Education Administration EdS, Executive Superintendency Emphasis

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

Emphasis Area Requirements 

This plan of study prepares students with a current principal certification and building-level leadership experience to become inquiring, reflective school leaders at the district level. This unique online program is a collaboration with three campuses in the University of Missouri System: Columbia, Kansas City, and St. Louis. Students will work with students enrolled at the partner universities and receive instruction from professors at the different institutions based on expertise and experience. The program aligns with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Missouri Leadership Standards for superintendent certification. We serve a diverse population of graduate students who are making a positive difference in students' lives.

For students who have obtained an approved master's degree in education administration (minimum 30 credit hours), the Ed.S. is an additional 30 credit hours (Minimum of 60 total credit hours). Candidates should consult with an advisor to ensure their courses align to specific certification requirements.

Internships and State Assessments

Students will complete a total of three semester hours of an internship during the fall and/or spring semester. An approved mentor, usually in the school district in which the student is employed, must be approved by the student's advisor. The mentor must be serving in an assistant superintendent or superintendent capacity, must have superintendent certification, and must have an Ed.S. or doctoral degree. The internship requires an action research project which will serve as a capstone examination for the program. 

To be certified, students must take the appropriate content exam as required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  

The plan of study for this certification area is below:

ED ADM 5626Theories of Educational Administration3
ED ADM 5627Advanced Education Supervision3
ED ADM 6301Education Policy Analysis3
ED ADM 6305School District Administration3
ED ADM 6402School Personnel Administration3
ED ADM 6403Problems in School Public Relations3
ED ADM 6501Principles of Public School Finance in Missouri3
ED ADM 6424Educational Leadership: Superintendent as Instructional Leader3
ED ADM 6435Superintendent: Legal Leadership and Management3
ED ADM 6903Superintendent Clinical Experience3
Total Hours30