How to Get a Master's in Educational Administration

From elementary school principals to university deans, educational administrators are responsible for the day-to-day functioning of schools, school districts, colleges, and universities. Administrators must hire faculty, develop budgets, and define policies and mission statements, in addition to monitoring student performance. Work as an educational administrator is demanding and multifaceted, so a master's degree in educational administration is often required. Many school administrators begin their careers teaching and earn a graduate degree through flexible campus or online master's degree programs. Online degree programs allow you to earn an advanced degree without leaving your current job, so you don't need to sacrifice income or experience in your quest for education. Whether you decide to pursue a traditional degree program or earn a master's degree online, thorough research is crucial to decide which programs to apply to. The following guide takes you through the research and application process, step by step, so you can make an informed decision about continuing your education.

An Overview of the Master's in Educational Administration

A master's degree in educational administration is required for most educational leadership positions, which are expected to be plentiful in coming years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for educational administrators should be excellent from 2008 through 2018 as current administrators retire. The work of school administrators is challenging, but administrators in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools are rewarded with good salaries and benefits packages.

A master's degree in educational administration prepares educators for leadership roles with courses in school leadership, school finance and budgeting, curriculum development, research design, politics in education, and community relations. Like other master's degrees, a master's degree in educational administration takes 1 to 2 years to complete and includes core courses, an area of specialization, research opportunities, and a final project or thesis. Depending on the school or program, a master's degree in educational administration can fall under any of the following titles and abbreviations:

• Master of Science in Education (MSEd)
• Master of Arts in Education (MAEd)
• Master of Education (MEd or EdM)
• Master of Science for Professional Educators (MSPE)

To determine the program that's right for you, take some time to explore the options, define your goals, and create a final list of schools that meet your requirements. The following guide takes you through the research and application process.

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How to Get a Master's in Educational Administration

From elementary school principals to university deans, educational administrators are responsible for the day-to-day functioning of schools, school districts, colleges, and universities. Administrators must hire faculty, develop budgets, and define policies and mission statements, in addition to monitoring student performance. Work as an educational administrator is demanding and multifaceted, so a master's degree in educational administration is often required. Many school administrators begin their careers teaching and earn a graduate degree through flexible campus or online master's degree programs. Online degree programs allow you to earn an advanced degree without leaving your current job, so you don't need to sacrifice income or experience in your quest for education. Whether you decide to pursue a traditional degree program or earn a master's degree online, thorough research is crucial to decide which programs to apply to. The following guide takes you through the research and application process, step by step, so you can make an informed decision about continuing your education.

An Overview of the Master's in Educational Administration

A master's degree in educational administration is required for most educational leadership positions, which are expected to be plentiful in coming years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for educational administrators should be excellent from 2008 through 2018 as current administrators retire. The work of school administrators is challenging, but administrators in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools are rewarded with good salaries and benefits packages.

A master's degree in educational administration prepares educators for leadership roles with courses in school leadership, school finance and budgeting, curriculum development, research design, politics in education, and community relations. Like other master's degrees, a master's degree in educational administration takes 1 to 2 years to complete and includes core courses, an area of specialization, research opportunities, and a final project or thesis. Depending on the school or program, a master's degree in educational administration can fall under any of the following titles and abbreviations:

• Master of Science in Education (MSEd)
• Master of Arts in Education (MAEd)
• Master of Education (MEd or EdM)
• Master of Science for Professional Educators (MSPE)

To determine the program that's right for you, take some time to explore the options, define your goals, and create a final list of schools that meet your requirements. The following guide takes you through the research and application process.

How to Choose a Program

With the number of traditional and online master's degree programs increasing each year, the abundance of choices can feel overwhelming. By planning ahead and being thorough in your search, you can avoid unnecessary stress and feel confident in your final program choice.

Step 1: Make a Comprehensive List

The first step in researching master's degree in educational administration programs is performing a thorough search of options through websites like the U.S. News and World Report and WorldWideLearn.com. Once you discover what programs exist, you can make a preliminary list of programs that meet your basic requirements:

• Accreditation: Accreditation is a stamp of approval given to schools by private accrediting agencies. These agencies use an established set of criteria to evaluate schools and programs for quality and effectiveness. While not all schools seek accreditation, you should be cautious when applying to unaccredited programs. You can see if a program is accredited using the U.S. Department of Education's searchable Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
• Educational Format: Taking your schedule and career goals into account, you can determine whether an online, campus, or combination (hybrid) program is right for you. While you're pursuing your master's degree, to you plan to work full time or attend school as a full-time student? Students with full-time jobs often choose to earn a master's degree online rather than attend a traditional, campus program. Online degree programs cater especially to working students by provding flexible class and program options. If you have the resources and flexibility to attend school full time, a campus program could be a good fit. As a full-time student, you would have time to take advantage of all that a campus program has to offer, such as a community of scholars and top-notch facility.
• Career Goals: If you're looking to become a principal, school district official, or other school administrator at the elementary or secondary level, you can choose to earn a master's degree online and enhance your education without sacrificing work experience. A campus program works especially well for professionals seeking a position in higher education as a professor, researcher, or top-level administrator. By studying at a college or university, future postsecondary administrators can make valuable connections and familiarize themselves with campus life.
• Location: A school's location is important when considering campus or hybrid programs. Do you need to find a school in your area, or are you willing to move for the right program?

Once you have a list of master's degree programs that meet your basic requirements, you can refine this list based on your interests and the offerings of each school.

Step 2: Narrow Your Focus

The field of educational administration has multiple specializations and career paths and your next step is to define your area of interest and filter your list of schools accordingly. Whether you want to become a high-school principal or oversee mathematics in an entire school district, a master's degree program within educational administration is available to suit your needs. The following are common educational administration specializations:

Educational Leadership
Master's degrees in Educational Leadership prepare students to lead academic institutions and work as policy advisors in education nonprofits and government agencies. Many principals, headmasters, and school district superintendents have a master's degree in Educational Leadership, and they use their knowledge to promote effectiveness and equality throughout the education system. Courses in an educational leadership program include organization analysis in education, resource allocation for student achievement, ethics in education, school finance, and political policy analysis in education.

Educational Policy and Management
Educational Policy and Management (EPM) focuses on the public school system and how government policy can both benefit and hinder schools. Students learn how the current education system works, and they research ways to promote educational equality. Graduates of EPM master's degree programs go on to work for education nonprofits, think-tanks, government agencies, schools, and school districts.

International Education Policy and Management
A master's degree in International Education Policy and Management (IEPM) studies educational policies across countries and highlights education's role in economic development. Students of IEPM programs are dedicated to promoting education around the world, and they study how other countries' policies differ from our own. IEPM courses include a combination of school leadership, educational policy, public policy, and economics to give school leaders a global perspective.

Higher Education Administration
Students interested in becoming administrators at colleges, universities, or other postsecondary institutions should consider a master's degree in higher education administration. Because higher education institutions run differently from elementary and secondary schools, a specialized master's degree ensures knowledge of relevant policies and procedures. Specialties within Higher Education Administration include institutional advancement, student affairs, and general administration.

Once you've determined your area of interest, use school websites and admissions counselors to determine which schools on your list offer the programs you're interested in. Many of these programs are available through grad schools that allow you to earn a master's degree online without leaving the workforce.

Step 3: Finalize Your List

By Step 3, you should have a list of schools that both meet your basic requirements and cater to your specific interests within educational administration. Now it's time to reduce the list one more time and make a final decision about which schools to apply to. Keep in mind that each application requires time and money, so you can benefit from reducing your list to a conservative number of schools. The following factors can help you make the final decision:

• Faculty: A graduate program is only as strong as its faculty, so make sure each program you apply to has instructors and professors you're eager to learn from. School websites, admissions counselors, and academic search engines can help you research a professor's publication history and area of expertise.
• Program History: Use school websites, information packets, and admissions officers to find out how long a school's educational administration program has existed. While new programs can be strong, established programs offer peace of mind with their steady funding and proven track record.
• Reputation: A school's reputation can alert you to its strengths and weaknesses as well as influence future employers, so be sure to ask others in your industry about each program you're considering.
• Graduation and Placement Rate: Admissions and alumni officers can often provide data about the employment rate and career paths of former students. Note which programs have graduates entering your field of interest.
• Funding: Funding is essential to a program's facilities, financial aid options, and course offerings, so take some time to determine the funding level of each school on your list. You can get a sense of a school's funding by talking to the financial aid office about available grants and visiting the school's campus.
• Acceptance Rate: While you may be tempted to apply only to schools with the best faculty, reputation, funding, and graduate success rate, you must also consider the acceptance rate for each program. Some of the country's best-ranked programs are also the most difficult to get into, so check with admissions counselors to determine the average qualifications of admitted students. Taking your academic record, employment history, and test scores into account, be sure to apply to 1 or 2 schools you feel confident about getting into.

After considering the above features, make sure your list includes a mix of schools that you would be happy to attend. Now you can begin researching the specific application requirements for each school, noting important due dates and materials.

How to Apply for a Master's Degree in Educational Administration

Each application you submit has several components, so planning ahead is crucial. Ideally, you should give yourself at least 6 months to complete the following general application requirements:

• GRE Testing: Most educational administration master's degree programs require applicants to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE general test includes verbal, math, and writing sections that you can prepare for using GRE study guides or formal prep courses. Depending on your current math and verbal test-taking skills, you should give yourself at least a couple of months to prepare.
• Letters of Recommendations: Graduate school applications generally require applicants to submit 2 to 3 letters of recommendations from former teachers, employers, or coworkers. These letters should be thoughtful and may vary for each school, so be sure to ask your recommenders for their help well ahead of time.
• Request Transcripts: Each master's degree program you apply to needs an official transcript from any postsecondary school you've attended. You must request official transcripts to be sent directly from your undergraduate institution to the graduate schools, so don't wait until the last minute to make your request.
• Personal Statement: Your personal statement (sometimes called a statement of purpose) is a 1 to 2-page essay explaining why you want to earn a master's degree from a specific school. The personal statement is a chance for you to reveal strengths not covered by your transcripts and test scores, so take your time drafting and revising each statement. Although it can be time consuming, each personal statement should be tailored to the school it's being sent to.

The above materials are likely to be required for each master's degree in educational administration program you apply to, but applications can differ from one another slightly. Planning ahead and reading each application carefully can help you avoid any oversights or last-minute stress.

Aiming for a Career in Educational Administration

Principals, head masters, school district officials, educational policy makers, and postsecondary administrators work every day to improve the educational system around them. As an educational administrator, you wear multiple hats as you try to run a school or improve policy, and a master's degree in educational administration can give you the training you need. With an abundance of online degree programs and the ability to earn a master's degree online, it's never too late to take your education career to the next level. You can make a difference in students' lives, and a master's degree in educational administration can show you how.

Sources

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Education Administrators
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2008 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
• Columbia Teacher's College, Education Leadership
• Harvard Graduate School of Education, Education Policy and Management
• Harvard Graduate School of Education, International Education Policy
• Stanford University School of Education, Application Requirements
• U.S. Department of Education, Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs
• U.S. News and World Report, Education Administration and Supervision Rankings
• Vanderbilt Peabody College, Higher Education Administration
• Vanderbilt Peabody College, International Education Policy and Management

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