Online and Distance Learning

Do you want to know about educational leadership online degrees, or perhaps where to study educational leadership at a campus? This page provides information on what is studied in these degrees and where you can study them.

What is special about educational leadership online programs?

It is usually said that leadership is the formulation of a vision and influencing others to follow it, whereas management is the maintenance of the current operations.  But the distinction between leadership and management is not always easy to make in practice.  For example, when the allocation of resources is used strategically to encourage others to follow the strategic plan, then this becomes both leadership and management. 

Educational leadership online degrees, (and variants such as leadership in educational administration) are designed to enhance your expertise and career potential in school and college administration.  Most people who choose this specialization are already licensed teachers or school administrators wishing to further their career in administration.  So the specialization is usually only offered at graduate level, e.g., as an education leadership masters degree, or a PhD educational leadership. 

Finding the schools and programs you want

To browse graduate programs in educational leadership and administration (or educational management and administration) use the search form or the list of schools below.

• University of Phoenix Online
  • MA in Education / Administration and Supervision
  • MA in Education / Teacher Leadership
  • Doctor of Education / Educational Leadership
  • Doctor of Education in Ed. Leadership / Educational Technology

• Capella University
  • MS - Leadership in Educational Administration
  • EdD - Educational Leadership and Management
  • EdS - Leadership in Educational Administration
  • PhD - Counselor Education and Supervision
  • PhD - Leadership in Educational Administration

• Jones International University
  • Education Specialist in K - 12 Leadership
  • M. Ed. in Educational Leadership & Administration
  • M. Ed. in Educational Leadership and Administration: Principal and Administrator Licensure
  • M. Ed. in Higher Education Leadership and Administration

• Grand Canyon University
  • M. Ed. Education Admin with an Organizational Leadership Emphasis
  • Ed. D. in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Behavioral Health
  • Ed. D. in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Effective Schools
  • Ed. D. in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Higher Education Leadership
  • Ed. D. in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Instructional Leadership

• Walden University
  • Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Administrator Leadership for Teaching
  • Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Teacher Leadership

• Abilene Christian University
  • Certificate in the Superintendency
  • Master of Education in Leadership of Learning

• American InterContinental University Online
  • M. Ed. in Leadership in Educational Organizations

• Kaplan University Online
  • MS in Higher Education - College Administration and Leadership

• Strayer University Online
  • M. Ed. Educational Management

• The University of the Rockies Online
  • MA in Psychology - Educational Leadership Specialization
  • Doctor of Psychology - Educational Leadership Specialization

What do the programs cover?

An educational leadership online degree is designed for teachers who are interested in a career as a principal or educational administrator.

A typical masters program might include: education policy analysis, school law, roles and responsibilities of the principal, finance and budgeting, educational psychology, management, community relations, evaluation and assessment, educational technology, and supervision of personnel.  Programs might also include an internship experience in school administration at the principal level and an action research project. 

Educational leadership doctoral programs usually enable you to concentrate on an area of study relevant to your career and interests.

What jobs do the programs prepare you for?

In the United States, educational administrators can work in various instructional settings.  An education leadership degree equips you to pursue a career as a principal of a elementary, middle, or secondary school; academic dean; department chair; or other administrative and leadership position.  Clearly you have more career options with a doctorate educational leadership than with a masters or undergraduate degree.  Typical annual incomes ares hown in the right hand column.

More information about educational leadership online degrees

Check theses related pages:

• Education administration and leadership - to enhance your expertise and career potential in school and college administration and leadership;
• Education administration online - for careers in educational administration, supervision, leadership, and school development;
• Education management online - for senior careers in the operation of educational organizations.

Use this link to find programs and schools near you.

Use the search facility on this site to find more education administration masters programs.

Remember to compare the admission requirements and course content of several schools before you choose a program.

Campus Programs

For those students who feel that online learning and distance education is not for them, the web site also has a section on campus programs. 

You can also search for a program or a school near you.