Earning an education administration degree is a step toward a rewarding career in the education profession. There are several different levels of education administration degree, including an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, master's degree, and PhD. In order to earn an education administration degree, a person will have to be accepted to a college or university program and complete all requirements needed to graduate.
An associate's or bachelor's degree may actually be in a general education area, but many programs allow a focus in the administrative area for students who are planning to find a careers as administrators. Many online colleges offer two-year programs to achieve a degree in education administration, making it a good choice for full-time workers or those trying to balance school with family life. Most bachelor's degree programs last four years, while associate's degree may take one to three years.
Those who desire higher level positions, such as a university dean or principal, may choose to get a graduate degree or doctorate in education administration. Programs for advanced degrees are typically extremely selective, requiring references, entrance essays, and interviews for admission. Students may be required to provide transcripts from previous schools. A significant time commitment is required for many advanced programs, some last up to three years.
Graduation requirements for most education administration degree programs will require a wide variety of both coursework and practical training. Students will take classes that help to prepare them for both administrative and educational challenges of the working environment, including courses in business management, office skills, educational law, and statistics. It is not uncommon for there to be many professional seminars taught by working or well-known administrators that students are required to understand.
In some programs, particularly PhD courses, students may have to complete a thesis or doctoral research project in a specific area of the education administration field. This may include field work such as internships or analytical studies, or may require the student to serve as a researcher on a school-based study in the field. Generally, these projects terminate in an extensive research paper that must be accepted by the governing board before the student can graduate.
Although there are many schools that offer various education administration degrees, the field has extensive learning opportunities online. Called “distance learning,” these programs allow students to enroll in a degree course that is associated with a university that may be in another state or even another country. Using a combination of correspondence, online classes, and some coursework in central hub areas, students can now achieve nearly every level of education administration degree from their hometown.
