A masters in education administration generally requires enrollment in one to two years of full-time classes in a university setting. Usually, this degree can also be obtained through accredited online university programs. To earn the masters degree, you will typically study topics such as effective leadership, community collaboration, ethics in decision-making, resource management and strategies for creating positive learning environments. Most programs require regular class attendance, successful completion of assignments, an internship in educational administration and delivery of a masters thesis on a relevant topic.
When you enroll in an educational administration degree program, you take classes that emphasize the necessary skills for successful leadership and management of educational staff and processes. Earning a masters in education administration will prepare you for a variety of leadership positions in schools. Deans, principals, assistant principals and other educational leaders usually earn this degree. To work in this capacity, you'll need to develop solid leadership skills.
In an educational administration degree program, you will generally learn the critical issues involved in managing a school and supervising instructional faculty. You typically will study courses that teach you how to manage finances in an educational environment as well. Skills related to hiring teachers, evaluating them and assessing their effectiveness on the job will also be an area of focus. A high-quality masters in education administration degree program will teach you how to communicate with faculty, gauge the needs of staff and effectively meet those needs while ensuring the goals of the educational institution are also being met.
Making solid decisions that affect students, teachers and other school staff members generally requires experience and observation of other administrators in action. For this reason, many programs build in a more practical internship component. You might be required to work at a school or alternate learning environment to gain the necessary skills and experience for an education administration certification. This type of experience will also teach you how to create an environment in which students and faculty can continually contribute toward improving the learning community.
To enroll in a masters in education administration program, you typically need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Prior experience in a school or educational setting will usually strengthen your chances of admission into a high-quality program. To complete the masters in education administration degree, it is typically necessary to demonstrate successful completion of required courses and satisfy internship requirements. In many cases, you will also work with an academic advisor who guides you through the completion of a masters thesis.
