Department of Educational Leadership
Location: 204 Education Building, Phone: (409) 880-8689
Chair: Carolyn Crawford
Chair:
The Department of Educational Leadership offers a variety of graduate certificates and degrees which prepare students for leadership roles in various areas of the educational system. Programs in this department at the master's level prepare students for roles as counselors, principals, and educational technology specialists; other certifications and programs prepare superintendents, and educational researchers at the doctoral level. Master of Education degrees in Educational Administration and Educational Technology Leadership are offered online in a compressed format with students taking one five-week course at a time. For more information about the online programs, go to http://degree.lamar.edu/searchPrograms.aspx.
Certifications Offered: Principal, Superintendent, and School Counselor
Master of Education Degrees Offered:M.Ed in Educational Administration
M.Ed in Educational Technology Leadership
M.Ed in Counseling and Development
Admission
A maximum of six semester hours may be taken prior to admission. Non-admitted students wishing to transfer courses from another department or another university must have permission of the department chair before registering.
Admission to a “Certification Only” Program
The Educational Leadership Department offers post master’s certification programs leading to certification as a Superintendent, Principal, and School Counselor. Students who hold a master’s degree and teacher certification and seek an additional certification offered by this department should apply to the Educational Leadership department for admission to the appropriate certification program. Those admitted to “Certification Only” are expected to have equivalent and recent coursework for substitutions to be made for required courses. Upon completion of the application and receipt of an official transcript, a program advisor will be assigned. The advisor will develop a certification plan for the student. After completion of the certification plan requirements the student must apply for and pass the TExES examination and file for the certificate at the Certification Office. Students seeking a program leading to examination for certification as a Licensed Professional Counselor should follow the process designated above and then contact the State Board of Examiners for Professional Counselors in Austin, Texas to apply for licensure and take the licensure exam.
Admission to a Master’s Degree Program
To be admitted to a program leading to a Master’s degree in Educational Administration, Counseling and Development, Supervision, or Educational Technology Leadership students must fulfill the general requirements for admission to the Graduate College as stated elsewhere in this bulletin plus the departmental requirements. The Educational Leadership Department requires a minimum score of 400 on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Exam with a minimum combined Verbal and Quantitative score of 800. Students whose scores are below this standard but who meet the entrance requirements of the Graduate College will be considered on an individual basis and may be admitted by the Department. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is not accepted as a substitute for minimum scores on the Graduate Record Exam. If a student has applied for admission to a degree program and has not received notification of acceptance (or non-acceptance) within 30 days after application the student should check with the Graduate Admissions Office.
Admission to Candidacy for Master’s Degree
After completing at least 15 semester hours of course work on the master’s degree the student should apply for Admission to Degree Candidacy. Forms for admission to candidacy should be obtained from the Educational Leadership Department Office and returned there upon completion. (NOTE: University regulations require the student be admitted to candidacy prior to beginning the last nine hours of course work). If a student does not have a letter certifying admission to candidacy within 30 days after making application the student should check with the department office.
Step-by-step procedure for admission to a Master’s degree program:
- Apply for Admission to the Graduate College of Lamar University.
A. Obtain application form from the Graduate Admissions Office in Room 118 of the Wimberly Building, call (409) 880-8356, or find it at www.lamar.edu.
B. Complete the Graduate Record Examination and have scores sent to Graduate Admissions, Lamar University, P.O. Box 10078, Beaumont, TX 77710.
C. Have all transcripts sent to Graduate Admissions as in B above. - Meet with program advisor to develop a degree plan. NOTE: No deviations from the degree plan will be permitted without prior written permission of advisor or department head.
- In consultation with graduate advisor, select members of graduate committee. (The program advisor will chair this committee.)
- Complete at least 15 hours of course work from their degree plan and apply for Admission to Candidacy. NOTE: A Student must be admitted to candidacy prior to beginning the last nine hours of course work.
- Complete remaining course work.
- Complete requirements for graduation.
A. Apply for graduation in the Graduate College office (219 Wimberly).
B. Take and pass comprehensive examination during the last semester of attendance. To take the comprehensive examination a student must be in his/her last semester of coursework, have no incompletes (“I” grade) or unsatisfactory (“D” or “F” grades) on their transcripts and have met all other requirements for graduation. - Graduate.
NOTE: Completion of some master’s programs also includes completion of all course requirements for an additional certification. Student desiring the additional certificate must apply to take the appropriate TExES Exam at the Office of Professional Services and Admissions. After successfully passing the exam, the student should apply at the Certification Office for the certificate.
Master’s Degree in Counseling and Development
The Master’s Degree in Counseling and Development requires the successful completion of a comprehensive 45-semester-hour program of study.
Level I - 6 Courses, 18 Hours |
|
|
| Level IV - 2 Courses, 6 Hours May be taken after completion of 30 semester hours. Practicum: 300 Contact Hours - 2 Semesters (150 Hours each)/6Hours credit CNDV 5390 Beginning School Counseling CNDV 5391 Advanced School Counseling* |
| Total for Master's Degree: 45 Semester Hours * Vocational Counselor Certificate Licensure as an LPC requires 48 semester hours. |
Certification In Counseling and Development
Professional School Counselor’s Certificate
A student who completes requirements for a Master of Education degree in Counseling and Development will have fulfilled all curriculum requirements for a Professional School Counselor’s Certificate.Students already holding a master’s degree from an accredited university may enter the “Certification Only” program by making application in the office of the Department of Educational Leadership and providing an official transcript of all applicable graduate work. Once admitted, students will be assigned an advisor who will develop a certification plan for the student.
After completion of the certification plan the student must take and pass the TExES examination and apply for the certificate at the Office of Professional Services in the Education Building. Prerequisites for the certificate include Texas teacher certification and three years of acceptable classroom teaching experience. Approval to take the TExES is normally granted in the last semester of student’s course work.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors regulates licensing requirements for counselors to render services in the state of Texas through private practice, group practice, institutions, organizations and similar types of arrangements. This Board requires a master’s degree and 48 hours of coursework that is primarily counseling or counseling related coursework. Students who need additional information or wish to complete academic work toward licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) should see the Counseling and Development faculty in the Department of Educational Leadership or contact the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors in Austin, Texas.
Master’s Degree in Educational Administration
The Master’s degree in Educational Administration requires successful completion of a 36 semester hour program of study. Certification as a Principal requires 36 hours of prescribed course work. Requirements for the traditional program are as follows:
| I. COMMON ADMINISTRATIVE CORE EDLD 5301 Research Methods EDLD 5311 Fundamentals of Administration *(Fundamentals of Leadership) EDLD 5339 Organizational Behavior* *Prerequisite to courses in section II except EDLD 5306 |
| II. TEACHING AND LEARNING EDLD 5352 Instructional Leadership **Prerequisite for EDLD 5356 EDLD 5356 Educator Evaluation or Elective (Select One) * CNDV 5320 Cross Cultural Counseling * CNDV 5310 Individual/Group Facilitation EDLD 5333 Campus Planning and Problem Solving (Leadership for Accountability) EDLD 5335 Curriculum Management |
| III. SPECIALIZATION PREPARATION EDLD 5306 Foundations of Educational Technology |
IV. INTERNSHIP |
| Total for Master's Degree 36 Semester Hours |
Degree requirements for the online M.Ed. in Educational Administration may be found at http://degree.lamar.edu/ProgramInfo.aspx?id=206.
| EDLD 5326 | School Community Relations This course provides a foundation for developing relationships with stakeholders within the school community; students, faculty, parents, and the community at large for the expressed goal of supporting student learning. A fundamental purpose of the course is to understand and implement strategies to develop essential partnerships between schools and the larger community to foster student learning and achievement. |
| EDLD 5301 | Research This course introduces teachers to the design, methodologies, and techniques necessary to understand educational research and to use “scientifically-based research” in making informed decisions which can positively impact student achievement. An emphasis is placed on action research. |
| EDLD 5388 | Diverse Learners This course enhances teachers’ ability to develop instructional programs to assess, instruct, and support students with diverse learning needs. Special emphasis is given to special education, English language learners and economically disadvantaged students. |
| EDLD 5344 | School Law This course provides teachers a foundation to understand the legal, ethical, and policy dimensions of education. Special emphasis is given to the interpretation of case law, Texas Education Code, and federal and state statutes. |
| EDLD 5388 | Schools as Learning Communities This course provides educators a basic understanding of the strengths and structure of learning communities with a focus on developing a culture of change and improvement for student learning. Special emphasis is given to facilitation skills, team building, and mentoring. |
| EDLD 5345 | Human Resource Management This course focuses on building the human resources to support the learning and instructional mission of the school and the attainment of school goals. Topics include: ethical considerations in interactions with others, district policy and its relationship to personnel, confidentiality, employment and personnel law, contract renewal and non-renewal, teacher development, and an understanding of motivational theories and its application within the school environment. |
| EDLD 5311 | Fundamentals of Leadership This course provides students the opportunity to construct a foundation of leadership through fundamental theories of leadership. Students define their own purpose of leadership and begin to develop the basic skills required to build communities that support learning for all students. Special emphasis is given to leadership as relationships between and among people and systems. |
| EDLD 5333 | Leadership for Accountability This course concentrates on both short and long-range district and campus planning. Students will examine the state accountability system; disaggregate data, and use data and resources to improve instruction and the curriculum. An emphasis will be placed on problem solving techniques and facilitation skills of effective school leaders. |
| EDLD 5352 | Instructional Leadership This course emphasizes techniques for improving instruction and learning through the application of the research on effective schools and on models of instruction. Topics include leadership related to curriculum, instruction, supervision, and theories and methods for adult learning and professional development. The principal as the leader of learning involves such tasks as teacher evaluation, supervision, mentoring, and effective communication. |
| EDLD 5335 | Curriculum Management This course builds an understanding of curriculum models, curriculum frameworks, including those articulated at the state level, alignment of instruction to standards, and assessment of learning outcomes. District level curriculum and policies are reviewed. The alignment of policy, goals, and human resources are examined with application to a specified school context. |
| EDLD 5339 | Organization & Management Issues This course positions the school leader as the effective manager of the organization and its operations. Multiple topics are addressed such as; safe and effective learning environments, student support services, school policies and procedures, discipline management, behavior intervention, and fiscal issues in school management. |
| EDLD 5398 | Internship in Administration |
Principal Certification
A student who completes requirements for a Master of Education degree in Educational Administration will have fulfilled the hours required for a Principal certificate. The student’s degree plan will include any additional courses required for certification.
Students already holding a Master's Degree from an accredited university may enter the "Certification Only" program for Principal Certification by making application in the Graduate College and office of the Department of Education Leadership and providing an official transcript of all applicable graduate work. Once admitted, students will be assigned an advisor who will develop a certification plan, which depending on age of coursework, will require a minimum of 21 hours with additional hours required as appropriate.
To receive the Principal certificate, a student must complete all course requirements, hold a valid Texas Teacher certificate, have two years of classroom teaching experience, take and pass the TExES examination, and apply for the certificate at the Office of Professional Services in the Education Building. Students normally register for the TExES in their last semester of course work.
Professional Superintendent Certificate
Prerequisites for the Professional Superintendent Certificate include a Master’s degree and Professional Mid-Management Administrator or Principal certification. Students who meet these prerequisites and wish to seek certification as a school superintendent should apply to the Department of Educational Leadership. Admissions may be limited. Applicants are expected to meet the GPA and GRE requirements for admission to the Graduate School for graduate work. Upon completion of the application and receipt of an official transcript of graduate work an advisor will be assigned to develop a certification plan for the student. Students meeting the prerequisites can usually obtain certification as a superintendent by completing twelve semester hours plus a year-long internship of six hours. After completion of the certification plan the student must take and pass the TExES examination and apply for the certificate at the Office of Professional Services in the Education Building. Students normally register for the TExES in their last semester of course work.
Master’s Degree in Educational
Technology Leadership
Information about the online program in Educational Technology Leadership may be found at http://degree.lamar.edu/ProgramInfo.aspx?id=207
| I. Educational Core | |
| EDLD 5301 | Research Methods This course provides an introduction to skills and techniques for descriptive and inferential research on education problems with an emphasis on planning, designing, and selecting methodology for research projects. Significant course time is devoted to writing a research proposal. |
| EDLD 5333 | Leadership Accountability Focused on accountability and data, this study develops planning and problem solving abilities using techniques employed by effective school leaders. Special emphasis will be given working with campus improvement committees and to applications on an individual campus and the relationship of campus processes to district planning processes. |
| EDLD 5335 | Curriculum Management This course examines models of curriculum development with emphasis on the management of these functions including curriculum policy, alignment with standards and resources, and evaluation. |
| EDLD 5344 | School Law This course focuses on knowledge and implementation of school law as found in the Texas Education Code and the handbook of Public School Law as well as laws relating to technology, ethics, and digital citizenship. |
| II. Technology Applications Core | |
| EDLD 5306 | Concepts of Educational Technology This course develops functional knowledge of educational computing and technology with an emphasis on productivity tools and curricular and instructional tools for school leaders. |
| EDLD 5363 | Video Technology & Multimedia This course surveys the principles of video and multimedia design, production, and reflective evaluation. Candidates work in collaborative teams using digital tools to create an edited video distributed to a web page or multimedia presentation. |
| EDLD 5365 | Web Mastering This course overviews the principles and procedures associated with Web mastering, including Web design and the functions associated with the role of webmaster. |
| EDLD 5366 | Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing This course provides an overview of the principles of design and the application to digital graphic and animation products along with the design and development of web-based and printed page layout. |
| III. Technology for Instruction and Management | |
| EDLD 5368 | Instructional Design This course examines student learning of essential knowledge and skills with an emphasis on models of engaged learning. Instructional strategies and practices to address school-based, real-world problems using technology are included. Material studied provides a basis for the evaluation of technology programs and their applications to curriculum and instructional design projects. |
| EDLD 5364 | Teaching with Technology This course begins with learning theories and the implications for using technology to promote learning and to enhance teaching. Then the course moves to the technology strategies and best practices that impact student achievement. |
| EDLD 5362 | Informational Systems Management This course overviews information technology (IT) in educational environments and the planning required for IT to support the purposes to which it is applied. The course includes administrative applications which support the school system, such as financial, budgeting, and facilities management, as well as a review of current trends in IT. |
| EDLD 5397 | Internship in Educational Technology Leadership |
Teaching Certification in Technology Applications
Twelve to fifteen hours are required for individuals already holding a teaching credential. Those holding a baccalaureate degree and desiring admissions should contact the department for advisement.
Master's Degree in Supervision
I. Leadership Foundation (9 hours)
EDLD 5311 Fundamentals of Administration
EDLD 5339 Organizational Behavior (EDLD 5311 Prerequisite)
EDLD 5352 Instructional Leadership
Foundations courses are prerequisites to all courses in section III
II. Support Area (9 hours)
EDLD 5301 Research Methods
CNDV 5320 Cross Cultural Counseling
EDLD 5306 Foundations of Educational Technology
III. Specialization (Choose One Specialization)
Option I – Instruction (15 hours)
EDLD 5335 Curriculum Management
EDLD 5356 Teacher Appraisal (EDLD 5352 Prerequisite)
__________ Elective
__________ Elective
__________ Elective
OR
Option 2 –Technology (15 hours)
EDLD 5361 Distance Learning/ Telecommunications
EDLD 5362 Educational Information Systems
EDLD 5363 Multimedia in Education
EDLD 5364 Teaching with Technology
__________ Elective
IV. Internship (3 Hours)
EDLD 5397 Internship for Supervision
Must be in last 9 hours of completing certification/degree.
Total for Master’s Degree : 36 Semester Hours
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)
The Ed.D in Educational Leadership, with concentrations in Effective Schooling and Diversity and Multiculturalism, is designed for scholar/practitioners who desire to create positive lasting change in schools and organizations. The Ed.D. prepares educators for advanced professional responsibility, leadership and accountability for effective schooling in diverse school and learning communities. This includes creating a transforming school culture to accomplish lasting school reform; putting into practice standards‑based curriculum and performance‑based assessment to produce higher achievement for all students; and creating and utilizing research‑based data to enhance decision making.
Degree Requirements
The Ed.D. requires the completion of 60 semester hours: 24 hours of core courses, 12 hours in research, 12 hours in dissertation, and 1 2 hours in the concentration(s) and electives. All coursework, including successful defense of the dissertation, must be completed within ten years.
Admission Considerations
Applicants should request an application packet and submit all necessary documents and transcripts by the end of January for admission to the next cohort, which begins in the fall semester of each academic year. Prospective students should contact the doctoral program office for a current application at 409‑880‑8676 or email sandra.harris@lamar.edu.
The Doctoral Selection Committee considers all applicants and makes recommendations regarding acceptance. Entrance into the program is competitive. Interviews with candidates under consideration for admission are scheduled in the Spring semester. Applicants should submit the following information for admission consideration:
- Evidence of a completed master’s degree from an accredited university in an area related to the proposed studies, with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for courses applied toward a master’s degree.
- Undergraduate transcript with GPA
- Graduate Record Examination scores
- Commitment and demonstration of interest in education as a career and to the advancement of education through professional leadership. This is evidenced by the submission of an essay of approximately 500 words on the applicant’s background, professional career goals, and reason for pursuing a doctoral degree.
- Students should be currently or previously involved in and have educational leadership experience encompassing a number of settings, including schools, colleges and universities, health and human service agencies, and communitybased organizations.
- Three (3) professional references