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A master's in educational leadership online can empower you to lead educational institutions effectively. These graduate programs cover strategic management, educational policy, and innovative instructional practices. You will gain skills in administration, leadership, and organizational development tailored for application within K-12 schools, higher education, and other educational settings. 

An online masters in educational leadership offers advanced skills development in administration, management, and teaching. Students learn to develop policy, support faculty, create curriculum standards, and oversee operations in educational settings. Additional training is provided in partnership development, data analysis, and education law. 

The first step for students pursuing an educational leadership masters is to earn a degree in teaching online or in person. Many programs are designed for licensed professionals who have already started a career in teaching because the coursework often focuses on deepening their existing understanding of organizational processes in school environments. 

Whether it's a master's in education or a master's in teaching, students should ensure their degree comes from an accredited school. This process involves a third-party agency vetting a college's programs, faculty, and overall mission so students can rest assured they are receiving a quality education. All schools featured by OnlineU have been properly accredited.

There are also affordable teaching master's degrees to help advance teaching careers.

It's common for educational leadership master's degrees to offer specializations, otherwise known as concentrations or tracks. Curricula often feature coursework focused on specific areas of interest or professional roles. For example, there are career-minded specializations in principal leadership, school district leadership, and administration that develop leadership, policy, collaboration, and communication skills. Alternatively, students can pursue specializations in niche teaching areas, such as special education or early childhood education. 

Regardless of the specialization, students are still required to take core classes in order to ensure they learn foundational principles, applications, and theories of educational leadership. Students who have already finished their path to becoming a teacher will be familiar with these curricula. The courses below cover advanced training for working professionals seeking leadership positions in this field: 

• Introduction to Educational Leadership: This course is a core part of every curriculum in this field because it establishes an introduction and foundation for the practices, theories, strategies, and characteristics used in educational leadership positions. School law and federal mandates feature prominently as students learn the rules surrounding education systems. They also learn how education professionals build and manage relationships with their communities. 
• School Finance: In this course, students learn how to manage finances for elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools. Coursework explores economic theory, revenue streams, fiscal operations, and financial trends. In addition, students discuss effective and ethical ways of investing public money to improve education. 
• Curriculum Development: A curriculum development course focuses on designing, implementing, and evaluating student learning experiences. From theory to practice, this course looks at all issues related to curriculum design. Students must consider diversity, accountability, and data management as they create personalized curriculums for different education levels.
• Educational Technology: Educational technology teaches the tools, applications, facilities, and software that assist teachers and administrators in organizing and implementing academic operations. While much of this course centers on practical uses of technology, students also learn the educational theories that drive the use of these tools.

Several post-graduate options exist for students who finish an online master's in educational leadership. Those who wish to continue their research or become college professors should pursue a doctorate in educational leadership, where coursework builds on the foundational learning experience of a master's with deeper explorations of research methods, education policy, and leadership practice. 

There are also educational leadership graduate certificates that are much shorter and provide training for career advancement, many of which require practical training through internships. Career options vary by title and include different levels of responsibilities.

The role of an for a college or university is to oversee all operations and services for a school. They assess learning outcomes, manage teachers, update policies, control budgets, and ensure students have the support they need to succeed. This job requires strong analytical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills.

are responsible for managing all day-to-day operations. This includes supporting staff, teachers, and students simultaneously by setting schedules, developing standards, evaluating performances, and providing counseling and disciplinary services. They also coordinate with school boards and district administrators to ensure their facilities have sufficient support. 

work directly with students who have learning disabilities, such as those who have audio or visual impairments or are on the autism spectrum. They implement curriculums, evaluate behavior and performance, create student reports, and establish classroom policies. Their job requires an understanding of special tools and technologies crucial to their unique students' learning outcomes.

The primary responsibilities of revolve around curricula. They create the material, implement it in classrooms, and evaluate its effectiveness. They work with teachers to make sure they have a firm understanding of the material and coordinate with school boards to recommend adjustments to curriculums in their district.

Educational leadership graduates have salaries ranging from average to well above average, depending on the job responsibilities. Roles within the classroom, such as teachers and instructional coordinators, tend to have median salaries of around $74,720. Principals and administrators boast salaries of approximately six figures ($104,070) due to their strong leadership components. Even the most affordable educational leadership master's degrees can provide graduates with a salary in this range. 

It's important to consider all application requirements when deciding how to pick a college, such as holding a relevant bachelor's degree in education. Every school may not explicitly note this, but students are required to have professional teaching experience, which can only be achieved with a teaching degree and license. Applying to college also requires a letter of recommendation from an education administrator.  

Online master's in educational leadership are respected degrees as long as they are accredited. This is particularly important for remote students who aren't able to visit campus to meet their instructors directly. Accredited schools often use the same instructors and curricula regardless of the delivery format. Furthermore, employers treat online degrees the same as those earned in person. 

According to the International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership (ICPEL), require candidates to have a master's degree to become principals. The same amount of states require teaching experience, and 38 states require field experience. Master's graduates in 33 states can pursue alternative pathways to principal licensure without practical experience by taking a skills assessment and written test.

An online MBA in educational leadership features more business components, such as finance and operations. This coursework is already included in educational leadership majors, but through an MBA, students can understand business principles in the context of a school environment. This path is beneficial for aspiring principals and school administrators. 

An online master's in educational leadership is worth it for those who wish to have a genuine impact in schools of all levels. Students engage in multidisciplinary coursework that ranges from data analysis to curriculum development and communication. Many careers involve similar job responsibilities, but salaries are substantial. 

Take a look at some of the pros and cons below:

Benefits

• Leadership roles result in high pay. Principals and education administrators earn median annual salaries of around $100,000. 
• Principals show high job satisfaction. A 2021 National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) report showed that were generally satisfied with their positions. 
• Graduates receive a well-rounded education. Coursework develops skills and training that can be used in industries outside education, such as business and healthcare.
• Education professionals can help students beyond the classroom. Extracurricular activities and after-school programs, such as sports leagues and study groups, have a positive impact on individual households and across communities.

Drawbacks

• Job growth rates are lower than in other industries. The most common educational leadership jobs only show up to 3% yearly growth. 
• Some veteran principals are less satisfied than they once were. The same report from IES shows that 35% of public school principals have less enthusiasm for their work as time goes on.
• Many factors affect the difficulty of working as a principal. A 2021 survey from the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) shows that may lead professionals to leave their jobs: heavy workload, state accountability measures, and compliance requirements.
• The learning doesn't stop after a master's degree. Principals and administrators must frequently update their curriculums and learn new technologies based on the advancement of educational materials.