Introduction

The Department of Leadership, Counselor Education, Human and Organizational Development at Clemson University offers a program of graduate study leading to the Master of Education degree in administration and supervision. The University is accredited by NCATE and fulfills the requirements of the South Carolina Department of Education for certification as a school principal and supervisor.

Mission Statement of the Program

We know that educational leadership makes a positive difference in the lives of P-16 students, the practice of instruction, the process of learning and shaping the future wellbeing of the state and nation. Our work is to improve the quality of P-16 education by preparing leaders who develop and use research-based knowledge and practices about institutions, organizations and instruction to create learning communities that improve the performance of all students.

Purpose and Objectives of the Program

In keeping with the overall mission of the School of Education to create caring, capable and connected graduates, all administration and supervision programs are designed to provide students with a strong background in two areas: leadership research and leadership practice. If you are accepted into the program, we will prepare you to meet professional standards and utilize skills needed for effective functioning in a formal leadership capacity in an educational (or related service) organization.

Goals of the Program

Goals for candidates for educational leadership degrees and professional endorsements:

• Create new knowledge which is pertinent to educational leadership across a variety of P-16 institutions and organizations

• Demonstrate knowledge, dispositions and skills of educational leadership

• Apply knowledge, dispositions and skills ethically to ensure educational opportunities for all

• Demonstrate knowledge and application of the dominant, most current research and theory pertaining to educational leadership, including organizational, institutional and instructional theories and research

• Utilize opportunities to work with scholars and expert practitioners through formal and informal opportunities

 

Goals for faculty in educational leadership programs:

• Demonstrate a repertoire of instructional strategies suited to their fields of expertise

• Accommodate candidates’ general needs as adult learners and individual learning requirements due to style, abilities or disabilities

• Engage candidates in active learning of concepts and theories and require immediate application in the field

• Include candidates in ongoing scholarship that expands knowledge about educational leadership, improves teaching and learning and enhances public support for educational institutions

 

Goals for scholarship in educational leadership:

• Faculty work with colleagues and candidates to create a community of scholars focused on the enhancement of teaching and learning and the contributions of educational institutions to their stakeholders

• Faculty continuously seek to fulfill Clemson’s land grant mission through public service and research of benefit to South Carolina, the region and nation

Program of Study

This program incorporates the academic requirements for certification as a principal and supervisor in South Carolina. Thirty-six hours of graduate credit are required, encompassing seven required core courses and five elective courses.

The seven core courses include:

EDL 710 Organization Theory for School Administrators

EDL 720 School Personnel Administration

EDL 725 Legal Phases of School Administration and Supervision

EDL 730 Techniques of Supervision;

EDL 745 School Finance

EDL 750/751 Field Experience in Elementary Administration and Supervision*

EDL 755/756 Field Experience in Secondary Administration and Supervision*

Five additional courses are selected from:

EDL 700 Introduction to Educational Administration

EDL 705 The Principalship

EDL 715 School and Community Relations

EDL 735 Educational Evaluation

EDL 740 Curriculum Planning and Improvement

EDL 795 Leadership Information Systems

EDF 778 Education Research

*You will take three hours of credit at the beginning of the program and three hours of credit near the end of the program

The program involves traditional classwork, online assignments, field-based assignments and interactive learning experiences. A comprehensive written examination is required for graduation and you must complete the program within six years, although most students earn their degrees much more quickly.

Program graduates must meet all certification requirements as set forth by the South Carolina Department of Education. Currently, these include earning an appropriate score on the PRAXIS in educational administration and having three years of successful classroom teaching experience with at least one year at the level of anticipated certification.

Certification/Employment Requirements

Certification/employment requirements vary by state. If you plan to seek certification as a principal/supervisor in South Carolina, you must obtain a passing score on the PRAXIS in educational administration as determined by the state.

Certification as a principal in South Carolina requires completion of three years of successful classroom teaching experience with at least one year at the level of anticipated certification.

In addition, the Educational Improvement Act of 1984 also requires that you undergo an evaluation by the Assessment Center of the State Department of Education before serving as a principal in South Carolina. You may also need to complete other certification forms/requests that are required by the state. The program coordinator will verify the program requirements that you completed at Clemson and will send the recommendation to the state.

Financial Aid

Financial aid in the form of competitive University fellowships is available, as are student loans. For more information about financial aid, visit the financial aid office at http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/finaid.

Applying

For admission to pursue graduate study leading to the MEd degree in administration and supervision, you must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, a minimum of one year teaching experience and admission to the Clemson Graduate School. You must submit an application packet to the Graduate School that includes the following materials:

an online application

official transcripts from prior institutions

two Graduate School recommendation forms (one from your immediate/prior supervisor)

a current resume

a copy of your teaching certificate

GRE score report of verbal, quantitative and writing assessments.

An interview may also be required prior to an admissions decision.

You are encouraged to apply two months prior to the time that you wish to begin taking classes. Soon after admission, you will meet with an advisor to complete form GS2 (Graduate Degree Curriculum) to map program course work.

Faculty Listing

• Mike Campbell, Clinical Professor; PhD, Clemson. Educational leadership.

• Patricia First, ET Moore Endowed Professor of Educational Leadership; EdD, Illinois State. Educational administration.

• Jackson L. Flanigan, Professor; EdD, Virginia Tech. P-12 leadership.

• Lamont Flowers, Professor; PhD, University of Iowa. Higher education.

• Jane C. Lindle, Eugene T. Moore Endowed Professor of Educational Leadership; PhD, Wisconsin-Madison. P-12 leadership.

• Russ Marion, Professor; PhD, North Carolina at Chapel Hill. P-12 leadership.

• Diane Ricciardi, Assistant Professor; PhD, South Carolina. P-12 leadership.

• Frankie Keels Williams, Assistant Professor; PhD, South Carolina. Higher education leadership.

For More Information

Diane Ricciardi, PhD

Program Coordinator

303 Tillman Hall

Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina 29634-0707

Email: pdr@clemson.edu