You chose a career in education because you want to make a difference in the lives of students.
The University of North Texas can help you take that commitment to excellence one step further. Our accelerated online Master of Education in Educational Leadership program will inspire you with new ideas and open doors to opportunities. The program emphasizes current theory and research to inform educational leaders as they make decisions regarding positive school culture, effective teaching practices, and student achievement.
- The 30-hour M.Ed. program requires 10 Educational Leadership courses, all administered in a flexible online format. Take one additional practicum course for Principal as Instructional Leader Certification.
- If you already hold a master’s degree, you can enroll in the seven-course Principal Certification track. These courses are also offered in a flexible online format.
- Each program session is only eight weeks long, except for the practicum courses, which are a semester in length.
- If you take two courses each session, you can earn your Master’s in Educational Leadership and Principal as Instructional Leader Certification in 12 months.
- Our course design accommodates the busy schedule of working professionals.
- Our program provides value and teaches the necessary standards set by the State of Texas. It is recognized as #3 in the US by Best Value Schools
- Our students have a high graduation rate and a high passing rate on assessments for Principal as Instructional Leader Certification.
- Our program is recognized by U.S. News and World Report as #1 in Texas and #4 in the United States as Best Online Master’s program offering Educational Leadership and Supervision
- We provide outstanding, personalized advising. Each student is important!
How it Works
- The 30-hour Master of Education program requires 10 Educational Leadership courses
- Five available start dates annually: January, March, June, August and October
- Earn a master’s degree in Educational Leadership in 12 months
Contact information
For more information about the Educational Leadership Master's program, reach out to Dr. Linda Stromberg or Marilyn Deuble.
Admission to the master's program in Educational Leadership is a two-step process. Each applicant must first apply to and meet the general admission requirements of UNT's Toulouse Graduate School.Then, applications for students who meet initial admission standards are forwarded to the College of Education for review and final decision.
Apply to Toulouse Graduate School
- Apply to UNT's Toulouse Graduate School. You must be admitted to the graduate school before enrolling in the accelerated online program. Conditional acceptance to the graduate school can be granted if you meet program requirements.
- Submit your application at https://goapplytexas.org and choose either the "Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership" or the “principal certification” in the degree plan list. Make sure you confirm that you are applying for the accelerated online program when prompted near the end of the application process.
- Request an official transcript of your records from each college or university that you have attended and have them sent to the Toulouse Graduate School.
Transcripts must be official. These can be ordered from the university and sent to GradAdmission@unt.edu or mailed to one of the addresses below.
By U.S. Postal Service:
Toulouse Graduate School
1155 Union Circle #305459, Denton, TX 76203-5017
By UPS/FedEx:
Toulouse Graduate School
1147 Union Circle, ESSC 354, Denton, TX 76203-5459
- Pay the $75 application fee at the time you apply.
- You will be notified of your acceptance to the graduate school by mail and through my.unt.edu.
Apply to the College of Education
- Submit the following documents electronically to the College of Education at Marilyn.Deuble@unt.edu for admittance to the accelerated online master's program:
- A letter of recommendation from your supervisor identifying your leadership, critical thinking and writing skills.
- An essay describing why you're seeking a master's degree in Educational Leadership, identifying relevant educational experiences and strengths, and providing evidence that you will be a successful educational leader in an increasingly multicultural environment.
- A resume that includes your previous work and educational experience. Experience in PreK-12 is preferred for admission.
- A program application to the Educational Leadership Program. This is not the same application as Apply Texas.
- No test score is required for admission (e.g. GRE).
Teaching History and Certification Requirements:
I understand that I must have a Teaching Certificate and at least two years of teaching experience in an EC-12 accredited school as the teacher of record in order to earn a Principal as Instructional Leader. (Student teaching, substitute teaching, or university teaching cannot be applied toward these two years). I understand I must submit a copy of my Teacher Service Record to the College of Education’s Certification Officer to verify the state’s minimum required classroom teaching experience has been met. If I qualify for the principal certificate, I understand I must complete an internship in an accredited Texas school with a supervisor who has principal certification.
Required Courses Masters in Educational Leadership
Required Courses Masters in Educational Leadership with Principal as Instructional Leader Certification
Transfer Credits
Subject to the approval of the department advisor and the Toulouse Graduate School, up to 6 semester hours of graduate work completed elsewhere may be applied.
Visit the Accelerated Online Program section of the Registrar’s website for more information on course registration dates and payment deadlines.
Estimate tuition and fees by using the Tuition Calculators. For more information about tuition plan options, fees, and tuition, see Student Financial Services.
Financial Aid
UNT offers a variety of options to help finance your education. Visit financialaid.unt.edu to find out more about the application and award process.
UNT has been named one of America's 100 Best College Buys© for 25 consecutive years and offers the quality of a private university at an affordable cost.
Applying for financial aid
- Apply for financial aid online at fafsa.gov. The application is required for all types of financial aid, including Pell and other federal grants, state grants and loans. The FAFSA and Renewal FAFSA are available annually.
- You must enroll in 6 hours (over one or two online sessions) in order to be eligible for financial aid.
- Financial aid awards will be disbursed 10 days prior to the first day of class. Awards will not disburse if you are enrolled in only 3 credit hours.
- Contact Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at 940-565-2302 or by visiting online at financialaid.unt.edu