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PK-12 Education Leadership
Mission Statement
The Department of Educational Leadership, in all its programs, provides students the knowledge, dispositions, skills, and understanding necessary to exercise visionary leadership in diverse and dynamic environments. The professional preparation provided by the department stresses strategic planning, collaborative problem solving, interpersonal and inter-group functioning, technological proficiency and effective communication. In our view, the ultimate mission of the department is to prepare students who will create organizational cultures that nourish the human spirit.
Programs of Study
Two distinct levels of degrees are available in Educational Leadership: a master (M.Ed.) and a doctorate (Ed.D.). The degree programs are designed to allow candidates to pursue educational leadership careers in elementary, middle level, and secondary school settings, as well as in central office administration.
Master's Degree
The master's degree in Educational Leadership focuses on the preparation of building level school administrators and satisfies the Nevada state requirements for PK-12 administrative licensure.
The 39-hour program includes four strands:
- Foundations of educational leadership
- Instructional leadership
- Organizational management
- Field-based experiences
The program includes 6 semester-hours of field-based experiences including 3 credit hours aligned with specific courses and 3 semester hours of internship.
The department offers four different options for pursuing the master's degree in PK-12 Education Leadership:
- UNLV/CCSD Collaborative Principal Preparation Program (Cohort Scheduling)
- Self-Paced Program
- Online Leadership Preparation Program
Administrative Endorsement Only
Students may also take Educational Leadership courses as non-degree seeking students if they are taking courses for endorsement only and are not pursuing a degree.
Online Leadership Preparation Program
The Leadership Preparation Program offers the option of pursuing the master's degree through a two-year online cohort program. The M.Ed. in PK-12 Education Leadership fulfills requirements for Nevada K-12 administrative endorsement and prepares quality school leaders who are ready for immediate placement in administrative positions in public and private schools. The incorporated field experiences build a depth of understanding and performance capacity. Students may begin the program in either the Fall semester or the Spring semester. This is NOT a collaborative program with any particular school or district and applications are open to anyone wishing to pursue a master's degree to prepare for educational leadership in PK-12 settings. Students take two classes (6-8 credit hours) each Fall and Spring semester. Students take 12 hours over two summers. Students select a mentor principal to work with them throughout their program. For more information visit the Online Leadership Preparation Program website.
Doctoral Programs
Two distinct doctoral programs are offered in PK-12 Educational Leadership, both leading toward a Doctorate of Education (EdD) degree:
- LEAD Doc: This is a practitioner oriented degree with a strong emphasis on school/district based leadership. Class scheduling is such is to allow the candidates to combine work on the degree with performance on the job. Students established residency during two summers, thus eliminating an extensive leave-of-absence from work. All courses are scheduled in the late afternoon or evening during the fall and spring semesters to accommodate professionals who are employed. Summer classes are also scheduled in the evening.
- Exec. Leadership Program is designed for those currently in administrative position at the principal level or above. The program focuses on mid career leadership development. This program utilizes a problem-based learning approach that consists of series of compressed thematic seminars in which emphasis is placed on identifying and developing solutions to real-life problems.
