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UF
College of Education
Educational Leadership and Policy Prospective Students Ed.S.

Online Ed.S. Program

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Educators with a master’s degree who desire to deepen their understanding of the field — without pursuing a Ph.D. or Ed.D. — will benefit from our Ed.S. in educational leadership program. The educational specialist pathway focuses on preparing graduates for administrative roles within educational institutions, including principal, superintendent, and various district-level leadership roles.

Our online educational leadership degree is designed for working professionals. The program is formatted to support learners as they work towards their career goals— while balancing their personal responsibilities and current careers.

Join us for an upcoming Prospective Student Webinar: Register Here

Program Overview

The Ed.S. in educational leadership program integrates academic coursework with practitioner-based experience to put theory into action. The specialist degree offers two options: one that qualifies you for Florida Level 1 Educational Leadership certification and another that does not include this certification. Additional admissions criteria apply to students who are pursuing certification (see Ed.S. Program Requirements below).

To earn our Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, students complete an additional 42 credits beyond their master’s degree:

  • 27 credits from required educational leadership certification courses
  • 6 credits from educational leadership electives
  • 6 credits from outside department electives 
  • 3 credits from a research methods course

After finishing their coursework, students must take and pass the specialist examination. The content of each exam is customized for each student in student, and determined by their committee chair. The exam includes a written and an oral component. 

Ready to take your education to the next level? Contact us to learn more about our educational specialist program.

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    Ed.S. Program Requirements

    • A bachelor’s, master’s, or terminal degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a degree deemed equivalent by the University of Florida Office of Admissions.
    • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 upper-division (last 60 credits) undergraduate work.
    • An acceptable graduate grade point average for previous graduate work.
    • Candidates for the online Ed.S. may be invited for an interview for further evidence of program fit and scholarly potential.
    • Additional requirements apply for students seeking admissions to Schools Leadership – Certification Track:
      •  Demonstrated “Instructional expertise” (documented successful demonstration of the standards for effective educators outlined in the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPs) and a documented track record of achieving student gains. Acceptable documentation of instructional expertise must include a rating of “effective” or higher on the “Performance of Students” and “Instructional Practice” sections of the candidate’s two most recent performance evaluations.
      • Demonstrated  “Leadership potential” (critical skills and dispositions that a candidate must demonstrate prior to entering the program). An example of this would be a letter of recommendation from the School Principal.

    Program Highlights

    Entry: Fall, Spring, Summer
    Typical Course Load: 6-9 credits per semester
    Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-time or Part-time
    Application Deadline: February 1 (Summer), June 1 (Fall), and October 15 (Spring)
    Average Class Size: 10-15 Students
    Program Completion: ~3 years