Teacher Leadership, EdS

Program Description

The Specialist in Education, Teacher Leadership (SETL) degree is designed for teachers who desire to take on leading roles in making decisions in their schools and school districts, in and out of the classroom-teachers who prove themselves to be excellent teachers, committed professionals, and supportive colleagues. The degree is for students who possess a Master’s degree in an education-related field-for example, a Master’s degree in literacy or educational technology, or a Master’s degree in a subject or grade-level field. This degree helps individual teachers improve their teaching while also challenging and deepening their commitments and understandings. The degree is intended for teachers who want to stay in the classroom, want to become are source teacher (or “coach”), or want to become a curriculum specialist. Please note: This Specialist in Education, Teacher Leadership (SETL) degree does not prepare (or certify) teachers to work as a building principal.

The bulk of this degree (18 credit hours) is delivered on-site in a two-year cohort model. Teachers enrolled in this degree will meet with teacher colleagues enrolled in the Master of Teaching and Learning (MATL) degree. Cohorts will identify common needs or concerns, deepen collaboration, and strengthen supportive collegial relationships. Degrees feature an inquiry project-based approach via an action research framework. Each student will choose an emphasis or elective area (12 credit hours-with a wide range of options) and will have direct sustained involvement with MSU Education faculty. Some credit hours from a previous master’s degree may count toward this emphasis or elective area, pending approval by the Program Coordinator and Graduate College.

Some MATL students go on to take our Specialist in Education, Teacher Leadership degree. There is an Accelerated Pathway for such students. See a description of this pathway in the Graduate Catalog, under Specialist in Education, Teacher Leadership.

Program Entrance Requirements

To be admitted to the degree program, the student must complete the application through the Grad CAS system and submit all official college transcripts as well as a written personal statement including reasons for pursuing the program, including desired professional goals. The student must meet Graduate College Admission requirements.

Degree Requirements

Course Requirements Credit Hours: 36

Required Professional Learning Community Courses - 18 Hours (No transfer courses allowed)

First Year (On-Site, cohort based) - Credit Hours: 10

Second Year (On-Site, cohort based) - Credit Hours: 8

Administrative Leadership Area Course - Credit Hours: 3

EAD 751 - Foundations of Educational Leadership

Additional Required Course - Credit Hours: 3

SFR 890 - Field Research and Evaluation

Emphasis/Elective Area - Credit Hours: 12

Students will work with the Program Coordinator to choose an Emphasis Area or series of elective courses totaling 12 credit hours.

Comprehensive Examination

A comprehensive examination must be passed by the candidate before a degree will be granted. The major advisor is primarily responsible for working with faculty members to develop and evaluate the comprehensive examination.

Accelerated Pathway

Students may take an “Accelerated Pathway” to obtain the Specialist in Education, Teacher Leadership (SETL) degree. Students can acquire both a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning (MATL) and the Specialist in Education, Teacher Leadership (SETL) degree in an accelerated program. Students interested in this Accelerated Pathway should contact the Program Coordinator to make sure they qualify and take the right courses. Students in the Accelerated Pathway can count up to nine (9) credit hours taken as part of the MATL degree from within the “Emphasis/Elective Area” toward the Specialist degree’s “Emphasis/Elective Area” credit hour requirements. Please note: This Accelerated Pathway to the SETL degree does not prepare (or certify) teachers to work as a building principal.

To be considered for the Accelerated Pathway, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.50 in at least 16 credit hours of graduate level coursework in an education-related field. Students will be officially admitted to the SETL degree only upon their completion of the MATL degree. All other requirements for admission to the SETL degree, as described above, must also be met.

Total credit hours required for the Accelerated Pathway to the SETL degree is 60 hours.

Students who have previously completed the MATL degree - and who later decide they want the SETL degree - must apply for the SETL degree.