Volunteer Online Leadership Studies (VOLS Lead) Specialization. The University of Tennessee’s Educational Administration program offers a Specialist in Education degree with a major in Education with licensure and non-licensure alternatives. This degree is designed for individuals who already possess a master’s degree in education. The coursework is delivered in an online format through distance education.
Leadership Academy Specialization. The Leadership Academy offers a 15-month intensive leadership preparation program that offers a Specialist in Education degree with a major in Education. This degree is designed for individuals who already possess a master’s degree in education. Students (called “Fellows”) in the Leadership Academy must be available on Monday through Thursday of each week for an intensive internship experience under the direction of a school mentor (e.g., the school principal). On Fridays, classes are conducted in order to complete the required curriculum and meet the knowledge and skill standards for initial certification as a beginning school leader.
Concentration (Required) and Options Available
- Educational Administration Concentration
Campus Code
- Distance Education
- Educational Administration – Online
- Licensure – Online
- Knoxville
- Leadership Academy Specialization
Admissions Standards/Procedures
- Volunteer Online Leadership Studies (VOLS Lead) Specialization
- A completed online application must be received by both the Office of Graduate Admissions and the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, educational administration program.
- A grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 or higher for undergraduate work or GPA 3.2 or higher for prior graduate work is required.
- Applicants to the Specialist in Education degree program must possess teacher or school-related licensure; have three years teaching experience or experience working in schools; and must interview with an admission committee.
- Candidates for the educational administration major must possess leadership potential preferably demonstrated by previous leadership experience. Three rating forms must be provided with recommendations from three present or former employers that identify a candidate’s strengths, weaknesses, and leadership potential.
- Interviews with applicants are held each year starting in April. Courses officially start in June.
- Leadership Academy Specialization
Volunteer Online Leadership Studies (VOLS Lead) Specialization
The Specialist in Education degree, with a major in Education, with a specialization in Volunteer Online Leadership Studies requires 42 credit hours of coursework, which includes a field-based internship experience under a mentor’s direction. The internship is supervised through EDAM 580 . A final comprehensive examination is required and includes a minimum competency score on the School Leader Licensure Assessment, the submission and presentation of a professional learning portfolio and an action research paper on a topic relevant to educational leadership. The coursework will be delivered in an online format through distance education.
Licensure Alternative
The EdS requires 42 graduate credit hours of course work. Online classes are combined with on-the-job internship activities organized around real school problems. The school principal and a faculty representative of the Educational Administration and supervision program together supervise the internship.
The desired outcome of the program leading to licensure as a school administrator is to produce thoughtful principal and supervisory practitioners with the skills and scholarship to provide quality leadership to the organizations they serve. Graduates are expected to have a vision of quality education combined with good leadership skills to lead our schools in the twenty-first century.
The program leading to licensure as a school administrator is designed around the standards developed by the State of Tennessee, The Tennessee Instructional Leadership Standards (TILS), and Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) for the knowledge and skills required today for a school principal. It meets the certification requirements of the Tennessee State Board of Education. The program is also accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and recognized by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) indicating national recognition as a quality program.
Courses for this degree are offered online through Distance Education. Program completion and recommendation for licensure requires a final comprehensive examination, a minimum competency score on the School Leader Licensure Assessment, and the submission professional learning portfolio.
Non-Licensure Alternative
The non-licensure alternative program is designed to prepare leaders for a variety of settings in schools and in other social service agencies. Course of study is consistent with the degree program selected; however, two electives are required in lieu of an internship. The non-licensure alterative is required for all out of state students. The degree requires 42 graduate credit hours of course work and a field problem research paper on a topic relevant to educational leadership.
Credit Hours Required
42 graduate credit hours
Required Courses
- Core Requirement Courses (12 credit hours)
- Licensure Specialization (15 credit hours)
- Research (9 credit hours)
- Internship Course (EDAM 580 , 6 credit hours) for Licensure Students or Electives (6 credit hours) for Non-Licensure Students chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor
Non-Course Requirements
- Licensure Students
- Program completion and recommendation for licensure requires a final comprehensive examination, a minimum competency score on the School Leader Licensure Assessment, the submission professional learning portfolio and a field problem research paper on a topic relevant to educational leadership.
- Non-Licensure Students
- Program completion and recommendation for licensure requires a final comprehensive examination and a field problem research paper on a topic relevant to educational leadership.
Leadership Academy Specialization, Course Only with Comprehensive Exam
The Specialist in Education degree, with a major in Education, with a specialization in leadership academy requires 39 graduate credit hours of coursework and an internship, which includes a minimum of 400 hours of field-based experience under the mentor’s direction. The internship is supervised through EDAM 570 . Program completion and recommendation for licensure requires a minimum competency score on the School Leader Licensure Assessment, the submission professional learning portfolio and an action research paper in lieu of a comprehensive exam on a topic relevant to educational leadership.
Credit Hours Required
39 graduate credit hours
Required Courses
- Core Requirement Courses (12 credit hours)
- Specialization Courses (15 credit hours)
- Research Courses (9 credit hours)
- Internship Course (3 credit hours)
- EDAM 570
- The internship includes a minimum of 400 hours of field-based experience under the mentor’s direction.
Non-Course Requirements
- The Specialist in Education degree, with a major in Education, requires a minimum of 400 hours of field-based experience under the mentor’s direction, a minimum competency score on the School Leader Licensure Assessment, the submission of a professional learning portfolio and an action research paper in lieu of a comprehensive exam on a topic relevant to educational leadership.
