specialist (EdS); Certificate in Instructional Leadership (CRE-INLD)

Unconditional Admission

1. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in an undergraduate degree, if applying to a master’s program. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in a master’s degree, if applying to the educational specialist program. Coursework completed for non-degree purposes will not be considered in admission decisions.
2. Satisfactory completion of other admission criteria, listed below by program.

NOTE: There is no option for conditional admission to the MSE, certification only, or EdS programs in instructional leadership. 

Admission Criteria by Program

Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Instructional Leadership

(eligible for State certification)

1. Completion of application and submission of application fee
2. Undergraduate cumlative GPA of 2.75 or higher
3. One official copy of all transcripts from all institutions attended
4. Interview
5. Portfolio
6. Three letters of recommendation. One must be from your current supervisor
7. Writing sample
8. Statement of purpose
9. Experience Verification Form documenting three or more years of experience in which one or more of those years was spent as a classroom teacher
10. Current and valid Class B teaching certificate

Educational Specialist (EdS) in Instructional Leadership

(eligible for State certification)

1. Completion of application and submission of application fee
2. Graduate cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
3. One official copy of all transcripts from all institutions attended 
4. Two letters of recommendation. One must be from your immediate supervisor.*
5. Letter of recommendation*
6. Writing sample*
7. Statement of purpose*
8. Current and valid Class A in Instructional Leadership, if necessary**
9. Experience Verification Form**

———-
*Waived if a previous graduate of three years or less from Samford University’s MSE Instructional Leadership program.
**Contact Graduate Admissions Office for exceptions.

Certificate in Instructional Leadership

(certificate-only program; eligible for State certification)

1. Completion of application and submission of application fee
2. Graduate cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
3. One official copy of all transcripts from all institutions attended
4. Interview
5. Portfolio
6. Two letters of recommendation. One must be from your immediate supervisor. 
7. Experience Verification Form documenting three or more years of experience in which one or more of those years was spent as a classroom teacher
8. Current and valid Class A teaching certificate

Transfer Credit

In traditional graduate studies, a student may transfer up to six semester hours of graduate credit from an accredited four-year college or university which has a state-approved graduate program in the major or in teacher education. Exceptions may be granted by the dean of the School of Education. After an application is received, transfer credits will be evaluated by the department chair and certification officer for applicability to the Samford program. Transfer credits more than six years old will not be accepted. 

Tuition Scholarships

Tuition scholarships are available to all candidates who have been accepted for graduate study at the master of science or educational specialist level. See Advisement subsection for contact information.

Retention and Completion

Students on the MSE level must maintain a GPA of 3.00; students on the EdS level must maintain a GPA of 3.25. All students must follow a prescribed course of study specified on their program checklist as approved by the Alabama State Department of Education. They must complete all work within six years. All graduate students in an approved program must take and pass a comprehensive examination for each certification area following completion of their coursework. All graduate students receiving initial certification must also pass the appropriate PRAXIS examination. At the end of any semester, a student whose cumulative GPA falls below the required minimum (3.00 for MSE and 3.25 for EdS) may not continue in the program. Any grade below a C- shall not be counted for credit and the course must be retaken. While final course grades may be appealed through formal institutional processes, dismissal for GPA reasons is final and cannot be appealed. An individual who completes an Alabama State-approved program must submit an application for Alabama certification within 60 calendar months (five years) of the program completion date.

Readmission

Students who discontinue or leave the MSE, certification only, or EdS program with a 3.00 GPA (MSE) or a 3.25 GPA (EdS) may petition for readmission within three years of the last full semester of attendance. Readmitted students must meet current curricular expectations and program policies and procedures. Exceptions are granted only by the dean of the School of Education. Students who are dismissed for GPA reasons are not eligible for future graduate studies in Orlean Beeson School of Education.   

Advisement

Frequent meetings with the director of graduate student services and program director are required throughout the program, as these individuals will determine a student’s registration and program of study. Samford University complies with the requirements of the Alabama State Department of Education concerning the admission, retention, and completion of all requirements for students seeking Class A or Class AA certification.

Requests for information about or applications to educational leadership programs should be addressed to the Graduate Admissions Office, (205) 726-4337, Orlean Beeson School of Education, Room 210.

Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL)

This program aims to prepare individuals to be moral and ethical leaders who reflect deeply on the people and organizations they lead. Building upon adult learning principles, culturally responsive leadership, purpose-oriented project management, organizational communication, and values-based performance appraisal, graduates will acquire the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that characterize faith-informed leadership. This program is not associated with state certification or licensure.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution from USDOE with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75. Admission decisions are based on academic ability and the availability of a cohort each term. Academic ability is evaluated on prior degrees, GPA, letters of recommendation, test scores, and other admission documents and credentials. Completed applications are reviewed at least one week after the posted admission deadlines. Applicants may move their applications to the next available term if a cohort is unavailable. Admission materials may be held on file for up to two years.

Applicants must:

• Complete the application for admission. 
• Pay a non-refundable $35 application fee. The fee is payable by credit card and is waived for Samford alums, students, and employees.
• Provide official transcripts from all institutions attended. Transcripts are only considered official when they bear the issuing institution’s seal and arrive with the seal intact.
• Upload two letters of recommendation to the online application. 
• Obtain a current supervisor’s disposition form. This may not be the same person as the person who wrote the letter of recommendation.

Transfer Credit

Three hours of transfer equivalent credits may be accepted from another institution. By petitioning the Dean of the School of Education, three additional transfer hours may be considered.

Progression Policies

Students must earn a “C-” or better in all coursework and maintain a 3.00 GPA. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below the required minimum 3.00 may not continue in the program and will be apprised of dismissal at the end of the semester. For more information, see the OBB Graduate Student Handbook.

Time Limit

All courses required for this program must be completed within a period of six years from the academic session of first admission.

Time-to-Degree Completion Plan

The program is designed to be completed in five semesters.

Readmission

Students who discontinue or leave the master’s degree in organizational leadership program with a 3.00 GPA may petition for readmission within three years of the last full semester of attendance. Readmitted students must meet current curricular expectations and program policies and procedures. Exceptions are granted only by the dean of the school of education. Students who are dismissed for GPA reasons are not eligible for future graduate studies in Orlean Beeson School of Education.

Programs

• Instructional Leadership (MSE)
• Organizational Leadership (MSOL)

• Instructional Leadership (EdS)

Courses

The courses listed below represent only a portion of the graduate-level education courses available. See the Department of Curriculum and Instruction  for additional courses that may apply to programs offered through the Department of Educational Leadership. Two such courses are EDUC 518 Action Research: Theory and Techniques  and EDUC 519 Field-Based Action Research . NOTE: Courses numbered 600 and above are open to post-master’s degree students.

• EDLD 504 - Leading Diversity in a School Culture (3)
• EDLD 505 - Independent Study (1-3)
• EDLD 506 - Foundations of Character Development (3)
• EDLD 507 - Building a Culture of Character (3)
• EDLD 508 - Assessment of Character, Ethics, and Virtues (3)
• EDLD 518 - Research Theory and Techniques (3)
• EDLD 519 - Research Implementation (3)
• EDLD 520 - Foundations of Instructional Leadership (3)
• EDLD 521 - Issues in School Finance (3)
• EDLD 522 - Management Design for School Improvement (3)
• EDLD 523 - Leading K-12 Special Population Programs (3)
• EDLD 524 - Curriculum Design for P-12 Instructional Leaders (3)
• EDLD 526 - Legal and Ethical Issues in Education (3)
• EDLD 527 - Internship in Instructional Leadership (3)
• EDLD 536 - Educational Leadership for Learning (3)
• EDLD 537 - Comparative International Education (3)
• EDLD 538 - Governance and Policy in Educational Systems (3)
• EDLD 539 - Innovative Concepts in Education (3)
• EDLD 540 - Design for Educational Improvement (3)
• EDLD 541 - Issues in Educational Finance (3)
• EDLD 542 - Comparative Legal Issues in Education (3)
• EDLD 544 - Practicum in Educational Leadership (3)
• EDLD 621 - Educational Management and Strategic Thinking (3)
• EDLD 622 - Seminar in Academic Leadership (3)
• EDLD 623 - Organizational Innovation (3)
• EDLD 625 - Legal and Policy Issues in Education (3)
• EDLD 627 - Professional Strategies for Learning (3)
• EDLD 628 - Assessment of Teaching and Learning (3)
• EDLD 630 - Leading in a Diverse Society (3)
• EDLD 637 - Practicum in School Improvement (3)
• EDLD 638 - Professionalism and Ethics in Education (3)
• EDLD 681 - Research for School Improvement (3)

• ORLD 500 - Theories and Models of Organizational Leadership (3)
• ORLD 501 - Purpose-Oriented Project Management (3)
• ORLD 502 - Organizational Communication (3)
• ORLD 503 - Culturally Responsive Organizational Leadership (3)
• ORLD 504 - Values-Based Performance Appraisal (3)
• ORLD 505 - Trends and Challenges in Organizational Leadership I: Technological Advances (3)
• ORLD 506 - Trends and Challenges in Organizational Leadership II: Planning for the Unexpected (3)
• ORLD 507 - Trends and Challenges in Organizational Leadership III: Striving for Excellence (3)
• ORLD 508 - Practicum in Organizational Leadership (3)
• ORLD 509 - Capstone in Organizational Leadership (3)

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