Program Overview

The Educational Leadership program prepares educators to serve as leaders in school buildings and in some cases, districts. The emphasis areas focus on effective leadership, curriculum organization and improvement, personnel administration, finance, law, assessment, instructional leadership, and more. Additionally, there is an emphasis on theory to application and relevancy to the practices most important for effective educational leadership.

Why Study Educational Leadership at Grand Valley?

• The program opens up a number of career opportunities for professional educators.
• Faculty members have extensive K-12 teaching and administrative backgrounds.
• The program curriculum provides a high-quality blend of educational theory and practical application in the field.
• Flexible hybrid classes offered evenings, weekends, and during summer make it easier for teachers and administrators to plan their schedules. Some classes are offered in an online format.
• Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

Accreditation

Grand Valley State University's College of Education and Community Innovation is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA). The faculty are leaders in their fields, melding together the philosophy of education and your needs as a practitioner.

Location & Format

Fully online or hybrid program that requires 3 face-to-face meetings per semester.

This program is available in Grand Rapids. Traverse City, and Detroit.

• Hybrid
• Online

Coursework

All Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs require a minimum of 33 semester hours. To receive the M.Ed in Leadership, students must complete the College of Education and Community Innovation foundations requirements and one of the emphasis areas.

Career Options

• P-12 teaching
• School administration
• Special education supervisor
• College level professional and administrative positions

Aside from an M.Ed. degree, other education programs are available. Visit gvsu.edu/education/grad for more information.

Application Deadline

Deadline for fall semester is July 15; winter, November 15; spring/summer, March 15. Early application is strongly encouraged to secure course enrollment. Those applications received after the deadline will be considered on an individual basis and program availability. Late applicants should contact program director Rick Vandermolen, [email protected]. The $30 nonrefundable application fee is waived if you have previously applied to GVSU.

Admission Requirements

• The Education programs have rolling admissions deadlines to ensure maximum flexibility for our applicants
• Up to 9 credit hours can be transferred from other institutions (many institutions only allow up to 6 transfer credits)
• Enrollment begins in mid-March for the following academic year to give students additional time to plan
• GVSU allows you up to 8 years to complete your graduate program (more time than most other institutions)
• You must submit an official transcript from your baccalaureate degree-granting institution

Visit the Education page for criteria and procedures.

International students, please note: This program does not offer enough consecutive physical classroom presence for a student to qualify for an F-1 visa.

Helpful Links

• Scholarships
• Financial Aid
• Tuition & Fees
• The Graduate School
• Education, Special Education Programs
• Education, General Programs
• FAQ

For More Information

gvsu.edu/education/grad
401 Fulton Street West, Building C
(616) 331-6650
Program Contact: Rick Vandermolen, Ed.D., [email protected]

gvsu.edu/education/grad

Rick Vandermolen, Ed.D.
(616) 331-6250