Enhance your passion for learning and teaching in a 100% online Master of Education (M.Ed.) or Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) program – from the state’s flagship university.
Prepare to step out of your classroom comfort zone. Become a teacher leader within your school and beyond. Earn a 100% online Master’s (M.Ed.) or Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Teacher Leadership from the University of Kentucky. Our program is ranked 17th in the nation in the 2020 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings (listed by the magazine as “educational administration and supervision”).
If you’re a Kentucky-certified teacher, you can earn teacher leadership endorsement and rank change (as approved by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board).
Special Notice on Admissions: As of July 1, 2019, we have eliminated letters of recommendation as a requirement for admission to our master’s and educational specialist degree programs for teacher leadership and rank change.
Added Value of Graduate Certificates
Three graduate certificates are embedded within the program. You can select the ones you earn along the way.
Our certificates show hiring officials your expertise in:
- Instructional Coaching
- Leadership for Deeper Learning
- School Technology Leadership
We are available to help during your application process.
Questions About the Application Form, Checking for Completeness, Uploading Materials
- Melissa McCaughan, Student Affairs Officer, melissa.mccaughan@uky.edu
Questions About the Programs, Materials or Qualifications Related to the Application, or Entrance to the Programs
- School Technology Graduate Certificate – John Nash: john.nash@uky.edu
- Ed.S. & M.Ed. Teacher Leader, Graduate Certificates for Instructional Coaching & Leadership for Deeper Learning – Mary John O’Hair: mjohair@uky.edu
Our Program Experience
The primary goal of our 30-credit program is to prepare teachers for leadership that supports school and student success. We envision our graduates as teacher leaders who are actively engaged in and supportive of school-wide improvement initiatives and who model lifelong learning. We value:
Leadership…
Our program prepares teachers to assume formal roles (e.g., department chair, grade-level team leader, technology coordinator) or informal roles (e.g., instructional model, peer mentor) and lead from within and beyond the classroom.
Collaboration…
Because collective leadership by administrators and teachers is essential for successful 21st century schools, our program emphasizes developing interpersonal relationships and interdependence to achieve shared visions and goals.
Community…
Because teacher leaders build organizational capacity through their shared instructional leadership and collegial support for sustainable change efforts, our program is delivered through cohorts that function as communities of practice.
Renewal…
Our program develops requisite knowledge and skills teachers need to foster learning-centered leadership and conduct action research while simultaneously engaged in individualized professional development.
Authenticity…
All courses integrate individual and group learning, field-based activities and virtual class meetings, and research and reflection to assure relevance and applicability.
Achievement…
Students evidence their learning through creation and oral defense of their unique electronic portfolios.
Program Outcomes
Diverse learning experiences across the program prepare teachers to serve as a:
- Curriculum specialist
- Department chair or team leader
- Instructional coach
- Peer mentor
- Technology specialist
- Change agent
Words From Our Alumni
Being a part of the Teacher Leadership Program at UK was much more than I could have ever imagined. I was given the opportunity to be with like-minded, passionate educators who all share the goal of being effective leaders within our school communities. The course selection provided me with fundamental knowledge and skills so I could effectively initiate change within my own school community, and the instructors were knowledgable, passionate, and dedicated to helping each individual grow as an educational leader. Because of the level of preparation I had leaving this program I was able to earn my first principalship at a leading international school. My participation in this program has been the most profound learning experience of my career.
Jack Young
The UK Teacher Leadership Program was perfect for me! I am an aspiring principal, so this program provided the ideal framework for my future in educational leadership.The courses were relevant, the professors were supportive, and I sincerely enjoyed working with my cohort members. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to inspire positive educational change.
Jordan Elliott
Admissions
Test-Free Policy
GRE scores are not required for admission to programs in the Department of Educational Leadership Studies.
The test-free admission policy applies to all graduate certificate, master’s degree, education specialist, and doctoral programs in the department.
We recognize the challenges prospective students experience because of the inequities these tests perpetuate. The Department of Educational Leadership Studies is able to evaluate applicants for admission without the use of test scores through non-test factors that honor the spectrum of experiences our applicants have. A test-free policy is one part of our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (read more about that here).
In 2017 we announced this policy for our master’s and education specialist degrees and for our graduate certificates. In March 2021, we announced that this policy is being extended to our doctoral programs.
You must meet the admissions requirements established by the UK Graduate School and by the Department of Educational Leadership Studies.
| Eligibility |
To be eligible for admission to this graduate program, you must:
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| Kentucky Teachers Seeking Teacher Leader Endorsement and Rank Change |
If you are seeking teacher leader endorsement and rank change, you must:
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| Application Documents |
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| International Teachers |
If your native language is not English, you must submit either a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score.
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Award of rank change is determined by the Education Professional Standards Board according to graduate degree completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply?
Detailed information about the application process can be found at https://education.uky.edu/edl/admissions/.
How long is the program?
30 credits taken over approximately 20 months.
How can I get more information about this program?
Application Questions
- Melissa McCaughan, Student Affairs Officer, melissa.mccaughan@uky.edu
Program Questions
- School Technology Graduate Certificate – John Nash: john.nash@uky.edu
- Ed.S. & M.Ed. Teacher Leader, Graduate Certificates for Instructional Coaching & Leadership for Deeper Learning – Mary John O’Hair: mjohair@uky.edu
You can also fill out the form below to receive useful emails about the program, such as application tips and online info sessions.
What degree is earned at the end of this program?
We offer either a Master’s (M.Ed.) or Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Teacher Leadership depending on the program you enroll in.
Check out our departmental FAQ page for useful information about our programs.
For information regarding refunds, please visit the UK Student Account Services website. It is there you can find tuition refund policies, deadlines, amounts, and other important information.
State Authorization and Licensure
If you plan to complete a University of Kentucky online program while living outside of Kentucky, you should check the Out-of-State Students page to determine if the University of Kentucky is authorized to provide this program in your state of residence. If you plan to use the degree to seek licensure, you should also determine if the degree meets the educational requirements for licensure in your state.