Teacher Leadership, M.Ed.

The Master’s Degree (M.Ed.) in Teacher Leadership and Educational Leadership is a cohort experience designed to provide candidates with the content knowledge and credentials necessary to effectively lead schools through an integrated lens of leadership. At the conclusion of the program, candidates will possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to effectively lead educational organizations to higher levels of achievement for all students as both teacher leaders and building leaders.  

Applicants admitted to this program will take two 3-hour courses per semester and the 30-hour sequence will be completed in 5 semesters. Applicants will select one of three sequenced elective concentrations: Coaching for Performance, Leadership in Rural Schools, or Leadership in Urban Schools. After completing the degree and passing the Educational Leadership GACE and Teacher Leadership GACE, candidates will be eligible to add the Tier I Leadership field and Teacher Leadership service field to their educator certificate. All fields including teaching fields will upgrade to a Level 5 (T5, L5 and S5). This program is in accordance with teacher leadership standards and educational leadership standards and outcomes required for licensure by the GaPSC. 

Admission Requirements 

The following are program-specific requirements beyond the general Graduate Admissions requirements. To be considered for admission to this program, the following application materials must be submitted to the KSU Graduate Admissions Office:

• Employment role in an organization providing educational services*  

• Admissions Portfolio 

  • Professional Resume 

  • Recommendation Form from school system administrator or designee 

  • Dual Certification Mentor Form Packet 

    • EDL Mentor Form demonstrating that the mentor is actively employed in a leadership position in a P-12 school or LUA and holds a clear, renewable PSC Leadership Tier I (FLD700) or Leadership Tier II (FLD710) Certificate Field.  

    • TLED Mentor Form with mentor holding clear, renewable PSC Teacher, Service and/or Leadership Certificate. 

    • One mentor can serve in both roles provided that they meet the requirements of each certification (EDL and TLED) 

• Evidence of at least one year of teaching experience 

• GACE Leadership Ethic Assessment Completion Certificate 

• Clear Renewable Georgia Educator Certificate** 

* Candidates are required to be employed as teachers or administrators in a traditional public school district, a charter school district, a charter school, or an independent school. By PSC regulation, candidates must be referred for admissions by their respective schools/districts, and Kennesaw State University must hold a Performance-Based partnership with the referring district. 

** Individuals from out of state who are not seeking Georgia certification are strongly advised to contact their respective state licensing agency to determine if this program curriculum meets the requirements in their state. 

Admission Criteria for Unique Cases: 

Students classified as non-degree students are not permitted to enroll in the M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership and Educational Leadership. This program will not provide graduate level course work for certification renewal purposes.  

Transfer Credit 

Requests for transfer credit for graduate courses taken at other accredited institutions must be evaluated and approved by the program coordinator or department chair and by the registrar. A maximum of six semester hours of transfer credit (with grades of “B” or higher) may be applied toward a degree program.  No courses will be accepted for transfer credit if they are more than five years old at the time of evaluation or have been used in completing another degree. 

Not all programs are available to residents in all states. Please check the institution's State Authorization and Professional Licensure website(s) to ensure you reside in an authorized state.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Georgia Professional Standards Commission