Educational Leadership

Program Description

The Department of Educational Leadership envisions its faculty and students as a community of reflective scholar practitioners. To that end, graduate study and interaction among faculty and students are based upon a conceptual model that emphasizes the development of a comprehensive knowledge and skill base to produce reflective and competent leaders for service in K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, public agencies, businesses and state government. Opportunities for collaborative research and educational service with resident faculty in local, state, regional and national forums enhance graduate study in the department and strengthen student learning via connections between educational theory, research and effective practice.

Professional leadership for educators in the years ahead must include the development of a variety of skills and an expansion of their educational knowledge base. Education faces increasing pressure to change in order to meet the multiple and varied needs of students as they enter the 21st Century. Leadership in supervision, curriculum, technology, and assessment will be required of principals and teachers alike.

The Department of Educational Leadership has established the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership to provide all educators with the background to meet the professional demands of education in the years ahead. Graduate coursework in law, curriculum, supervision, research, technology, finance, futures, and leadership will help educators select the appropriate tools for specific jobs and successfully complete them. Studies in the foundations of curriculum and leadership will provide each educator with a solid knowledge base from which clear directions are taken and confident decisions are made.

The Department of Educational Leadership is proud of its nationally recognized program, which prepares educational leaders for the schools and students of the future. Faculties are deeply committed to providing skillful and knowledgeable leaders capable of responding to the challenges that lie ahead.

Graduate Students in Educational Leadership may participate in a licensure program, which leads to an endorsement in an administrative or supervisory area. Licensure programs include:

• K-12 Principal

• Superintendent

Degrees Offered

M.Ed. Educational Leadership

Requirements
Minimum 36 credit program - a portfolio and oral exam replaces thesis and comprehensive examination options

Prepares degree recipients for service as K-12 principals and superintendents as well as other leadership positions in a multitude of learning organizations.

Those unable to attend on campus will have another option. All the Educational Leadership classes for the M.Ed. are offered online for the same tuition as classes being held on campus plus a mediated technology fee. Classes have been arranged in three, 12 semester hour blocks and students will have their choice of taking classes face-to-face on campus in the evenings, taking classes online or any combination thereof. Please see the School of Education web site for more information and a schedule of online classes.

Ed.D. Educational Leadership

Educational Leadership - External Programs 

Requirements
Minimum 91 credit program (including course work from an approved master's and/or Ed.S. degree) and a dissertation demonstrating the student's ability to conduct original research; increases the knowledge, expertise and skill base in educational leadership; enhances and refines research skills and competencies; and provides a terminal degree in the field.

Administrative Licensure Program

The Educational Leadership Administrative Licensure Program leads to a Montana licensure as either a principal or a superintendent. Coursework for these programs is offered on the Missoula campus as well as through UM Online. In addition, some course are offered in cohorts at location outside of Missoula. Please refer to admission and program of study sections for additional information to see if you qualify for participating in this program.

Admissions

1. Application Materials and Deadline

Admission deadline for all degree seeking programs in the department is the semester prior to enrollment.

Admission to all degree seeking programs in the Department of Educational Leadership is granted by the Graduate School of The University of Montana, based upon recommendations from the admissions committee within the department.

Instructions for applying to the Graduate School are in the Applying for Admission section on this web site.

In addition to the application materials required by the Graduate School, the Department of Educational Leadership requires the following:

• A statement of purpose (100-300 words) of your background and goals.

• A resume.

2. Program Requirements for Admission

• The Educational Leadership Department accepts the GRE OR any nationally normed college entrance exam (i.e. - Miller's Analogy, LSAT) with a test date that is within the past 5 years or verifiable scores if the test date is over 5 years old.
• The Educational Leadership Admissions Committee reviews all completed applications and forwards their recommendation to the Graduate School who then makes the final decision regarding admission. The Educational Leadership Admissions Committee examines each component of the application utilizing a holistic approach to arrive at their recommendation.

For the Masters program -

• The three letters of recommendation should include one from a supervisor, one from a colleague, and one from your most recent school/organization administrative assistant/secretary.

For the Doctoral program -

• The three letters of recommendation should include one from a supervisor, one from a colleague, and one from your most recent school/organization administrative assistant/secretary, OR if you have taken course work from the Educational Leadership faculty since 1996, three recommendations from those faculty are acceptable.

• Either an in-person or phone interview with the admissions committee.

3. Assistantship Application and Deadline

Review of completed application packets and TA application forms start after March 1.

To request a graduate assistant application, please contact:

The University of Montana
School of Education-Educational Leadership
Administrative Assistant
32 Campus Drive #6356
Missoula, MT 59812-6356
(406) 243-5586
edld@mso.umt.edu

4. International Students

• The TOEFL, IELTS or MELAB exam can substitute for the GRE.

• See information in the International Admission section on this web site.

Financial Assistance

For additional information about financial assistance, see the Financial Information section on this web site.

 Teaching Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are primarily offered to doctoral students in the Department of Educational Leadership. Generally, there are several assistantships available.

Listed are some of the tasks performed by the department's graduate assistants:

•  Assisting professors with research pertinent to course work, scholarship and grant writing;
• Co-authoring articles for journals and other scholarly publications;
• Co-teaching graduate courses;
• Teaching opportunities at the undergraduate level;
• Serving as interns in collaboration with K-12 and campus-wide educators;
• Preparing and delivering presentations at local and regional functions; and

•Contributing to major departmental projects on a regular basis, including:

•  assisting with large departmental mailings various tasks relating to professor's courses
• assisting with departmental conferences, community outreach projects, etc.
• covering main office when needed

Teaching assistants are required to register for 9 graduate credits each semester.

Department website

Campus Location
Education Building 213

Federal Express Delivery - Street Address
32 Campus Drive #6356
Missoula, MT 59812-6356

Administrative Assistant
(406) 243-5586
Fax: (406) 243-2916
edld@mso.umt.edu

Program information last updated 7/06