Education Administration Degrees
Education administrators are the people who are ultimately responsible for making sure their school provides quality education to its students. Their job duties span a wide spectrum including hiring and supervising staff, disciplining students, communicating with parents and preparing budgets. A degree in education administration will provide the managerial and education policy knowledge a principal, assistant principal or superintendent needs to run a school or school system effectively.
Most education administration jobs require that the applicant have teaching experience as well as an advanced degree, preferably in education administration. Public school principal and assistant principal jobs opportunities are expected to be excellent over the next decade as administrators retire and as increasing responsibilities in these positions appeal to fewer educators.
Degree Options
- Master's Degree – A masters degree program will prepare individuals to become a licensed Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent or Special Education Administrator. These degrees are also often required for positions such as Director of a daycare, private school or other education program.
- Doctoral Degree – A doctoral degree typically leads to a position as an Assistant Superintendent of Schools or a Superintendent of Schools.
Schools
Education Administration degree programs are available at many universities and colleges that offer teaching degrees. Increasingly, online schools offer these degree programs, which are often easier for a working teacher to fit into their schedule.
Coursework
Below are some common courses an Education Administration degree student may take in addition to completing field-work or internships.
- Administration of K-12 Schools – Introduces theories of school organization and leadership. Topics may include leading people, conflict resolution, motivating staff, decision making and working within an organizational structure.
- Educational Research and Evaluation – Introduces education research concepts, research methods and use of research to guide decision-making.
- Standards-Based Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment – Students learn basis for curriculum design, methods of assessment and uses of technology to enhance learning.
- Management of Human Resources – This course covers the philosophies, policies and practices regarding human resources administration including their impact on student learning.
- Public Education Finance – Topics covered include budget formulation, public financing structures, financing of capital improvements and budget administration and monitoring.
- Education and the Law - Examines federal and state regulations that affect public education, the role of school boards, liability issues, professional ethics and discipline and control.
Interests and Aptitudes
Becoming an education administrator is a challenging and rewarding career for those who have strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills. The diversity of responsibilities and lack of resources in many cases means administrators need to be able to juggle competing priorities, devise innovative solutions while at the same time, keeping staff and students motivated.
Career Options
Education Administration degree students are typically teachers or administrators who are working towards a degree that will position them for their next job. Teachers who earn a master's degree will often look for an Assistant Principal or private school Director position. Once they've gained some administration experience, they will often look for a position as a Principal or Assistant Superintendent of Schools. Those who earn a doctoral degree typically have significant administration experience and are looking to move into a position as a Superintendent of Schools or Assistant Superintendent of Schools.
Related Majors
- Elementary School Education - These programs provide training for teachers of elementary school children and include courses in childhood development, psychology and teaching methods for literacy, math, science and social studies.
- Middle School Education - Coursework addresses adolescent learning and development as well as subject-specific courses pertaining to the area they will be teaching.
- Secondary Education - These programs focus on subject specific courses applicable to what the student plans to teach as well as topics in adolescent psychology, teaching methods and classroom management.
- Special Education - Curriculums cover topics important in teaching students with learning disabilities and also include topics related to the management of behavioral and emotional challenges these students often face.
How To Evaluate Education Administration Degree Programs
Some considerations when choosing a degree program are discussed below:
- Quality – Attending graduate school is a big commitment so students will want to make sure their program of choice will provide the quality of education that will ensure success in their next position.
- Convenience - Many programs offer classes either partially or entirely online which can make it more convenient for busy working teachers and administrators to complete their degree.
- Up-to-date Curriculum - The program should incorporate the newest information related to standardized testing, teaching practices, public policy trends and other topics.
- Accreditation – Programs should be accredited by one of the six regional accrediting agencies as well as by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Free Online Courses and Material
To gain insight into what education administration challenges their future career may present, prospective students can review the following free resources :
- Connexions, a non-profit organization that promotes the sharing of educational materials, offers courses which provide insight into aspects of education administrator's jobs:
- Routledge Online provides a voucher for free online access to education leadership and administration journals.
Resources
National Association of Elementary School Principals
National Association of Secondary School Principals
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
National Policy Board for Educational Administration
Online Course Finder
Find the path to your
education in 3 easy steps.