What does it cost?

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

How long will it take?

Minimum of 36 semester hours

Where will I take classes?
Atlanta Campus, Online

This program can be completed fully online or by taking a mix of online and in-person.

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

  • Fall: July 15
  • Spring: November 15
  • Summer: April 15

Tier I Educational Leadership, M.Ed.

Educational Policy Studies

Email: epsdept@gsu.edu
Phone: 404-413-8030

The Tier I Educational Leadership M.Ed. program is designed around a set of academic and site-based experiences that provide knowledge and skills for candidates seeking a stronger understanding of the dynamics of educational leadership.

This self-select program leads to Tier I leadership certification in Georgia. This allows an individual to serve as an assistant principal or/in district-level leadership positions that do not supervise principals.

The program design gives students a comprehensive understanding of beginning leadership concepts and activities. Students develop the dispositions required to lead school and district improvement efforts by focusing on linking theory, research and practice to positively affect student outcomes.

If a student has a masters already and they wish to receive Tier I certification they can visit our Educational Leadership, Tier I Certificate page.

Education programs leading to professional licensure or certification (nursing, education, social work, counseling, accounting, allied health professions, etc.) may require additional approval from separate licensing boards, depending on the state. Students who live or plan to live outside Georgia and are considering a professional program should contact the appropriate board in their state of residency prior to beginning a course of study. To help students find the best-known contact information for the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.

VIEW CATALOG INFORMATION

Program Highlights

Beginning Leadership Practice

The educational leadership M.Ed. program is designed around a set of academic and site-based experiences that provide knowledge and skills for candidates seeking a stronger understanding of educational leadership. This program is aligned with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) as adopted by the state of Georgia.

Candidates who already hold a master’s degree should apply for the 18-hour certification only add-on program. Candidates seeking the full master’s degree should apply for the full 36-hour M.Ed. program. The add-on and master’s programs lead to Tier I certification.

Students in the degree program and the certification-only program must be working in a pre-kindergarten to 12th grade educational setting.

Our Voices, Our Stories, Our Faculty

Program Details

Admissions Requirements

Contact Educational Policy Studies Department before applying.

When applying to the Educational Leadership, M.Ed. program, you will need to submit several documents for review.

  • Online Application
  • Application Fee of $50
  • Goals Statement (upload with application – please address each of the following items in your goal statement)
  • What are your reasons for applying to Georgia State’s Educational Leadership program?
  • One major part of the Educational Leadership program is logging 300 hours of clinical leadership experience. This requires you to assume leadership positions in your school and/or district. You will be responsible for working with your mentor to identify and participate in these experiences. Describe how you will be able to complete those hours.
  • Resume (upload with application)
  • Two Letters of Recommendation (one from school administrator; identify recommenders on your application)
  • Must have minimum 3 years experience in school or other educational setting
  • Official Transcript: minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA required for admission
    • from all colleges/universities attended
  • Currently be working in a Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade educational setting

In order to meet certification requirements in Georgia, you will also need to complete the following prior to program admission:

Tier I Add-on Certification admission requirements

Contact Educational Policy Studies Department before applying.

When applying to the Educational Leadership Tier I Certification, Non-Degree, you will need to submit several documents for review.

  • Online Application
  • Application Fee of $50
  • Goals Statement (upload with application – please address each of the following items in your goal statement)
  • What are your reasons for applying to Georgia State’s Tier 1 leadership program?
  • One major part of the Tier I program is logging 300 hours of clinical leadership experience. This requires you to assume leadership positions in your school and/or district. You will be responsible for working with your mentor to identify and participate in these experiences. Describe how you will be able to complete those hours.
  • Resume (upload with application)
  • Applicant must identify a mentor who currently holds leadership certification in Georgia and will need to complete the following agreement form. Once the agreement form has been completed by both parties, the applicant should upload the signed agreement to their application under the MISC documents section.
  • Two Letters of Recommendation (one letter of recommendation must be from a school leader who supervises/evaluates you and the second letter can be from either the mentor leader or an educational professional who can give evidence of your leadership skills)
  • Applicant must have three years experience in a K-12 school setting (upload teaching certificate to application) and meet certification requirements in Georgia
  • Must meet certification requirements in Georgia
  • Official Transcript: minimum 3.25 graduate GPA required for admission (must hold a master’s, specialist, or doctoral level degree)
    • from all colleges/universities attended
  • Currently be working in a Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade educational setting

In order to meet certification requirements for educational leadership in Georgia, you will also need to complete the following prior to program admission:

Program of Study

Professional Studies (9)
Select one (3):

Select one (3):

  • EPRS 7900 Methods of Research in Education (3)
  • EPRS 7910 Action Research (3)
  • EPRS 7920 Classroom Testing, Grading, and Assessment (3)

Select one (3):

  • EPY 7080 The Psychology of Learning and Learners (3)
  • EPY 7090 The Psychology of Learning and Learners: The Young Child (3)

Major (27)
Required (27):

  • EPEL 7000 Educational Leadership and Organizational Culture (3)
  • EPEL 7020 Leadership in a Diverse Society (3)
  • EPEL 7330 Law, Policy and Governance (3)
  • EPEL 7410 Instructional Leadership (3)
  • EPEL 7500 Management and School Operations (3)
  • EPEL 7680A Practicum Seminar: Data Analysis and School Improvement Processes for School Leaders (3)
  • EPEL 7680B Practicum Seminar: Action Research for School Leaders (3)
  • EPEL 8970 Seminar in Educational Leadership (3)
  • EPSF 7450 Curriculum Foundations for the Educational Leader (3)

Additional Requirements
Along with course requirements, students are expected to meet program requirements. Those requirements include:

  • Portfolio and log internship activity hours
  • Reflection journal
  • Completion of the Georgia Ethics Pre-and Post-Assessments
  • Completion of the Georgia Assessment for Certification of Educators (GACE) Leadership Exam

Program total: Minimum of 36 semester hours

Tier I Add-on certificate

Program Academic Regulations
Students must earn a “B” or higher in all courses in the program. A student who receives a course grade below a “B” may take that course a second time. If the student does not meet the grade requirement for the course a second time, the student is not eligible to continue in the program. Students also must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in their courses.

Evaluation of a student’s performance is continuous and involves consideration of the student’s academic performance as well as the student’s performance in applied practice and internship classes. A student may be dropped from a course, the program or both if the welfare of the student’s clientele or prospective clientele or the functioning of a school or agency is, in the judgment of the faculty, in jeopardy as a result of the student’s behavior. Students in this program are expected to follow the latest version of the Georgia Leadership Standards.

Required (18):

  • EPEL 7000 Educational Leadership and Organizational Culture (3)
  • EPEL 7020 Leadership in a Diverse Society (3)
  • EPEL 7330 Law, Policy and Governance (3)
  • EPEL 7410 Instructional Leadership (3)
  • EPEL 7680B Practicum Seminar: Action Research for School Leaders (3)
  • EPEL 8970 Seminar in Educational Leadership (3)

Total hours for certification: Minimum of 18 hours

Additional Requirements
Along with course requirements, students are expected to meet program requirements. Those requirements include:

  • Portfolio and log of internship activity hours
  • Reflection journal
  • Completion of the Georgia Ethics Pre- and Post-Assessments
  • Completion of the Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Leadership Exam

Funding Your Graduate Education

Cost of attendance and funding opportunities are integral to your decision to attend graduate school. Georgia State University is proud to offer a variety of funding opportunities, from assistantships to fellowships.

Awards and Assistantships

Various awards, assistantships and fellowships are available to new and current graduate students. We encourage you to contact your department, college, school or institute of interest to get more information about the assistantships and fellowships that they offer their students.

The Scholarship Resource Center offers guidance and support to students seeking financial assistance through scholarship opportunities, including this scholarship library.

Fellowships

The Office of Graduate Programs’ Fellowship Advisor works with students interested in applying for nationally prestigious and competitive fellowships. The Office of Graduate Programs also coordinates the application process for students applying to the Second Century Initiative, the Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship and the Dissertation Library Travel Awards.

Cost Calculator

Our calculator can help you get an idea of the costs associated with attending the university.

About the Tier I Certification

The purpose of the M.Ed. Educational Leadership program at Georgia State is to prepare graduates to be effective school and/or system leaders who positively impact student achievement. Throughout the program, students work on meaningful projects in a focused manner that is designed to help them develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions that are required to lead school and district improvement efforts. The program fulfills the requirements of the Tier I Performance-Based Educational Leadership certification for the State of Georgia.

Student Resources

Description

Careers

Build Your Career

The M.Ed. program leads to Tier I leadership certification in Georgia and prepares participants for multiple leadership roles in the field. Jobs for which successful candidates are eligible include:

  • Assistant principal
  • Administrative assistant
  • District administrator
  • Instructional coach
  • Program coordinator

Candidates who complete the program are eligible for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade building-level positions that require leadership certification below the level of principal or leadership positions at the district level, provided the holder does not supervise principals.

Contacts

Online Programs

LaToya and Moisés
Enrollment Coaches
404-413-4393
online@gsu.edu

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Admissions and Curriculum Inquiries

Will Rumbaugh
wrumbaugh@gsu.edu
404-413-8030

Educational Policy Studies
epsdept@gsu.edu
404-413-8030

Mailing Address & Office Location
College of Education & Human Development
Suite 450
30 Pryor St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

30 Pryor Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

The information shared here provides an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For official details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more, refer to the university catalogs.