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Specialist in Educational Administration
Graduate Program Coordinator: Dr. Margaret Dalton
(573) 651-2207, E-mail: mheeney@semovm.semo.edu
The Specialist in Educational Administration degree program provides an additional period of study beyond the master's degree for persons seeking either initial certification as a superintendent or advanced certification for building-level administrative positions. Degree options include:
- Superintendency Specialist
- Advanced Elementary Principalship Specialist
- Advanced Secondary Principalship Specialist
The curriculum is individually designed for each candidate to meet his/her specific needs and professional objectives within certification limitations. Developing an awareness of administrative practices, both current and on the cutting edge, is an important outcome for students in this program. A directed field study effort involving practical situations in educational administration is a key component.
The program is designed with flexibility to support the preparation of finance officers, personnel directors, administrators in adult and community education, directors of elementary and secondary education, and administrative personnel for other educational agencies and programs. These include directors and administrators of guidance services, educational resource centers, etc.
Admission and General Policies
Applicants to the specialist's degree in the College of Education are required to meet admission standards that go beyond the basic requirements of The Graduate School.
Full Admission
- Have achieved a graduate grade point average (g.p.a.) of 3.5.
- Hold a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. The master's degree must be appropriate to the student's educational objective. If not, the student will be required to take additional graduate work (admission under provisional status) before regular admission is granted.
- Submit five satisfactory references to the Coordinator of the Specialist Program (CSP). At least three of these references must be from persons who are in the field of educational administration or supervision and who know the applicant. Two references should be from present or former professors.
- Submit recent (within five years) test results on the verbal and analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) showing achievement at or above the 50th percentile. The norms for comparison will be the scores for persons with an undergraduate major in education.
- Hold a valid teaching certificate.
Probationary Admission
Probationary admission will be considered under the following conditions:
- When the g.p.a. is below 3.5. When the applicant presents a g.p.a. that is less than 3.5, the admissions committee may permit the student to take 9 hours in the program area. The student will be required to achieve a g.p.a. exceeding 3.66 with a minimum grade of 'B'.
- When the GRE scores are not acceptable levels. The applicant may file a request with the committee for probationary admission based on a circumstance that merits an exception. Data to support a petition should include a personal statement and documents such as additional letters of recommendation, samples of graduate level academic work, professional experiences related to educational administration and/or graduate study in another professional field. The committee may recommend alternatives or a course of remedial action which are designed to enable the student to demonstrate competence to complete the graduate program.
Appeals Process
Applicants who are denied admission will have the opportunity to appeal to the College of Education Admission Appeals Committee. Appeals must be in writing and should address any extenuating circumstances. Appeal letters should be addressed to Chairperson, Department of Educational Administration and Counseling.
Admission Process
Interested students must first apply to The Graduate School for admission to graduate study. This application is required even though the student may have been admitted previously to graduate study at the master's level. Each applicant must:
- File an Application for Admission with The Graduate School, and
- Have each parent institution send one official transcript of all prior coursework directly to The Graduate School. (The Graduate School will secure Southeast transcripts.)
Applicants who possess the requisite g.p.a. will be admitted to graduate study and allowed to complete prerequisite coursework, if applicable. If no prerequisite courses are needed, the student may complete a maximum of six semester hours applicable to program requirements prior to admission to the program by the Educational Administration Admissions Committee. The admissions committee will act only upon applications which are complete. Included in the admissions process are:
- A satisfactory interview with the CSP.
- A satisfactory interview with the screening committee of faculty in the educational administration program. The purpose of the interview is to determine the administrative promise of the applicant.
Denial of Admission
Applicants denied admission to graduate study based on a g.p.a. of less than 3.5 may apply for probationary admission. A letter of request, along with the five letters of recommendation and GRE scores should be sent to the Coordinator, Specialist Program. Students denied admission may not enroll for coursework applicable to the degree program until such time as explicit permission, along with any stipulations, is granted by the program admissions committee.
Dual Enrollment: MA and Specialist Levels
Students nearing completion of a master's degree and desiring to work toward a Specialist in Educational Administration degree may dually enroll for coursework not to exceed the maximum for the enrollment period applicable to graduate coursework. The student must have a g.p.a. of at least 3.5, must be scheduled to graduate at the end of the enrollment period while also completing some post-master's work, and must be admitted to The Graduate School as a post-master's level student.
Advancement to Candidacy
Application to candidacy for the degree is required at the completion of sixteen hours of coursework applicable to the degree. To advance to candidacy status, the applicant must present a g.p.a. which meets the graduation requirement (3.25). Students denied admission to candidacy may not enroll for coursework applicable to the degree except with the explicit approval of and under any stipulations assigned by the program faculty in educational administration.
Initiation of the candidacy process is the student's responsibility. Candidacy forms are available in The Graduate School.
Selective Retention
After being admitted to this program, the probationary student may be denied admission to regular graduate status and one with regular status may not advance to candidacy based on the degree of unsatisfactory scholarship. Loss of teaching or administrative license, for cause, is grounds for suspension from the program.
Transfer of Credits
A student with regular admission status may transfer up to six of the 36 semester hours required for the specialist's degree from other regionally-accredited institutions if the courses are appropriate, are post-master's work, are on-campus courses, and are approved by the student's advisor. If the student earned his/her master's degree from Southeast Missouri State University, up to nine semester hours of such work may be transferred from regionally-accredited institutions. Transfer, workshop, and independent study credit may not exceed nine semester hours. The last 16 hours toward the specialist degree or certification must be taken from Southeast or receive prior permission from the advisor in order for Southeast to act as certifying agency.
Independent Study and Workshops
Independent study and workshop courses offer the student opportunities for study in areas beyond the departmental curriculum. Enrollment in such courses requires approval by the advisor and the CSP (independent study by the instructor also). A maximum of three semester hours earned through independent study and three hours via workshops may be applied to program requirements.
Off-Campus Courses
Students may take up to 17 of the 36 semester hours in courses offered by Southeast Missouri State University in an off-campus setting with approval of the student's advisor. (Courses offered via ITV are considered as on-campus credit.)
Correspondence Courses
No correspondence or extension course from another institution may be substituted for a specialist's program requirement or elective.
Residence Requirements
A student may meet residence requirements in the program by completing twelve semester hours of on-campus credit during a twelve month period, not to include directed field study credit.
Certification
For students who seek a superintendent's certificate, requirements for an initial certificate and for renewal can be found in this section. Students who seek other specialist's level certificates should refer to applicable state regulations.
Prerequisites for Specialist Degree (All Options)
Prerequisites or Equivalent1
Missouri certification desired? Yes ___ No ___
Valid Missouri teaching certificate ___
Four years of administrative/teaching experience ___
Superintendency: Specialist
Core Course Requirements
Other Requirements
Supporting courses
Up to 6 hours of supporting courses without the EA prefix. No hours are required when the student's Master's degree is not in school administration. May include EF690, GR691, EF696, EX670, EX693, GC650, GC675, SM540, PE570, SM655, or SM612.
Electives (0 to 8 credit hours)
EA courses as required to meet degree requirements. May include EA630 or EA635, EA641, EA703, or EA789.
Note: Missouri certification is also based on the possession of knowledge and/or competency in several areas. The student should work closely with his/her field study supervisors (University and School District) to determine experiences of most benefit for the acquisition of these requirements. The selection of any elective also can aid the acquisition of these expectations.
We have agreed that completion of the program of studies outlined above is intended to support the certification as identified at the beginning of this chapter. Other certification support is not implied.
Advanced Elementary Principalship: Specialist
Core Course Requirements
Other Requirements
Supporting Courses
Up to 6 hours of supporting courses without the EA prefix. No hours are required when the student's Master's degree is not in school administration. May include EX670, EX693, EF690, EF694, EF696, GC650, GC675, or EL600 and EL601.
Electives (0 to 14 credit hours)
EA courses as required to meet degree requirements. May include EA641, EA785, EA710, or EA767.
Note: Missouri certification is also based on the possession of knowledge and/or competency in several areas. The student should work closely with his/her field study supervisors (University and School District) to determine experiences of most benefit for the acquisition of these requirements. The selection of any elective also can aid the acquisition of these stated expectations.
We have agreed that completion of the program of studies outlined above is intended to support the certification as identified at the beginning of this chapter. Other certification support is not implied.
Advanced Secondary Principalship: Specialist
Required Core Courses
Other Requirements
Supporting courses (0 to 6 credit hours)
Up to 6 hours of supporting courses without the EA prefix. No hours are required when the student's Master's degree is not in school administration. May include EX670, EX693, EF690, EF694, EF696, GC650, GC675, SM540, PE570, SM655, or SM612.
Electives (0 to 18 credit hours)
EA courses as required to meet degree requirements. May include EA641, EA785, EA710, or EA767.
Note: Missouri certification is also based on the possession of knowledge and/or competency in several areas. The student should work closely with his/her field study supervisors (University and School District) to determine experiences of most benefit for the acquisition of these requirements. The selection of any elective also can aid the acquisition of these stated expectations.
We have agreed that completion of the program of studies outlined above is intended to support the certification as identified at the beginning of this chapter. Other certification support is not implied.
Advising
The CSP selects an advisor from the specialist degree faculty. The CSP serves as the student's advisor during the first term after the student is admitted to the Specialist's program and until an advisor is appointed. The student's advisor normally has primary responsibility for approval of the program of study, including any electives.
Directed Field Study
For students seeking a new certification, four (4) hours of directed field study credit are required which consists of a single experience with a total of 120 clock hours. Only two (2) hours of credit and 60 clock hours are required if the student has completed a master's level course (two credit hours) with acceptable field experiences. The two hour course at the specialist's level is waived for a student seeking advanced certification if he/she served at least one year in the position for which advanced certification is sought. (Those with three hours of master's level field experience relevant for certification may elect a one credit hour experience.) Missouri certification recommendations by specialist's degree faculty require field study experiences totaling at least 120 hours under the supervision of a person holding the job for which certification is to be requested. For field study the student will be placed by the CSP and supervised by the advisor as well as by the field supervisor, and CSP will certify when the experience has been completed.
Field study experiences are individualized for each candidate. Candidates are expected to select appropriate objectives and secure approvals by the University and school district supervisors. In addition to direct participation and role practice efforts, the student is encouraged to engage in the development of programs, materials, and policy proposals. These include development of a program of in-service education for the school district, a faculty or student handbook, a procedure for computerized grade reporting/ recording, a newsletter for school patrons, etc.
Oral Examination
The oral examination, course GR799, must be scheduled following completion of the field study. This enrollment is usually in the student's last semester. If the student has no other credit enrollment, the equivalent of the one hour instate fee is charged to affect an official enrollment for the semester of degree completion.
Graduation Requirements
A student is eligible for graduation after satisfying the following requirements:
- Has satisfactorily completed the program of study (a minimum of 36 hours of graduate credit beyond the master's degree with a g.p.a. of at least 3.25),
- Has passed a final comprehensive oral examination administered by the specialist's degree faculty, and
- Has been approved for graduation by his/her advisor, CSP, and the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research and Dean of The Graduate School.
Time Limit
All requirements for the specialist's degree must be met within an eight-year period.
Certification Requirements: Superintendency
Initial Certification
The initial Missouri certificate for a superintendent is issued for a ten year period to those who meet the following current requirements:
- A valid regular Missouri teaching certificate.
- Four years of teaching, supervisory, or administrative experience, or any combination thereof, in elementary and/or secondary schools.
- Completion of a course in psychology and education of the exceptional child.
- Satisfactory demonstration of district-level leadership skills in a process of assessment sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (for a fee).
- Completion of a specialist's degree program.
Renewal of Certification
The superintendent's certificate may be renewed for ten years by persons meeting the following current requirements:
- Five years experience in school administration during the previous ten years, and
- Completion of a Professional Development Agreement which would include at least one of the following:
- A minimum of six (6) semester hours of graduate credit appropriate for the superintendency.
- Three (3) AASA-NASE Leadership Training Seminars which are usually four or five days in length.
- Four (4) semester hours of appropriate graduate credit and one (1) AASA-NASE Institute or some other equivalent combination of graduate credit and AASA-NASE Institutes.
- A planned professional development program equivalent to six (6) semester hours of graduate credit approved by the Commissioner of Education.
- Persons who do not meet A above for renewal shall complete a Professional Development Agreement approved by the Commissioner of Education, in lieu of B, which includes graduate courses and/or professional development activities equivalent to eight (8) semester hours of graduate credit.
Further Graduate Work
A number of universities have expressed a willingness to accept coursework from our specialist's program as a basis for continuation in a graduate program leading to the doctorate in school administration. Students who have graduated and are interested in a doctoral program should see their advisor, the CSP, or the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research and Dean of The Graduate School for further information.
Cooperative Ed.D. Between Southeast Missouri And The University Of Missouri
The Department of Educational Administration and Counseling offers the opportunity for advanced graduate study in leadership in education through a cooperative doctoral program (Ed.D.) with the University of Missouri. The program was designed through the collaborative efforts of professors, school administrators, teachers, and other educational and business leaders from across the state. The program is a cohort model with cohort groups starting every two years beginning the summer of 1997. For additional information regarding application procedures, requirements, and scheduling, contact Dr. I. Sue Shepard (573-651-2421).
Characteristics of the Program
- Students will progress though the program as a "cohort."
- Students from each regional institution will be a site cohort, with students from all institutions forming the state cohort.
- Course work will be completed in six contiguous semesters, beginning in the summer and concluding in the spring semester two years later.
- Dissertation research will follow the two years of course work.
- Summer course work will include two seminars at the regional site before a four week program on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus during the month of July.
- Course work instruction will occur at each regional site during the fall and spring semesters.
- Technology will be used as a medium for instruction delivery throughout the program.
- Curriculum will be integrated, thematic, and problem-based.
Primary Themes of the Curriculum:
- Leadership Theory and Practice
- Organizational Analysis
- Analysis of Educational Policy
- Content and Context of Learning
- Research, Inquiry, and Evaluation
Schedule of Course Work
Year 1
Year 2
Prerequisities
Course Descriptions
EA625: Foundations of Educational Administration
Course designed as the introductory course for those preparing to enter the various fields of school administration, especially the principalships and superintendency. Areas of concentration will include: development of administration; theory of administration; organization and control of american schools; local, state and federal roles in education; personnel function in administration; financing public education; management and operation of school facilities; ethics and the school administrator. (3 credit hours)
EA630: Elementary School Administration
Intended primarily for elementary school principals and those preparing for principalships. Present status of the elementary school principal; school-community relations; school services; evaluation of school program; school records; classification and curriculum needs of pupils. (3 credit hours)
Provides the knowledge and skills necessary for personnel supervision in schools. Uses adult growth and development as the context for supervisory behavior. Appropriate to any supervisor-supervisee relationship. (3 credit hours)
EA635: Secondary School Administration
Designed to provide the secondary school administrator with an understanding of the realities of modern school administration and to provide the student opportunity to explore the aspects of research, theory and practice in relation to the function of secondary school principals. (3 credit hours)
EA641: Middle School Organization and Leadership
A survey of the middle school, including the important problems of organization, administration, curriculum, and characteristics and needs of the middle school student. (3 credit hours)
EA646: Internship in Elementary School Administration
The intent of this course is to provide students majoring in elementary school administration with supervised and relevant experiences centering on the daily administrative and supervisory duties of the elementary school principal. In addition, the course complies with the most recent certification standards adopted by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Prerequisites: Students must have earned a minimum of 15 semester hours in coursework focused upon elementary school administration and supervision. Preferred courses to be included in these credit hours are Foundations of Educational Administration, Methods of Research, Elementary School Administration, Curriculum Construction (Elementary), and Supervision of the Elementary School (or equivalents). Credit/Non-Credit only. (3 credit hours)
EA647: Internship in Secondary School Administration
The intent of this course is to provide students majoring in secondary school administration with supervised experiences centering on the daily administration and supervisory duties of the elementary school principal. Complies with most recent administration certification standards adopted by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Prerequisites: EA634, EA635, and Advancement to Candidacy. Credit/Non-Credit only. (3 credit hours)
In-depth study of Missouri school laws and federal statutes regulating the operation of the public schools and a survey of state and federal court decisions that affect the operation of the public schools. Designed primarily for practicing school administrators and those seeking permanent certification in school administration. (3 credit hours)
EA655: School Business/Facilities Management/Public Relations
Designed to prepare the aspiring and practicing school administrator for the responsibilities at the building level in financial management, facilities management, and public relations. (3 credit hours)
EA660: Administration and Supervision of Special Education
Designed for persons seeking special education administration certification. Detailed investigation of P.L. 94-142, IDEA, Sec. 504, Vocational Rehabilitation Act; other pertinent special education issues. (3 credit hours)
EA703: Seminar in Educational Administration
Designed for small groups of students to make an intensive study of current problems and emerging best professional practices in educational administration. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credit hours. Prerequisites: Master's degree and admittance to the Specialist program or permission of instructor. (2 credit hours)
EA707: Personnel Management in Education
This course is designed to broaden the school administrator's perspective dealing with the broad subject of personnel administration and to give insight into the purposes, processes, planning, procedures and policy making in administering the personnel program. (3 credit hours)
EA709: Administrative Leadership
An exploration of leadership skills, conceptual models, and research as it relates to administration/management of educational organizations. Course format includes lectures, case studies and seminar discussion. (3 credit hours)
EA737: Administration of Curriculum
Designed to provide an understanding and knowledge related to the administration and development of curriculum, to examine the national, state, district, and school roles in curriculum matters, to explore research findings in the literature for trends in curriculum change, and to understand the components of a district curriculum. Prerequisite: Master's degree and admittance to the Specialist degree program, EL606 or SE637. (3 credit hours)
A study of law that includes the basic fields of contracts, property, torts, constitutional law, and other areas of law that directly affect the educational and administrative processes of the educational system. Prerequisite: EA650 or permission of instructor. (3 credit hours)
EA756: Financial Management and Leadership
Designed to prepare the aspiring and practicing school administrator for the responsibilities of financial management at the central office level of leadership in public schools. Includes theoretical concepts and practical skills necessary for successful school administration in the realm of finance. Emphasis on building budgets using state, local, and federal funds. Prerequisite: admittance to the graduate program Specialist level. (3 credit hours)
EA785: School Plant Planning and Operation
Designed to help central office administrators become cognizant of the fundamental concepts of planning, designing and constructing new educational facilities and/or the rehabilitation, remodeling or modernization of existing facilities. Additionally, the course includes operation and maintenance programs. Prerequisite: Admission to a Specialist in Educational Administration degree program. (3 credit hours)
EA743: Research into Administrative Practice
Designed to facilitate the process by which school leaders change schools in response to additions to an existing knowledge base. Integrates research skills and professional administrative practice, to utilize a leadership team approach to planning field tests within existing school settings, and to provide awareness of some current research with potential for school implementation. Prerequisites: GR691 or equivalent, and EA709. (3 credit hours)
EA761: Internship: Specialist Level
Prerequisites: EA709, EA646 or EA647, and Advancement to Candidacy. (3 credit hours)
EA787: Topics, Issues and Trends in School Administration
Directed study of special topics, issues and trends in school administration through seminars, forums, etc. Section 1 (1 semester hour); Section 2 (2 credit hours). Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
ED615: Tests and Measurements for the Classroom Teacher
A study of standardized tests and teacher-made tests as to purpose, construction, administration, and interpretation. (3 credit hours)
EF691: History of American Education
An examination of education in America from the colonial period to the present, focusing on educational ideas and practices in the context of American social and intellectual history. (3 credit hours)
EF692: Philosophy of Education
A study of the nature of philosophical inquiry in education. This course includes consideration of traditional and contemporary educational thought and the philosophical analysis of the problems of education. (3 credit hours)
EL606: Curriculum Construction (Elementary)
A survey course designed to investigate the historical, philosophical, psychological and societal factors that have shaped the elementary school curriculum. Various organizational patterns, trends and issues are studied as they influence the curriculum. The contribution of each subject area to the total curriculum and new developments in each subject area are considered. (3 credit hours)
EX390: Psychology and Education of the Exceptional Child
Characteristics and education of exceptional children, including mental retardation; learning disabilities; behavior disorders; visual, hearing, speech language, physical impairment; Gifted. (3 credit hours)
Designed to prepare students to read, understand, and evaluate educational research and to provide the research skills necessary to submit problems of curriculum and methods of empirical analysis. (3 credit hours)
GR799: Specialist Oral Examination
PY571: Introductory Behavioral Statistics
An introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics used in the reporting of educational and psychological research. (3 credit hours)
SE637: Curriculum Construction (Secondary)
Recent developments and current trends in the American high school curriculum. Emphasis on the various subject areas of the secondary school. (3 credit hours)
See "Graduate Course Listings" for a complete list of graduate courses and descriptions.
Required unless completed as part of the Master's program or unless the candidate has one year of experience as an elementary or secondary school principal (as applicable).
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