Educational Leadership
WebCT Online Educational Leadership ProgramWelcome to the WebCT Educational Leadership Program!
We are pleased that you are interested in exploring preparation for a leadership position through this Internet-based program in the Program of Educational Leadership at the University of Georgia. The program contains 21 one-semester hour courses plus 3 semester hours of practicum (total 24 semester hours) offered consecutively over a three semester period that provides professional educators the opportunity to prepare for adding a 5-year Non-Renewable Leadership (NL) certificate to their current educator certificate. Requirements for leadership certification include passing the GACE examination with a satisfactory score.
Please review the program description and admission requirements. If you conclude that this program meets your interests and your schedule, complete the application process as soon as possible so we may consider you for admission to the program. If you have questions, please contact the program coordinator as indicated in the Contact section of this website.
NOTE: Because of the large number of qualified students who have been admitted to this program previously, applicants who are admitted during a given semester may have to begin studies approximately one to two semesters after admission. At present cohorts beginning fall 2008 and spring 2009 are fully enrolled. The next available entry point for
participants applying to this program will be summer 2009.
General Information
An individual who currently holds a masters, or higher, degree and a current, Clear Renewable teaching certificate from the State of Georgia and who desires to prepare for a leadership position may apply for admission to this program as a non-degree student. All courses are delivered through the Internet by the University of Georgia WebCT system.
Students are enrolled in seven, one-hour courses, plus a one-hour practicum for each of three consecutive semesters, making a total of 24 semester hours that are required to complete the program. Descriptions of the individual courses are provided on Course List and Description pages of this website.
There is a required campus meeting at the very beginning of the program. In addition, one on-campus meeting is held in Athens during each of the last two semesters of the program. Specific meeting dates are established for each cohort, based on the beginning semester for that group. These meetings address topics that include current issues within the instructional areas, activities required during the practicum and technical procedures for accessing the on-line courses. These Saturday sessions are considered an integral part of the program and attendance is required.
The courses required for this program cannot be included as part of other programs of study leading to degrees.
No prior credit obtained at UGA or any other institution, or program can be used to satisfy the requirements of the leadership preparation program.
Additional information about redesign of the process to prepare and certify Educational Leaders in the state of Georgia can be obtained on the Web at the URL below:
http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherCertification/Documents/Cert_Rules_12_03/505-2-.300.pdf
Requirements for Admission
The admissions process has two components: You must be accepted for admission by both, the Program of Educational Leadership and the University of Georgia Graduate School. Application to the Graduate School does not guarantee admission to the Program of Educational Leadership or to a specific cohort of the leadership preparation program. Applicants must be recommended for admission by the department and then approved for admission by the Graduate School."
The criteria for admission to the program are: (1) a graduate degree from an accredited institution, (2) a current, Clear Renewable teaching certificate, and (3) a completed application, including two official transcripts from the institution where the highest graduate degree was awarded. An admissions test is NOT required.
A maximum of 25 students will be admitted as a cohort each semester. Application packages will be considered in the order in which they are received in complete form (application, fee, transcripts, and a copy of the valid, Clear Renewable teaching certificate). Processing of applications is continuous, but admission for the specific semester requested by the applicant cannot be assured.
Application Procedures
- Go to the Graduate School web site, http://www.grad.uga.edu/. Select "Apply Online!" under the "Admissions" category to begin the application process.
- Follow the directions on this page to begin the Web-based application process.
- If you do not already have a password and pin, create them to begin the process.
- For Degree objective/major, select Educational Leadership - non-degree, online. Enter "for leadership preparation" as the statement of purpose. Submit the application electronically and pay the non- refundable $50.00 application fee.
- Send two official transcripts from the institution awarding the Master's degree to:
Office of Graduate Admissions
The University of Georgia
320 E. Clayton St., Suite 400
Athens, GA 30602-4401
Send a copy of your current, Clear Renewable teacher certificate to:
Ms. Melinda Pass
Online Leadership Program
222 River's Crossing
850 College Station Road
The University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30602-4808
Fees
Fees are the same as for other graduate courses in the department. Students do not pay student activity fees, except for the technology fee. Consult the Bursar's office website at http://www.busfin.uga.edu/bursar for official and current information regarding fees.
Contact Information
If you have questions about the program, contact Dr. Tom Holmes, Program Coordinator, by sending email to ctholmes@uga.edu.
Completion Requirements
Students who enroll in the program are expected to successfully complete the courses within the three-semester sequence, including all course assignments and the practicum. The large number of students who are participating in this program prohibits extensive consideration for students who may wish to complete the studies in a longer time period. Interested applicants should review their personal schedules prior to enrolling in the program.
Frequently Asked Questions About the WebCT Leadership Program
Question: If I apply now, can I be admitted to the cohort that begins next semester?
Answer: Not usually. This program is very attractive to many educators who want to prepare for leadership positions. Current applicants can expect to begin their coursework within two semesters after being admitted.
Question: How many courses must be taken to complete the program?
Answer: There are seven one-hour courses that students take each of three semesters in addition to a one-hour practicum each semester. The total number of courses required is 21 plus three semesters of practicum.
Question: What kinds of work are required in the courses?
Answer: The faculty has planned these courses to be equivalent to those scheduled on campus and to include a similar variety of activities. These include readings, preparation of short analytical papers, development of plans and programs for a school, and other direct activities designed to develop and improve leadership knowledge and skills. Because the preparation provided by this program is primarily for entry-level leadership assignments, the courses focus on the development of knowledge and skills for the building level administrator.
Question: How do I apply?
Answer: Go to the application procedures section of this website and follow the directions listed there.
Question: What about the on-campus meetings?
Answer: These three sessions are scheduled on Saturday mornings in Athens for approximately three to four hours each session. Specific dates are provided to students at the beginning of their cohort. Topics covered during the sessions include practicum and course activities and procedures for using the WebCT system. Face-to-face interaction with the instructors is a significant part of these sessions.
Question: I have had several graduate courses since my master's degree was completed. Can I count those courses toward the requirements of the program? I plan to pursue another degree in the future. Can I count any of these courses toward that degree?
Answer: The response to both questions is negative. No courses previously taken can be substituted for courses in this program nor will any of these courses count toward degree completion in another program at the University of Georgia.
Question: I have received a letter from the Graduate School notifying me that I have been admitted to the program for the semester I indicated on my application. Does that mean I am in that cohort?
Answer: Not necessarily. The Graduate School admits you, based on the date you indicate on your application, but that group may already be filled by students who were accepted before you. You will receive information from the Program Coordinator after the date of the Graduate School letter informing you of your assignment to a specific cohort. Inquire at any time concerning your placement in a cohort.
Course List and Descriptions
EDUL 6010. School Law for Administrators 1 hour.
Essential legal concepts found in the United States and Georgia constitutions, statutes, regulations, and judicial decisions, with emphasis on mastering essential legal knowledge and on applying the law in educational settings.
EDUL 6011. Special Education Law for Administrators 1 hour.
Essential special education law concepts found in the United States and Georgia constitutions, statutes, regulations, and judicial decisions, with emphasis on mastering essential legal knowledge and on applying the law in educational settings.
EDUL 6012 The Law and School Personnel 1 hour.
Significant federal and state laws that impact human resource functions of schools are presented and analyzed.
EDUL 6013. Basic Theories of Educational Administration 1 hour.
Understanding theory and theory construction precedes the systematic study of classical administration theorists, including Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Adam Smith, and John Stuart Mill. Theoretical developments in educational administration include organizational theorists, human relations theorists, behavioral science theorists, and systems theorists. Theories are historically linked with practical applications emphasized.
EDUL 6014. Shared Governance in Schools 1 hour.
This course informs school leaders of political and practical issues in shared decision-making in schools. Roles of school-based councils will be explored in light of recent educational policy.
EDUL 6015. Total Quality Management in Schools 1 hour.
Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management theory designed to create consistency of purpose, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction. Merging many of the traditional management theories, TQM is an effective and practical approach to school restructuring through the use of empowered teams, customer-oriented leadership, and data-driven decision-making.
EDUL 6016. School Personnel Selection and Evaluation 1 hour.
The concepts of staff recruitment, selection, induction, and evaluation are presented and analyzed through readings, paper assignments and other student products.
EDUL 6017. School Staff Development 1 hour.
This course is designed to familiarize school leaders with the activities involved in designing a comprehensive staff development program in K-12 schools. The knowledge base, standards, and theory base of staff development are explored.
EDUL 6019. Techniques for Teacher Observation 1 hour.
This course is designed to acquaint students with the techniques (tools) of teacher observation in order to ensure more successful supervisory classroom visitations. The observation techniques and tools can be adapted to fit more collegial forms of supervision (e.g., peer coaching).
EDUL 6020. Principles of Curriculum Design 1 hour.
This course is an examination of the fundamental principles of curriculum development for K-12 school settings.
EDUL 6021. Principles of Curriculum Evaluation 1 hour.
This course is an examination of the fundamental principles of curriculum evaluation for K-12 school settings.
EDUL 6022. Budgeting and Managing School Accounts 1 hour.
This course provides instruction in the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and monitor a school-level budget which links school goals to resources.
EDUL 6023. Managing Special Education Programs in Schools 1 hour.
This course provides essential knowledge and skills regarding due process, individualized education programs, and evaluation and assessment of exceptional students.
EDUL 6024. Student Discipline in Schools 1 hour.
This course provides essential knowledge and skills regarding the development and implementation of building based/classroom discipline plans in schools.
EDUL 6025. Maintaining and Operating Educational Facilities 1 hour.
This course provides methods and procedures for dealing with problems of maintaining and operating the physical learning environments in schools.
EDUL 6026. Planning for School Improvement1 hour.
Based on current models followed in the school improvement process, this course is acquaints students with developing a plan for improvement that includes analysis of mission statements, gap analysis, and a specific improvement plan to be implemented in a school setting.
EDUL 6027. Managing Student Activity Funds 1 hour.
This course provides instruction in the technical and legal aspects of managing student and other activity funds.
EDAP 8000. Educational Ethics for Administrators 1 hour.
This course provides an introduction to the ethical obligations of educational administrators in the state of Georgia. The purpose is to familiarize students with their ethical obligations as professional educators in the state of Georgia, and to provide a forum for discussion and critical analysis of practical ethical issues that are likely to arise during an educatorÕs tenure. Topics covered in the course include Georgia laws concerning ethical obligations for government employees generally, and educators specifically.
EDAP 7800. Practicum in Educational Leadership (1 hour for each of three semesters)
The practicum occurs simultaneously with program course offerings and provides an immediate opportunity to consider, evaluate, and implement theories of leadership and program operation in an ongoing, operational environment. Students apply concepts learned in educational leadership courses to school and central office leadership activities.
Specific objectives for the practicum are to provide students with opportunities to:
Observe and participate in a variety of diverse activities expected of highly trained educational leaders. Experience administrative assignments they have not previously assumed in their careers. Develop administrative skills necessary to the successful practice of educational leadership. Refine a platform for educational leadership.
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