Educational Administration Graduate Programs

Educational Administration Graduate Programs and Curriculum

As you consider earning a graduate degree in educational administration, it’s important to recognize if you have the following skills and traits:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Leadership and decision making skills
• Determination and motivation
• Confidence
• Creativity and resourcefulness
• Ability to organize and coordinate

These are important qualities to possess when working in the education field. In addition, candidates for a graduate degree in educational administration typically must have worked as teachers before moving into a higher administrative position.

Coursework varies by program, as well as areas of concentration; however there are several topics that will be covered in most educational administration graduate programs such as:

• School/institution administrations
• Human resources
• School/institution law
• Program evaluation/assessment
• Finance
• Research
• Curriculum/program/education planning
• Evaluation and development
• Leadership

Depending upon program and degree level, earning a graduate degree in educational administration may culminate in a thesis, research project and/or internship.

Most states require licensing at the preschool, elementary, and secondary levels of educational administration. To qualify for licensing, educational administrators must have a graduate-level degree, hands-on training, and in some cases, pass a standardized test. Once licensed, many states require educational administrators to take continuing education courses to maintain their license.

Educational Administration Career Paths

Education administrators are needed in many levels of education including preschool, elementary education, secondary education and in colleges and universities. Such positions at the preschool, elementary, and secondary level include principals and vice principals, school directors and school district administrators. At the postsecondary level, these positions include provosts, dean positions, department heads or chairpersons, vice president of student affairs, registrars, directors of admissions and financial aid directors.

Their responsibilities may include the following:

• Establishing goals, policies and procedures
• Managing and inspiring staff, teachers, and employees
• Developing academic programs and student services
• Handling records and finances
• Handling relationships with parents, students, and the community

When pursuing an educational administration degree, it is important to have career goals in mind, since depending on your position of choice; a master’s degree may not suffice. In some cases, you will need to earn a Ph.D. in educational administration in order to obtain career goals such as provost or dean positions at a university.

Educational Administration Future Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for educational administrators are expected to grow by approximately 8 percent by 2018. The growth is expected as a result of retirements with little competition to fill these positions. Principals and assistant principals should have excellent job prospects because a sharp increase in responsibilities in recent years has made the job more stressful and has discouraged some teachers from taking positions in administration. Furthermore, competition for higher education administrative jobs will be low as fewer applicants are expected for nonacademic administrative jobs, such as director of admissions or director of student affairs.

Data according to

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Ed.