Master of Science in Educational Leadership Online
This 100% online program is designed to meet the Florida Principal Leadership Standards and will give you the knowledge and professional skill sets you need to become a leader in your education community—within the public school system or beyond. This versatile degree will prepare you for roles in education, corporations, or government.
Program Overview
Discover STU’s online Master’s in Educational Leadership program
Learn how to review, analyze, and apply concepts and theories of leadership with the 100% online MS in Educational Leadership from St. Thomas University. With no education degree or teaching background required, this versatile program gives you the knowledge and expertise applicable to any educational setting.
The MS in Educational Leadership online program is taught by respected faculty with extensive experience in their fields and offers core courses designed to meet Florida Principal Leadership Standards. This educational leadership program also aligns with the competencies and skills needed to obtain the leadership certification.
In this program you will learn the principles and techniques of effective communication and gain the skills for exercising leadership in human resource administration, school law, and finance. You will also study instructional aspects and curriculum planning for diverse student populations, the role of standardized testing, and research and assessment aimed at performance improvement.
A guided field experience/practicum in a school or alternative education setting embedded in the program helps you apply your learning and prepares you for ethical leadership in a variety of professional settings.
Program Focus
- Demonstrate competency in the leadership skills and competencies embedded in the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, and Community of Care and Support for Students. Cluster 1 of the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders 2015 (S4 & S5) (Shadowing Experience 1).
- Formulate and implement job-embedded projects that demonstrate effective leadership and are based on school/student or alternative site needs and are embedded in the Professional Capacity of School and alternative Personnel, Professional Community for Teachers and Staff and alternative, Meaningful Engagement of Families and Community, and Operations and Management. Cluster 2 of the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders 2015 (S6, S7, S8, & S9) (School-site Mini Project 1).
- Evaluate his/her leadership capacity as it relates to problem solving, implementing change, and ethical decision-making and is embedded in the Mission, Vision and Core Values; Ethics and Professional Norms; and Equity and Cultural Responsiveness. Cluster 3 of the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders 2015 (S1, S2, & S3) (Shadowing Experience 2).
- Synthesize the knowledge, skills and competencies developed during prior courses and overall program experience and embedded in the Domain of School or alternative site Improvement of the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders 2015 (S10) (Shadowing Experience 3).
- Demonstrate competency in the leadership skills and competencies embedded in the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, and Community of Care and Support for Students. Cluster 1 of the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders 2015 (S4 & S5) (Shadowing Experience 1).
- Formulate and implement job-embedded projects that demonstrate effective leadership and are based on school/student or alternative site needs and are embedded in the Professional Capacity of School and alternative Personnel, Professional Community for Teachers and Staff and alternative, Meaningful Engagement of Families and Community, and Operations and Management. Cluster 2 of the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders 2015 (S6, S7, S8, & S9) (School-site Mini Project 1).
- Evaluate his/her leadership capacity as it relates to problem solving, implementing change, and ethical decision-making and is embedded in the Mission, Vision and Core Values; Ethics and Professional Norms; and Equity and Cultural Responsiveness. Cluster 3 of the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders 2015 (S1, S2, & S3) (Shadowing Experience 2).
- Synthesize the knowledge, skills and competencies developed during prior courses and overall program experience and embedded in the Domain of School or alternative site Improvement of the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders 2015 (S10) (Shadowing Experience 3).
Educational Leadership Career Opportunities
- Principal or Vice Principal
- Department Head
- Director of Curriculum
- Athletic Director
- Academic Program Developer
- Technology Director
- Principal or Vice Principal
- Department Head
- Director of Curriculum
- Athletic Director
- Academic Program Developer
- Technology Director
Tuition
Discover our affordable tuition at STU Online
St. Thomas University prides itself on offering a quality private school education at public university prices. Our pay-by-the course tuition for the MS in Educational Leadership online degree program is affordable and priced with the working student in mind. Financial aid may also be available for students who qualify. The e-tuition is the same for both in-state and out-of-state online students. Each course has a technology fee as noted in the below table. The total tuition shown is inclusive of the fees.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS Educational Leadership | $500 | $1,575 | $18,900 |
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
See the schedule for important upcoming dates
The School of Leadership, Education & Communication offers multiple start dates each year for the convenience of our MS in Educational Leadership online students. Students should consider application date deadlines, turn in all the required documents, register for classes, and pay tuition for their desired program start date.
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2 | 6/28/25 | 6/13/25 | 6/18/25 | 6/23/25 | 7/2/25 | 8/8/25 | 6 weeks |
| Fall 1 | 8/23/25 | 8/8/25 | 8/13/25 | 8/18/25 | 8/27/25 | 10/17/25 | 7 weeks |
| Fall 2 | 10/18/25 | 10/3/25 | 10/8/25 | 10/13/25 | 10/22/25 | 12/12/25 | 7 weeks |
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Admissions
Qualifications for our Online MS in Educational Leadership program
The School of Leadership, Education & Communication admission process has specific requirements that students must meet to enroll in the MS in Educational Leadership online program. The following are the admission requirements, including information on required materials and where to send them.
Admission Requirements:
- Free Application
- 2.6 GPA or higher
- No GRE required
MS in Educational Leadership Online Admission Requirements
The following are required for admission to the MS in Educational Leadership online program:
- Completed free application
- Bachelor’s degree transcript (Unofficial transcripts are accepted)
- 2.6 GPA or higher
Official transcripts can be sent to St. Thomas University through Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse. Unofficial transcripts and other documents can be uploaded via your Admissions Portal or emailed to [email protected].
Courses
Read about our MS in Educational Leadership Online classes
To complete the MS in Educational Leadership online program, students must complete the following 12 courses for a total of 36 credit hours.
Courses in this program are seven weeks long. Courses during
the two summer terms, however, are six weeks long.
Learning Outcomes
- Facilitate the needs of diverse populations.
- Monitor student success.
- Implement the theories of teaching curriculum and instruction for diverse student populations.
- Pinpoint alternative definitions of curriculum.
- Articulate limitations affecting curriculum changes in a school system and the limitations within which curriculum workers must function.
Learning Outcomes
- Examine and encourage the most effective and appropriate technologies to support teaching and learning in a school environment.
- Observe and assess school management and operational systems.
- Efficiently utilize human, fiscal, and technological resources to manage school operations.
- Collaborate with faculty and community members by collecting and assessing information relevant to the improvement of the school's environment.
- Employ effective ways to mobilize community resources by encouraging an understanding, appreciation, and use of diverse cultural, social, and intellectual resources.
- Predict and evaluate new trends and initiatives to adapt school-based leadership strategies.
STU is ranked #80 in the “Best Regional Universities South” by U.S. News & World Report, 2022
