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  5. Educational Leadership, EdS - Special Education Director Option
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Educational Leadership, EdS - Special Education Director Option

Leading the way in Education

The EdS in Educational Leadership is designed for students who have an earned master’s degree in an education related field. The program prepares aspiring and current school leaders wishing to earn an advanced graduate degree. The The EdS is the highest degree awarded by UCM and will support your growth as an educational leader in a variety of ways:

  • Provide the tools and skills to become the transformational leader needed in today’s schools.
  • Stay current with the legal, educational, and operational aspects of leadership.
  • Become a marketable school leader, all degree options lead to State certification.
  • Be prepared to excel in challenging leadership roles such as instructional coach, assistant principal, principal, special education director, or a range of central office positions including the superintendency.

Accessible

This degree is available at both the Warrensburg and Lee’s Summit campuses. The program includes a mix of face-to-face and online courses. Classes are offered on an 8-week cycle, supporting educators who have coaching and activity commitments.

Collaborative Principals Preparation Program

UCM partners with 14 Kansas City area suburban school districts in the Cooperative Principals Preparation Program. Students must be recommended by their district for this leadership program. The CPPP is a two-year cohort program offered at UCM Summit Center (Lee’s Summit, MO). The program includes district mentoring, high quality professional development, and intensive leadership development.

Degree Options

  • Option 1: K-12 Principal
  • Option 2: K-12 Principal-Special Education Director
  • Option 3: Superintendent

Entrance Requirements

  • A master's degree from an accredited institution
  • 3.25 or higher cumulative GPA
  • Teaching or student services (special education) certification
  • Experiences as a teacher or student services (special education) provider

Program Highlights

  • State approved programs
  • Full-time faculty with wide-range of experiences
  • All courses offered at both the main campus and UCM Summit Center
  • Close ties with area school leaders
  • Strong connections with DESE and state organizations
  • Applicable to all districts: rural, suburban and urban
  • Prepares students for state certification assessments

Course Sequencing

Courses are offered on a rotating basis at both the Warrensburg and UCM-Lee’s Summit campuses. Several courses are offered online, including a totally online cohort. Students have flexibility with their schedules and time of completion. EDAD 5110 Foundations of Educational Administration should be taken within the first six hours. The Principal and Central Office Internships may only be taken toward the end of the program of study.

Internships

At the end of the program you’ll complete an advanced practicum at your own school or another location of your choice. This gives you the opportunity to tie together everything you learned throughout your courses with local administrators and real life scenarios. The Internships are also designed to provide support for those completing the DESE Performance Tasks, required for certification.

Accreditation

CAEP Logo

UCM is the longest continuously CAEP accredited public institution in Missouri

 

Program Coordinator

Bryan McDonald
Professor
Lovinger 4110
Tel: (660) 543-8996

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