Ed.S. in Educational Administration

CEHD Aspiring Superintendent Academies I and II [PDF]

The academies are one-time, non-traditional experiences for talented, motivated administrators who want to complete 12 hours of superintendent certification.

Under a new state law, requirements for principal certification have changed. Principal certification is now a post-master's program.

The candidate's admission packet must demonstrate his/her skills and understanding of the following: ability to improve student achievement, leadership, and advanced knowledge of curriculum, instruction and assessment. Candidates applying for admission are jointly screened by both the University of Louisville faculty and local school district personnel. The screening process will also include an interview. Fall application deadline is April 1.

The EdS in Educational Administration program will no longer consider applicants for the spring or summer terms. Please contact Aaron Phillips at: 502-852-3214 if you wish to apply after the April 1st deadline for the fall semester.

The Ed.S. (Education Specialist) degree in Educational Administration is a 30 hour post-master's program. It can lead to certification in principalship, supervisor of instruction, and Director of Special Education.

The Ed.S. program is designed to prepare school leaders to engage staff, improve the instructional capacity of schools, and deal effectively with the educational challenges of the 21st century.

The goal of the Ed.S. program is to provide field experience, clinical practice, and conceptual and theoretical knowledge necessary for roles in instructional leadership. The Department of Leadership, Foundations and Human Resource Education (ELFH) maintains a strong collaboration with school districts in preparing exemplary P-12 school administrators.

Certifications Offered

  • Principalship
  • Supervisor of Instruction
  • Director of Special Education
  • Superintendent

Programs Offered

In addition to the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree, the ELFH Department offers the Ed.D. and Ph.D programs. Alternative certification programs are also available for principalship and superintendent.

Related Information

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester - April 1

The EdS in Educational Administration program will no longer consider applicants for the spring or summer terms. Please contact Aaron Phillips at: 502-852-3214 if you wish to apply after the April 1st deadline for the fall semester.

How to Apply

  • Submission of an online application to UofL's School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. A 3.3 grade point average in the master's degree is required.
  • For GRE scores prior to August 1, 2011, a minimum combined (verbal and quantitative) score of an 900 (Verbal: 147 and Quantitative: 143) is required for unconditional admission. For GRE scores taken August 1, 2011 and after, please refer to the concordance table from ETS (Educational Testing Services) [PDF] for revised score equivalencies. Need help preparing for the GRE? Sign up for a GRE Information Session.
  • Two written letters of recommendation (in addition to the graduate admission recommendation forms) attesting to the candidate's skills and understanding of a) ability to improve student achievement, b) leadership, c) advanced knowledge of curriculum, instruction and assessment. One letter of recommendation must be from the applicant's current site supervisor. The other recommendation may be from a school counselor, assistant principal or other professional familiar with the applicant's work.
  • Application packet must also include:
  • Three years of successful K-12 teaching experience in Kentucky (including successful completion of the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program) or three years (one year = a minimum of 140 contract days) of successful K-12 teaching experience outside the state of Kentucky
  • Joint screening by the Department of Leadership, Foundations and Human Resource Education and district personnel.

Ed.S. Program Sheet [PDF]

Contact Us

Learn more about our program faculty.

Department of Leadership, Foundations & Human Resource Education
College of Education & Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
502-852-6475
Kelly Ising, Administrative Assistant

Educational Administration Faculty

Opportunities for Graduates

P-12 School and District Administration in the following certification areas:

  • Principal
  • Supervisor of Instruction
  • Director of Special Education
  • School Superintendent

Financial Aid

For general information on financial aid resources, please visit the University of Louisville's Student Financial Aid Office web site.

The CEHD has its own web pages dedicated to financial aid that contains some extra information not listed here.

CEHD Scholarships

The CEHD has a long history of offering scholarships to prospective and current students pursuing an education degree program. The CEHD provides over $225,000 annually and selects recipients three times a year. Scholarship selection is competitive and applies to tuition only. Apply online for a CEHD scholarship before the deadline (March 1st, June 1st and/or October 1st). Applicants should expect notification four to five weeks after the posted deadline.

Supervising and Resource Teachers

In recognition of valuable service to the preparation of teachers and the need for all teachers to have continual professional growth, a supervising teacher or a resource teacher for teacher interns may, with prior approval of the course-offering institution, take a maximum of six (6) credit hours per term at any public postsecondary institution and pay no tuition. The postsecondary institution shall waive the tuition up to a maximum of six (6) credit hours.

To apply, you must complete the Tuition Waiver Certification for Supervising and Resource Teachers Application [PDF]. It should be completed by the supervising teacher, certified by their principal, and returned to our office. Return the form to the Student Financial Aid Office at U of L, attention: Wesley Partin.

Eligibility: 6 credit hours of tuition benefits for each semester served as a full responsibility supervising or resource teacher, or 3 credit hours of tuition benefits for each semester served as a shared supervising or resource teacher. Students may exercise the tuition waiver option up to twelve months following the assignment. Tuition benefits are paid directly to the University of Louisville.

1. I have some credit hours from another program/university. Can the credit be transferred?

Once you are admitted to the program, you may request to transfer up to 6 credit hours if your faculty advisor approves the request. Transfer requests are then submitted to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies for final approval.

2. Can I obtain Rank I pay status while enrolled in the Ed.S. program?

An Ed.S. is a 30-hour post-masters degree program which qualifies candidates for a Rank I pay increase.

3. Which master's degree should I pursue before applying to the Ed.S. program?

The administration faculty recommend that you apply to the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Teacher Leadership offered by the Department of Teaching and Learning. This is a new master's program that would be beneficial to someone who aspires to a leadership position. Consult a faculty advisor in the Department of Teaching and Learning for further information.

4. Will I qualify for financial aid while enrolled in the Ed.S. program?

Yes, if you are enrolled in a degree program, you may qualify for financial aid. Check with the Financial Aid Office to verify your specific status with regard to obtaining financial aid while enrolled in the post-master's Ed.S. degree program.

5. Is educational administration certification for any grade level?

Yes, certification in educational administration is a P-12 certification.