M.Ed. or Ed.S. in Educational Leadership: What It Is and How It Can Advance Your Career

M.Ed. or Ed.S. in Educational Leadership programs are designed for teachers who have decided to leave the classroom for good and transition into school administration roles. Typically, these candidates already hold teaching licenses and are looking to add formal school administrator credentials to their resumes. These degrees are entry points into formal school-building administration and are meant to be stepping stones to roles such as superintendents and district administrators, and are not typically the same as a doctorate in Educational Leadership with a focus on Superintendent studies. Several schools of education offer Educational Leadership degrees, including National Louis University’s National College of Education, which offers an M.Ed. or Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, with concentrations in both Illinois and Florida.

What Is an M.Ed. or Ed. S. in Educational Leadership?

These programs are structured around the principal certification or school administrator endorsement required for school leaders in many states. Thus, while receiving an M.Ed. or Ed.S. in Educational Leadership is a notable achievement for teachers, it is not, in and of itself, a school administrator credential. Rather, it is the first step toward school leadership for many teachers.

National Louis University offers an M.Ed. or Ed.S. in Educational Leadership. The program at National Louis University is designed to meet the needs of teachers seeking to add a Principal Endorsement to their existing Professional Educator License. There are two concentrations for this program: Principal Endorsement and General Education Leadership. The Principal Endorsement concentration is designed for candidates interested in serving as school principals. The General Education Leadership concentration is designed for candidates interested in leadership roles in education-focused organizations and who do not require a Professional Educator License to apply. The program for Illinois candidates is an Educational Leadership & Administration Ed.S. (44 semester hours). Candidates who complete this program can continue to earn an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at National Louis University.

Why Pursue an M.Ed. or Ed. S. in Educational Leadership?

Pursue an M.Ed. or Ed.S. degree in Educational Leadership when you have decided to transition from being a classroom teacher to a school administrator. Usually, teachers have several years of teaching experience and may have informal leadership roles, such as department chairs or instructional coaches. Most states require principal certification to become a school administrator.

A second reason a teacher would be interested in Educational Leadership is that they want to have a greater influence on the school culture, the total school’s instructional quality, and the total school’s operations than is possible in a single classroom.

Many school administrators now spend the majority of their time observing, guiding, and assessing their staff's teaching. School administrators must be able to make appropriate observations and assessments of teachers and use this information to help teachers improve their teaching. Also, an increasing amount of time is being spent analyzing a wide array of student achievement data to monitor schoolwide and individual student progress.

Key Questions About This Degree

Does this degree lead to a principal license?

The Principal Endorsement concentration will help students earn the general administrative endorsement in Illinois or the educational leadership certification in Florida. These two credentials are required for anyone who wishes to serve as a school principal or assistant principal in either state. The other concentrations in this degree program, including the General Education Leadership concentration, do not seek the principal endorsement. Thus, these students should carefully consider the program's goals before applying for admission to this degree program.

What's the difference between the M.Ed. and Ed. S. options?

The M.Ed. is ideal for new educators who are seeking their first graduate degree in Educational Leadership. The Ed.S. is perfect for teachers who already hold a master’s degree in another field and are looking for a specialized degree in Educational Leadership, possibly as a stepping stone to a doctoral program.

Do I need prior administrative experience to apply?

Most programs require candidates for the degree to hold a teaching license and have several years of K-12 teaching experience, often across multiple grade levels or subject areas. Administrative experience is usually not required for admission.

What field experience does the program include?

In most programs, candidates gain experience by completing an administrative internship or practicum under the supervision of an administrator (e.g., a mentor). Eventually, they will assume the responsibility of a principal/assistant principal. Still, for now, they are gaining practical experience before taking on the challenge of school leadership as a licensed leader.

How long does the program take?

The number of semester hours required to complete an M.Ed. or Ed.S. degree is 30-44 hours. The time to complete the degree is approximately 2-3 years for most students while they are teaching full-time in schools.

Career Outcomes

Principal jobs are typically classified as management jobs and, consequently, are among the highest-paying jobs for career educators. Of course, these positions are highly competitive, which is why it is generally recommended that aspiring school administrators obtain some school administrative experience before entering a principal preparation program. This experience may be obtained while completing a graduate degree program in Educational Leadership, or as a condition of admission to the program.

Occupational Outlook Handbook, Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals.

Graduates of the NLU program for an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration without a superintendent endorsement are eligible to continue to the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (Schools) at NLU. The student will continue to build leadership credentials at the district level while in the program.

M.Ed. or Ed.S. in Educational Leadership at National Louis University

National Louis University's National College of Education offers an M.Ed. or Ed.S. in Educational Leadership. The degree is offered in three concentrations: the Principal Endorsement, General Education Leadership, and Educational Leadership & Administration.