Ed.S. in Educational Administration

EAL Banner

Accepting Applications for 2025 Cohort!
June 15, 2025 Decision Deadline
Nominate an outstanding educator (or yourself) to our program!

Affiliate Faculty Teaching Excellence


Request more informationApply Now

Overview

The Ed.S in Educational Administration is now accepting applications for 2025. This 30 credit hour and cohort based post master’s degree prepares aspiring school leaders to the helm of 21st century schools by providing in-depth contemporary education issues coupled with a Clinical Leadership model. This format will allow students to utilize hands-on skills to address challenges in K-12 education like never before.

Learn more about the program!

Program Highlights:

  • Lower cost and bundled tuition and fees - all textbooks and materials included!
  • Hybrid delivery model
  • Embedded clinical field work
  • Leads to certification in Principalship and Supervisor of Instruction
  • Rank I Eligible

Questions?

Contact Debbie Powers,Ed.D debbie.powers@louisville.edu or 502-852-6428.

Facebook Logo    Twitter Logo

Related Information

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

Curriculum

Accepting Applications for 2025 Cohort!

Degree Requirements

Application Deadline

Application deadline is May 15, 2025

The Ed.S in Educational Administration program is accepting applications now for the Fall 2025 cohort. Seats are limited. Based on the redesign of the program, we encourage you to apply now and reserve your seat for this 21st century program. For more information about the exciting changes coming, contact Dr. Debbie Powers.

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.

    Please have transcripts sent to:
    School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies
    University of Louisville
    Louisville, KY 40292

    If transcripts are sent electronically,
    please have them sent to the following e-mail: gradadm @ louisville.edu

  • 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 must also include:
  • Students for whom English is not their primary language must show English language proficiency by successfully completing one of the following: Note: International students who have earned a degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. are not required to complete the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo.
  • 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 Educational Leadership, Evaluation and Organizational Development and district personnel.

This program is open to all eligible faculty, staff, and students regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.

Contact Us

Debbie Powers, Ed.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Educational Leadership, Evaluation, & Organizational Development
The University of Louisville
1905 South 1st Street
Porter Building, Room 369
Louisville, Kentucky 40292
(502) 852-6428
debbie.powers@louisville.edu

Educational Administration Faculty

Kyle Ingle William Kyle Ingle (Ph.D., Florida State University) is an associate professor and assistant chair in the Department of Educational Leadership, Evaluation, and Organizational Development at the University of Louisville. He currently serves as the director of the Ph.D. program in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development. Prior to his current academic appointment, Dr. Ingle served as associate professor at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Ohio. Before beginning his doctoral studies, Dr. Ingle was employed by the Jackson County (Mississippi) School District. His research interests include human resource functions in education, the politics of education, and economic evaluations of education programs. His research has been published in journals such as the American Educational Research Journal, American Journal of Education, Educational Administration Quarterly, Education Finance and Policy, Educational Policy, Leadership and Policy in Schools, Policy Studies Journal, School Business Affairs, Journal of Educational Administration, Journal of Education Finance, Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership, Journal of Research on Leadership Education, Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, Education and Urban Society, and the Journal of Education Policy.

Mary Brydon-Miller Mary Brydon-Miller, Ph.D. is Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, Evaluation, and Organizational Development in the College of Education and Human Development, University of Louisville. She is a participatory action researcher who conducts work in both school and community settings. She is the editor, with David Coghlan, of the SAGE Encyclopedia of Action Research and recently completed work on Ethics in Participatory Research for Health and Social Well-Being: Cases and Commentaries with her colleague Sarah Banks from Durham University in the United Kingdom. She is currently working with middle-school students from around the world to better understand the impacts of climate change.

Jason Immekus Jason Immekus, PhD is Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, Evaluation, and Organizational Development in the College of Education and Human Development, University of Louisville. He was recently awarded the 2019 Cutting Edge Research Award from the Association of Human Research Development and, is the Co-Chief Editor for Frontiers in Education, Quantitative Psychology and Measurement.

Learn more about our program faculty.

Opportunities for Graduates

Kentucky Educator Placement Service

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

  • Principal
  • Supervisor of Instruction

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.

Return on Investment

Return on Investment [PDF]

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 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.