Program Overview

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) program in Teacher Leadership is designed for certified educators who want to remain in classroom teaching while simultaneously extending their influence beyond the walls of their own classrooms. It addresses the expanded roles and responsibilities of teacher leaders in schools, including data-driven decision making for school improvement, leading professional learning communities, applying research to practice, improving teaching and learning, and collaborating with families and the community.  This 30-hour program includes six credit hours of internship, during which candidates engage in field-based application of their acquired leadership skills.

All educator preparation programs are approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).

Career Opportunities

Upon successful completion of the M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership program, the candidate will be eligible for a Georgia teaching certificate (S-5; the letter "S" indicates that the certificate is in a service, P-12 field and the number "5" indicates that the candidate's highest degree is a master's degree recognized by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission). For more information about applying for a certificate, go to http://www.gapsc.com CSU candidates should contact the Office of Student Advising and Field Experiences at 706-568-2191 with any questions about the application process for certification.

Program of Study

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Area 1 Research
EDUF 6116	Educational Research Methods	3
Area 1 Total		3
Area 2 Teacher Leadership
EDTL 6000	Teacher Leadership Program Orientation	0
EDTL 6155	Diversity and Advocacy in Education	3
EDTL 6156	Developing Teacher Leaders	3
EDTL 6157	Assessment to Improve Teaching and Learning	3
EDTL 6161	Collaborating with Families and the Community	3
EDUF 6117	Adult Learners and Learning	3
EDUL 6129	Supervision of the Learning Environment	3
EDUL 6138	Continuous Improvement in Schools	3
Area 2 Total		21
Area 3 Internship and Capstone
EDTL 6601	Teacher Leadership Internship	1
EDTL 6602	Teacher Leadership Internship	1
EDTL 6603	Teacher Leadership Internship	1
EDTL 6604	Teacher Leadership Internship Capstone	3
Area 3 Total		6
Total Credit Hours		30

Admission Requirements 

• Complete requirements for a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a related field of study.
• A cumulative 2.75 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher on all undergraduate work for regular admission and a cumulative 2.50 (4.0 scale) for provisional admission. A cumulative 3.0 (4.0 scale) grade point average on any transfer graduate work.
• Clear, renewable level 4 or higher induction or professional teaching, service, or leadership certificate in any field.
• A personal statement of purpose not to exceed 400 words, which identifies the applicant’s interest in the program and reason for pursuing graduate study.
• Two letters of recommendation, with one being from the candidate’s school system administrator (superintendent) or designee.

How to apply for the fully online program.

Note for out of state students:

If you live outside the state of Georgia, state regulations may limit your distance education options. To find out whether Columbus State University is authorized to deliver specific programs in your state, please email your inquiry to state_authorization@columbusstate.edu. This email address is exclusively for questions regarding state approval of online offerings. Other types of questions should be sent to the academic department offering the online course.

Columbus State University's programs leading to all levels of licensure, endorsement, and professional certification are designed to satisfy the requirements of their respective Georgia boards governing licensure.  CSU does NOT guarantee that these programs will necessarily satisfy the criteria of professional boards in other states or territories. Programs with state licensing requirements may include, but are not limited to, programs in Nursing, Leadership, and Education.  Students from outside of Georgia who are considering a professional program should contact the appropriate board in their state of intended practice prior to beginning a course of study.

Follow the link below for professional licensure contact information by state.

• Education Programs - link to http://www.nasdtec.net/?page=State_DIrectory

Additional Program Requirements

• Students must earn a 3.0 GPA calculated on all graduate work attempted. "Academic Forgiveness" policy does not apply to graduate studies
• Students cannot graduate with a grade of "C" or below in more than two (2) graduate courses
• A minimum of 27 hours of the hours required for the degree must be earned in residence (75%). Asynchronous (online) and distance learning courses administered through Columbus State University constitute courses taken in residence
• A maximum of nine (9) semester hours of transfer credit or courses taken at CSU prior to full admission to a masters degree program may be applied toward the degree. Courses with earned grades of "C" or below cannot be transferred. The student’s advisor and the coordinator of the program in which the student is enrolled must approve any courses transferred
• All degree requirements must be completed within seven (7) years of first enrollment
• All students must complete an electronic portfolio as the culminating project 

Note: For Georgia certification, candidates must satisfactorily complete the state testing requirement for Teacher Leadership; the certificate is a P-12, service field.

An active Tk20 account is a required resource for this program because selected assignments must be submitted electronically using this online platform. Tk20 is used by the university to maintain our accreditation, to demonstrate the quality of our academic programs, and to improve teaching and learning.