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What to Expect From an Educational Administration Degree

Posted by Missouri Baptist University on Apr 2, 2020 4:00:12 PM

As a teacher, you can impact the lives of hundreds over the course of a career, one class at a time. That impact expands across an entire school or even a district when you, as a passionate teacher, step into an administrative or leadership role. As an administrator, you have the opportunity to set forth positive change on a broader scale and make a difference not just in the lives of students, but staff and faculty as well. At Missouri Baptist University, we've created a 100% online MEA program that can work around your busy schedule and lifestyle, allowing you to earn your degree in as few as 18 months.

Career Outlook

These essential leadership roles are also in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of elementary, middle, and high school principals and  is projected to grow 4 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations, creating 11,200 new employment opportunities.1

Principal

As an elementary or secondary principal, you will oversee all school operations, including daily school activities. Coordinate curriculums, manage staff and provide a safe and productive learning environment for students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median salary for K-12 principals is $95,310.1

Elementary & Secondary School Principal Tasks:

  • Oversee school administration, curriculum, programs, services, and resources.
  • Communicate school goals, vision, and needs to teachers, parents, the community, and the school board.
  • Establish academic and behavioral standards for students and administer student discipline.
  • Ensure compliance with all laws, implement emergency plans, and establish safety regulations.
  • Hire, supervise, and evaluate school teaching staff, administrative staff, kitchen staff, and custodians.

Superintendent

As a superintendent, you will oversee all aspects of the district's operational policies, objectives, initiatives. As well as to direct and manage a school district. Other responsibilities may include to create functional strategies and specific objectives for the district  and develop budgets, policies and procedures. The average annual salary for a superintendent is $161,900.2

Provost / Chief academic officer

Provost develops academic policies and programs for a college or university. Directs and coordinates activities of deans and chairpersons of individual colleges. Being a Provost advises on personnel matters. Determines scheduling of courses and recommends implementation of additional courses. The average annual salary for a provost is $148,693.2

Educational administration courses

MBU’s program is designed to meet the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requirements for certification as a K – 12 building-level administrator (principal). Here's a glimpse into the types of courses you'll encounter: 

  • Legal Issues in Regular and Special Education: This course provides a study of the educational issues in school law and court cases that have impacted American education as we know it today. A historical perspective of school law will be presented along with selected issues in school law with an emphasis on those having a direct impact at the school-building level. Topics to be examined include a historical overview of educational governance, schools and the state, students and the law, teachers and the law, school desegregation, individuals with disabilities and the law, school finance issues and laws, and educator and school district liability.

  • Perspectives on Diversity in Education: This course is designed to give education professionals a better understanding of the theoretical foundations of multicultural education as well as current practices in this field. This is a systematic study of what transpires in intercultural contacts and interactions within the educational setting when the communication process involves culturally diverse people. The diversities on which we will focus will include race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, personality/temperament, gender, religion, and communication styles.

  • Educational Administration Communication: This course will cover comprehensive communications principles and the spectrum of forces that a principal may encounter in the performance of the duties and responsibilities of this important building-level leadership role. The course will expose the graduate student to the importance of written and oral communications skills needed to be effective when dealing with internal and external forces that include, but are not limited to, individuals, school groups, community leaders and stakeholders, radio, television, newspaper, and other publications.

  • Basic Finances and Facilities Management: This course examines building level finances, including budget preparation, the impact of tax levies and bond issues on building capital improvement projects, and operating costs. This course also examines the role and responsibilities of the principal in managing the school building facilities.

  • Data Analytics and Technology for Administrators: This course is designed to help the building leader be able to model technology integration in the teaching-learning process and to understand the power of technology in gathering, analyzing, and presenting data. The principal must be able to identify, use, evaluate, and promote appropriate technologies to enhance and support instruction. Too, the education leader today must understand the social, legal, and ethical issues surrounding technology.

These courses are part of the required core for the Master of Educational Administration.

Take the next step!

At MBU, we are committed to providing strong academic programs with a focus on integrating personal faith into education. Throughout your academic journey, MBU helps you keep Christ at the center of your life while earning a career-advancing degree. Do you want to learn more this online graduate degree at Missouri Baptist University, please contact Emily Blackford at 314.704.5078 or Emily.Blackford@mobap.edu.

 

 

1Retrieved on March 24, 2020, from www.bls.gov/ooh/management/elementary-middle-and-high-school-principals.htm

2 Retrieved on April 2, 2020, from https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/provost-salary 

Topics: Missouri Baptist Online, Online graduate degrees