Tier 2 Educational Leadership: Certification Only
Please visit the program's webpage here.
For more information, please see the Academic Catalog.
The Georgia Leadership Rule requires candidates have the time and opportunity to lead authentic and genuine school improvement initiatives in a Residency experience. Students will learn by doing, under the direction of a mentor and high-qualified university professor. The program consists of nine credit hours of Residency and 12 credit hours of highly relevant clinically-based courses.
Program Location
Online
Method of Delivery
100% online
Accreditation
The University of West Georgia is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
This program is accredited by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).
Credit and transfer
Total semester hours required: 21
Graduate students may be able to reduce their cost through prior learning, previous degrees earned at UWG, or transfer credits. We have created a tool to help students estimate their tuition costs.
This program is offered entirely online. Though a student may choose to sign-up for a face-to-face elective or core course, one can earn this degree completely online.
Save money
UWG is often ranked as one of the most affordable accredited university of its kind, regardless of the method of delivery chosen. In addition, online courses and programs can mean a huge cost-savings in many non-evident ways: No more high gas charges. No childcare needed. The flexibility can allow one to maintain a job while attending school. Regardless of state residency, out-of-state non-resident students are not charged non-resident tuition for online course credit hours.
Details
- Total tuition costs and fees may vary, depending on the instructional method of the courses in which the student chooses to enroll.
- The more courses a student takes in a single term, the more they will typically save in fees and total cost.
- Face-to-Face or partially online courses are charged at the general tuition rate and all mandatory campus fees, based on the student's residency (non-residents are charged at a higher rate).
- Fully or entirely online course tuition rates and fees my vary depending on the program. Students enrolled in exclusively online courses do not pay non-Resident rates.
- Together this means that GA residents pay about the same if they take all face-to-face or partially online courses as they do if they take only fully online courses exclusively; while non-residents save money by taking fully online courses.
- One word of caution: If a student takes a combination of face-to-face and online courses in a single term, they will pay both all mandatory campus fees and the higher eTuition rate.
- For the cost information, as well as payment deadlines, see the Student Accounts and Billing Services website
There are a variety of financial assistance options for students, including scholarships and work study programs. Visit the Office of Financial Aid's website for more information.
General
This is the first of a three-semester course sequence (EDLE 8301, EDLE 8302, & EDLE 8303) designed to provide students with personalized field experiences where they have the opportunity to synthesize and apply knowledge and skills as they work on problems of practice in school and district settings. Students, in collaboration with a Leader Support Team (LST), will analyze current student learning data to identify strengths and areas for improvement. The analyzed data will guide the field experiences during the second and third residency lab course.
This is the second of a three-semester course sequence (EDLE 8301, EDLE 8302, & EDLE 8303) designed to provide students with personalized field experiences where they have the opportunity to synthesize and apply knowledge and skills as they work on problems of practice in school and district settings. Students, in collaboration with a Leader Support Team (LST), will develop an Increasing Learning for All Plan (ILA) and Literature Review that will guide the field experiences during the third residency lab course.
This is the third of a three-semester course sequence (EDLE 8301, EDLE 8302, & EDLE 8303) designed to provide students with carefully crafted and personalized field experiences where they have the opportunity to synthesize and apply knowledge and skills as they work on problems of practice in school and district settings. Students, in collaboration with a Leader Support Team (LST), will develop an Individualized Action Research Performance Plan that will guide field experiences during each of the three residency lab courses.
Students examine a multi-frame approach to leadership and organizational change that promotes a collaborative and professional culture focused on continuous improvement. The multi-frame approach (i.e., reframing) helps students use different mental models or frames to analyze complex situations encountered in school leadership. Further, reframing advances the generation of viable alternatives when dealing with difficult circumstances, accelerating cultural shifts that enable stakeholders to interact productively in educational settings. Students demonstrate proficiency through performance-based tasks that require merging theory, research, and practice to address complex matters of leadership and change to improve academic success.
Students study and apply principles of effective operations and performance management in K-12 schools. Applying ethical principles and professional norms as the conceptual framework, students explore efficient and effective organizational functions in personnel management, safety and emergency preparedness, and the use of technology to improve operations. Students will demonstrate proficiency by completing performance-based tasks.
This course provides educational leaders the opportunity to explore and use data-informed decision making to drive and sustain organizational and academic improvements in a school setting. Students will examine leadership and pedagogical strategies that promote a collegial environment focused on continuous improvement. Learning will be drawn from leadership theory and research on best practices, ethical principles, and professional norms in curriculum development, classroom instruction, student learning assessment, professional learning, and other areas that support the needs of all student populations in a learning-focused school environment. Students will demonstrate proficiency by completing performance-based tasks.
Students study school and district leadership within the context of how effective leaders address issues related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social class, disability, and language. Particular attention is given to preparation of leaders who can transform schools and districts in ways that create equitable outcomes and promote high levels of achievement for all students.
Georgia Evans, Ed.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Program Coordinator
Laurie Kimbrel, Ed.D.
Associate Professor
Andy Nixon, Ed. D.
Associate Professor
Guidelines for Admittance
- All graduate applicants must complete the online Graduate Application. A one-time application fee of $40 is required.
- Applicants should also review the Graduate Studies Website for individual program specific requirements and tasks that must be completed prior to admission. See Graduate Studies Application Process.
- International applicants are subject to additional requirements and application deadlines. See Procedures for International Students.
Program Specific Admittance Guidelines
- Official transcripts from all schools that have conferred degrees (Bachelor's, Master's, etc.) are required and should be sent directly to the UWG Graduate Admissions Office.
- Must have "Tier 1", "L", or "PL" Certification in Educational Leadership
- A Specialist degree or higher from a nationally or regionally accredited institution
- Be employed in a leadership position in a local education agency (LEA) as defined by the Georgia PSC
- Be recommended by the Superintendent or designee based on local district requirements (System Approval Form)
- 3.0 or better cumulative GPA on graduate work
- Georgia PSC Ethics for Educational Leadership- Test 380
- Copy of valid leadership certificate
- Written partnership with school district
Application Deadlines
Specific Graduate Admissions Deadlines are available via the Graduate School
* Application, app fee, and document deadline
See The Scoop for more specific deadlines.
Admission Process Checklist
The Graduate Studies Application Process checklist is available here
Contact
Graduate Admissions
graduate@westga.edu
678-839-1394
Department of Leadership, Research, & School Improvement
efincham@westga.edu
678-839-2463
Specific Graduate Admissions Deadlines are available via the Graduate School
* Application, app fee, and document deadline; Dates may vary for Readmit, Transfer, and Transient students.
Specific dates for Admissions, Financial Aid, Fee Payment, Registration, Start/End of Term Dates, Final Exams, etc. are available in THE SCOOP.
Objectives not available