Mission

The purposes of the Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations are: 

1. To provide the best possible curricula and instruction to enable students to complete
   requirements for the degree(s) and/or certifications they are seeking at the University. 
2. To develop the knowledge base of students to prepare them for leadership roles in
   the schools and communities. 
3. To provide opportunities for personal achievement and the development of professional
   competence, technological expertise, integrity, intellectual curiosity, self-discipline,
   and ethical conscientiousness. 
4. To help the student understand the place of the individual in a pluralistic society.
   

Program Overview 

The Southeastern Louisiana University Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership
is a nationally recognized program designed to provide the essential foundation for
educational leaders to assume the role of instructional leaders for effective school
improvement. The program has been accredited by the National Policy Board for Educational
Administration (NPBEA) and meets theEducational Leader certification requirements of the Louisiana State Department of
Education. 

Cohort Design 

Upon admission to the program, applicants will be assigned to a cohort. The applicant
will remain with the cohort for the duration of the program to ensure the validity
of the networking and collaboration built into the program design and approved by
the State. Students will not be permitted to change cohorts for personal convenience.
If a student misses a term of study, it is the responsibility of the student to contact
the Graduate Coordinator for reassignment to an existing cohort to complete the course
of studies for the program.

Admissions Requirements 

Admission to the Educational Leadership program is highly selective and prospective
students must meet all admissions criteria prior to admittance. Students will be allowed
to enroll in courses in this degree curriculum only after formal admission to the
program. To be considered for admission for a Master of Education degree in Educational
Leadership, an applicant must initially satisfy all the Southeastern Louisiana University
graduate admission requirements. 

Admission Process: The prospective student must submit a completed application to study at Southeastern
Louisiana University and satisfy all University graduate admission requirements including
a completed immunization form, non-refundable fee, and official copies of all transcripts.
The University application must be submitted online at: https://www.southeastern.edu/apply/graduate/index.html.

Applicants for Regular Admission must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point
average on the undergraduate degree, verified by official transcripts. Cumulative
grade point averages below a 3.0 will be considered on an individual basis and may
receive Provisional Admission.  

In addition to the grade point average requirement, applicants must submitthe following documents through the University application portal:

1. Copy of valid teaching certificate. 
2. Verification of a minimum of one year of teaching experience in either public or private
   schools. 
3. Completed Recommendation Form from a school official who can attest to the applicant’s leadership potential and
   likelihood of success in the program. 
4. Mentor Information Form from a school official who will supervise the on-site field experiences.

Applicants who work in a district that does not have a standing Memorandum of Understanding
must submit a completed Memorandum of Understanding Form signed by the designated school officials. The completed and signed form must be
sent to the Graduate Coordinator.

School districts with a standing Memorandum of Understanding include Ascension, Livingston,
St. Tammany, and Tangipahoa.  

Admissions Decision

Admission to the Educational Leadership program is selective and requires a favorable
evaluation by the Leadership Admissions Committee and is contingent upon the receipt
of all required application documents. When all admissions requirements have been
met, the Program Graduate Coordinator will complete the necessary notification/acceptance papers for
graduate admissions.     

Requirements for Completion of the Master of Education Degree in Educational Leadership 

To receive the Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership, a student must: 

1. Successfully complete all courses stated in the degree plan with grades of “B” or
   better in all course work. No grade below “B” will be accepted for graduate degree
   credit. 
2. Successfully complete all field-based experiences and internship. 
3. During the last semester of study, satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination,
   to take the form of completion and defense of an electronic portfolio before the Leadership
   Faculty.  
4. Successfully complete the School Leaders Licensure Examination. 
5. Receive a favorable recommendation for the degree from the Educational Leadership
   faculty and the graduate coordinator.

Louisiana’s Certification Structure for Educational Leadership 

The Southeastern Louisiana University Master of Education in Educational Leadership
degree program is recognized by the Louisiana Department of Education, Board of Elementary
and Secondary Education, and Louisiana Board of Regents as an approved Educational
Leader preparation program for the Graduate Degree Pathway for Educational Leader
Level 1 certification. The program is aligned with the following state and national
standards: 

• The Standards for Educational Leaders in Louisiana. 
• National Policy Board for Educational Administration’s Professional Standards for
  Educational Leaders (PSEL).
• The National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) Standards for Advanced Programs
  in Educational Leadership, the standards used by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for the university program reviews.

 Certification Levels

• Teacher Leader Endorsement: The teacher leader certificate is an option for a teacher
  to be identified as a teacher leader and is not a state required credential for a
  specific administrative position. 

*Candidates will be eligible for the Teacher Leader Endorsement upon completion of
the first 6 credit hours of the master’s degree program.

• Educational Leader Level 1: The educational leader level 1 certificate is an entry-level
  certificate for individuals seeking to qualify for school and/or district leadership
  positions such as assistant principals, principals, parish or city supervisors of
  instruction, supervisors of child welfare and attendance, special education supervisors,
  or comparable school/district leader positions.
•  Educational Leader Level 2: An individual advances from a level 1 to a level 2 certificate
  after successfully meeting standards of effectiveness for three years pursuant to
  Bulletin 130 and R.S. 17:3902 and completing the required years of experience.
• Educational Leader Level 3: The level 3 certificate qualifies an individual for employment
  as a district superintendent.

(See Louisiana Department of Education website and Bulletin 746: Louisiana Standards
for State Certification of School Personnel for additional certification information
and requirements.)

Curriculum

Course of study		Hours
Term 1
EDL 610	Research Methods for Educational Leaders	3
EDL 612	Fosterin Vision and Leadership in Educational Environments	3
Term 2
EDL 721	School Law	3
EDL 702	School Community Relations	3
Term 3
EDL 642	School Personnel Administration	3
EDL 625	Organizational Management	3
Term 4
EDL 722	Curriculum Improvement	3
EDL 635	Supervision of Instruction	3
Term 5
EDL 723	Leading Change in Educational Organizations	3
EDF 600	Application of Educational Research	3
Term 6
ETEC 615	Technology Studies for Educational Leaders	3
EDL 725	Internship in Educational Leadership	3

 

All courses are guided by the College of Education conceptual framework

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Dr. Margaret Westmoreland

Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations
Southeastern Louisiana University
SLU 10549
Hammond, LA 70402
985-549-5713
[email protected]