Dec 04, 2024  
2024 - 2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024 - 2025 Graduate Catalog

Educational Leadership, M.S.Ed.


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Description and Goals

The M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership prepares professional educators for leadership roles in educational settings. The program contributes to the intellectual and professional growth of practicing educators through a challenging and supportive course of study that respects and builds upon their experiences in the field. The cohesive student-centered program models excellence in education through rigorous coursework and faculty mentoring of research and practice. The 33-credit program, including a 12-credit concentration, helps competent teachers become effective educational leaders.

The program is offered in a cohort format. Students are typically admitted to a cohort each May. Participants are expected to progress through the degree program with their cohort. Completion of the degree takes two to three years.

The program culminates with the execution of an action research project or Internship in School Leadership. The project focus is on classroom practice or school improvement and includes planning, intervention strategies, data collection and analysis, and the production of a professional report supported by a presentation to faculty and peers. The project takes place during the final two courses.

The program delivery will entail face-to-face instruction in a compressed format, blended courses (partially online and partially face-to- face), and 100% online courses. Approximately 30% of the program will be delivered through face-to-face instruction and 70% will be delivered using distance technology tools.

Field-based Research

All students will participate in field-based projects to develop the skills of independent research. Unfaulty, staff, and students who intend to conduct projects involving human participants must seek approval (or an exemption) from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB is the administrative and decision-making body having responsibility for review and approval of research involving human subjects. Before any research involving human subjects can be initiated, it must be submitted to the IRB for review and approval. Guidelines for preparing and submitting a proposal to the IRB are located at​​ http://irb.umf.maine.edu/​.

Campus Technology Tools

Students are expected to use the following campus technology tools:

  • My Campus, the UMF web portal, from which you will be able to log into the sites listed below, as well as Mantor Library, Tk20 (the university assessment database) and ​UMS Academy​ (online training resources).
  • Maine Street, the software where demographic information is stored, registration occurs and grades can be seen.
  • Brightspace, the learning management system used for hybrid and online courses.
  • University email.

 

Required Courses


*Students with a concentration in Administration may choose to enroll in EDU 554 - Internship in School Leadership   ​or​ EDU 586 - Applied Educational Research   and EDU 587 - Applied Educational Research II 

Concentration Courses


Each student completes a 15-credit concentration appropriate for his/her interests. Concentrations maybe in the following areas:

  • Administration
  • Educational Technology (in partnership with UMaine and University of Southern Maine)
  • English Language Learning
  • Gifted and Talented Education
  • Math Coaching K-8
  • Math Intervention Specialist
  • Mathematics Leadership
  • Special Education Administration
  • Special Education K-6
  • Special Education 6-12
  • Systems of Student Support

A student may design an Individualized Concentration to focus in-depth on a single topic of interest or potentially combine disciplines in a professionally meaningful way. The concentration should therefore represent depth of knowledge and new ideas. A student will propose a title, description focus, and list of four concentration courses. The coursework must be taught by at least two different instructors. The Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education approves Individualized Concentrations.

Minimum Total Credits for the Degree: 33 Credits


Admission Requirements


Admission Requirements

A student may apply to begin the three-year program with concentration courses during their first year of professional educational experience.

To apply for the Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership, an applicant must:

  • have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. (A foreign degree must be validated by the World Educational Services, Center for Educational Documentation, Inc., or other appropriate agency. The decision to accept the degree is made on a case-by-case basis by the Associate Dean);
  • be employed or seeking employment as a classroom teacher or other education professional.

Notes

  • A student may petition to begin a two-year program during their first year of professional educational experience by submitting a supplemental essay (not to exceed 500 words). The essay should articulate his/her preparation for graduate study, organizational skills, and other relevant experiences.
  • Maine Department of Certification Requirements may be different than degree requirements. All applicants should consult Certification Office for specifics

Application

Application is made online at https://www.umf.maine.edu/grad-studies/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2019/10/Application-UMF-MSEd-in-Ed-Leadership.pdf.

Required supplemental materials include:

  • Application essay;
  • Two recommendations using the M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership recommendation form;
  • Official transcript(s) of undergraduate degree(s) (including UMF) and all graduate work;
  • Copy of certification or license, when appropriate; and
  • A nonrefundable $60 application fee.

Submission of Application

Applications and essays should be emailed as attachments to gradstudies@maine.edu, or sent to the address below. Supplemental materials should be mailed to:

Division of Graduate and Continuing Education
University of Maine at Farmington
111 South Street
Farmington, ME 04938

Admission Decisions

Only completed applications will be reviewed. Admission decisions are made by the Graduate Admissions Committee on a rolling basis until the enrollment cap is reached. Applications received after that point will be considered for the next available cohort.

Immunization Law

Maine state law requires all individuals born after December 31, 1956, who plan to enroll in a degree program or plan to take 12 or more credits, to show proof of immunity against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, and tetanus before registering for classes. Immunization records must be on file with UMF Student Health Services before students will be allowed to register for class.

Transfer of Credit to the Program

A student, with the approval of the Admissions Committee, may transfer up to 9 graduate credits from another institution into his/her academic program; only 3 of these credits may be in the core of the program. Aside from EDU 551 and EDU 582, transfer of credit into the core is not accepted. These credits must have been earned from a regionally accredited institution, within 5 years prior to admission, and with a minimum grade of B (or equivalent). Graduate credits applied toward an undergraduate degree cannot be used toward the master’s degree. Students are required to provide syllabi for transfer credits to determine the appropriateness for UMF’s program.

Student Policies

Student Advisement

Each M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership student will be assigned an academic advisor. The advisor will review student transcripts and registration status to monitor student progress. A student is expected to maintain regular communication with his/her academic advisor.

Degree Completion

Members of a cohort normally will complete the degree in two to three years, including summers. Students must complete the degree within five years from initial date of enrollment, unless approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education because of special circumstances.

Leave of Absence

A student may request a leave of absence, and permission to join a subsequent cohort. These requests must be made in writing using the Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form and signed by the student. The Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education reviews requests.

Progress

A student is expected to make consistent progress towards the degree and maintain regular communication with his/her academic advisor. If a student does not enroll in a course for two terms or receive an approved leave of absence, a space in the program will not be maintained, and the student must reapply.

Deferral Policy

After admission to an M.S.Ed. the program, a student must begin coursework within three terms, or the student will be considered inactive. An inactive student must complete a readmission application if s/he would like to be considered for readmission.

Withdrawal from Program

A student who voluntarily withdraws from the program after beginning coursework may submit a readmission application to be considered again.

Commencement

A master’s degree candidate may participate in the commencement ceremony only if he or she has applied for graduation and been certified to participate by Merrill Center Student Services. Where 3-6 credits remain and completion will be in the summer immediately following commencement, students may participate in commencement. However, the diploma will not be released until after the receipt of the final grades at the end of August. All special circumstances must be approved in advance by the Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education.

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