Education Administration EdS

The Ed.S.is designed for individuals who want to take their career, and their ability, to the next level. Students in the Ed.S. program may choose a plan of study that will prepare them for one of three Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) certification areas: Superintendent, Special Education Program Director, and Initial Principal Certification. Please note, the superintendent certification track is an online cohort program in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Missouri - Columbia and the University of Missouri - Kansas City. 

The Ed.S. in Education Administration requires at least sixty (60) graduate credit hours of a planned program and may include no more than thirty (30) credit hours of an approved master’s degree. One-half of all hours must be completed at UMSL.   

Admission Standards

To be admitted to the Ed.S. in Education Administration program students must meet the following criteria:

1.      Be admitted without qualification to the UMSL Graduate School;

2.      Have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.00 in graduate studies in education (Master's degree) from an accredited institution;

3.      Have on file at least three (3) recommendations including the following: one (1) from an educator presently occupying a position equal or similar to that which the applicant aspires upon completing the Ed.S. and one (1) from someone other than a member of the applicant's family who can comment on the applicant's character;

4.    Applicants must have a minimum of two years teaching experience. For candidates seeking superintendent certification, a current principal certification and experience as a building-level leader is preferred. 

Degree Requirements

There are three distinct plans of study for individuals seeking an Ed.S. Degree. Each candidate must complete the following core courses or an equivalent. Courses may have been taken as part of a master's degree program. 

ED ADM 6205Legal Contexts of Education3
ED ADM 6701Leadership for Equity3
ED ADM 6702Supervision in Education Organizations3
ED ADM 6714K-12 School Administration3
TCH ED 6411Curriculum Leadership in Education3
Total Hours15