What you will study
Expert UCM faculty designed our Educational Leadership - Superintendent degree for
educators who already have an advanced degree in leadership and are seeking the knowledge
and certification they need to pursue a career as a district superintendent or work
in a district central office. UCM’s Educational Leadership program curriculum covers
all facets of leadership, including administration and supervision, curriculum assessment,
data analysis, finance and law.
In addition to the core educational leadership curriculum, you’ll complete coursework
focused specifically on the competencies that superintendents need, including:
- School Personnel Administration
- School District Administration
- Advanced School Finance
- School Facilities
- Politics and School Leadership
At the end of the graduate program, you’ll apply what you’ve learned during a year-long
practicum in school administration at the district level, giving you first-hand experience
for what it takes to be a successful superintendent of schools. Your coursework and
practicum will challenge you to apply your learning in a real-world environment, ensuring
that you’re prepared to solve whatever challenges you’ll face in the future.
Excellence in Educational Leadership
- Top 15%: Most Focused Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 6%: Most Popular Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
Unique learning opportunities in educational leadership
At the University of Central Missouri, we focus on providing a variety of ways for
you to engage with faculty, local school leaders and fellow classmates through applied
learning experiences. You’ll have plenty of chances to put your knowledge into action,
giving you a better understanding of the challenges that a superintendent of schools
faces and preparing you to lead a school district.
Through coursework and projects, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the legal,
educational and operational aspects of district leadership. You’ll also develop the
skills needed to become the transformational leader needed in districts today. At
the end of the program, you’ll apply what you’ve learned to real-life scenarios during
a year-long practicum. You’ll work with a school administration to identify challenges
and develop effective solutions that create meaningful change.
Collaborative Principals Preparation Program
UCM partners with 14 Kansas City area suburban school districts in the Cooperative
Principals Preparation Program. Students must be recommended by their district for
this leadership program. The CPPP is a two-year cohort program offered at UCM Summit
Center (Lee’s Summit, MO). The program includes district mentoring, high quality professional
development, and intensive leadership development.
What can you do with an Educational Leadership degree for Superintendents from UCM?
Our Superintendent degree prepares you for state certification, equipping you with
the knowledge and credentials you need to pursue advanced leadership positions within
your school district or elsewhere. Be prepared to excel in challenging leadership
roles such as principal or a range of central office positions, including superintendent.
If you plan to pursue a doctoral degree before becoming a superintendent of schools,
your UCM degree will prepare you to excel in a doctorate program and a meaningful
career as a superintendent or other school leader.
Career outlook for educational leadership and superintendents
Use the tool below to discover career possibilities in educational leadership and
view salary potential, employment trends and other career data.
Financial assistance options for your Education Specialist - Superintendent degree
Completing your Education Specialist degree is an investment in your future. At the
University of Central Missouri, we strive to keep education affordable by offering
a regionally recognized degree at a lower-than-average cost — we’re recognized as
a Best Value College by U.S. News & World Report and we’re one of LendEDU’s top-ranked
universities for low student debt. We also offer a variety of ways to finance your college education, including scholarships, grants and awards.
UCM awards dozens of graduate scholarships each year, and the College of Education
offers two scholarships specifically for our Educational Leadership students:
- School Administration Scholarship
- Dr. John Paul Mees Scholarship
Learn more about program-specific scholarships by using the .
Meet H. Newkirk
EdS Educational Leadership ’22 - Special Education Director
“I loved being able to converse with other leaders around the state, professors who
have already done these jobs and current leaders who came in to be guest speakers.”
Facilities Designed for Collaboration
Missouri Innovation Campus
Attend classes at our Missouri Innovation Campus in Lee’s Summit, just a short drive
from Kansas City. This state-of-the-art facility was built with collaboration in mind.
Through a partnership with the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District, we built this innovative
learning environment with dedicated spaces for team projects and collaboration.
Experienced Faculty
Real-world educators
All of our Educational Leadership program faculty are experienced teachers and school
leaders. Their varied experience and ongoing research means they understand the modern
challenges of school leadership and can provide the guidance and support you need
to succeed.
Meet Our Faculty
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