Education Leadership, M.Ed., EC-Grade 12 Accelerated School Leadership Specialization

Degree Requirements

This 40-credit-hour program is designed for working professionals and can be completed within 14 months. Students begin the program in the summer as part of a cohort, taking courses in a prescribed sequence that includes three courses offered during the initial summer, followed by two seven-week modules offered during the fall, two seven-week modules offered during the spring and one four-week module offered during the final summer. Candidates for Principal Certification in the state of Texas must take and pass the TExES Principal Certification Exam and required state training that is delivered via EPL 6140 - Instructional Leadership Development .

While applicants may request consideration for transfer of up to six hours of graduate credit, students should note that this is a cohort program with a tightly structured and integrated design, and it is not likely that traditional three-hour courses will be accepted for transfer. Requests for transfer credit are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Students need to submit a transfer request as soon as they are accepted into the program in order to be considered. Only courses with a grade of B or above can be transferred. Generally, no credit is allowed toward the master’s degree for courses taken more than six years before acceptance into the program.

Admission Requirements

Admission is based on the following criteria; any exceptions to these requirements must have the approval of the academic adviser and department chair:

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
2. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.000 (on a 4.000 scale). Applicants not meeting this requirement must provide proof of other qualifications, such as long-term experience or expertise in a related specialized field, as justification for consideration for admission.
3. For applicants from countries where the predominant language is not English, official scores on the TOEFL English language proficiency test administered by the Educational Testing Service. The minimum verbal score for admission is 26.
4. GRE Requirements:
   • ASLP specialization: The GRE graduate school entry exam is required for students who have an undergraduate GPA lower than 3.000. If needed, scores from the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing sections of the GRE, taken within the last five years. The institution code is 7464 for the Simmons School. For the GRE taken prior to August 1, 2011, preferred scores are 500 or higher for the quantitative reasoning section, 500 or higher for the verbal reasoning section, and 4.5 or higher for the analytical writing section. For the GRE taken after August 1, 2011, preferred scores are 144 or higher for the quantitative reasoning section, 153 or higher for the verbal reasoning section, and 4.5 or higher for the analytical writing section.
   • Urban Leadership specialization: The GRE graduate school entry exam is required for students with a GPA lower than 3.000.  In such cases, the GRE must have been taken within the previous five years and the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing scores must be submitted. The institution code is 7464 for the Simmons School. Alternative graduate testing may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
   • Higher Education specialization: Scores from the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing sections of the GRE graduate school entry exam, taken within the last five years. The institution code is 7464 for the Simmons School. For the GRE taken prior to August 1, 2011, preferred scores are 500 or higher for the Quantitative Reasoning section, 500 or higher for the Verbal Reasoning section, and 4.0 or higher for the Analytical Writing section. For the GRE taken after August 1, 2011, preferred scores are 151 or higher for the Quantitative Reasoning section, 151 or higher for the Verbal Reasoning section, and 4.0 or higher for the Analytical Writing section.
5. Teaching Certification Requirements:
   • ASLP specialization: A valid Texas teacher certification, if interested in principal certification.
   • Urban Leadership specialization: A valid Texas teacher certification, if interested in principal certification.
6. Teaching Experience Requirements:
   • ASLP and Urban Leadership specializations: Two years of teaching experience in an accredited public, private or charter school.
7. Recommendation Requirements:
   • ASLP and Urban Leadership specializations: Recommendations and evidence of a high degree of support from the school of employment.
   • Higher Education specialization: Three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional references.
8. Application Requirements:

• ASLP and Urban Leadership specializations: Evidence of leadership capacity and demonstration of leadership in the applicant’s school.
• Higher Education specialization: An essay and writing sample.
• Urban Leadership specialization: Finalists for the Urban Leadership program must participate in in-depth screening interviews and situational problem-solving activities with the Teaching Trust, SMU’s nonprofit partner in this program, prior to final admission decisions. A contract of commitment with the Teaching Trust to work a specified period of time in select urban school districts is required of candidates for acceptance into the program..