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Educational Administration and Supervision - Master's, Specialists and Doctorate

Availability: Hattiesburg, Online and Hybrid Options

Advance Your Career - Become an Educational Leader!

Our M.Ed., Ed.S., Ph.D., and Ed.D. programs prepare individuals for success as entry-level educational administrators (e.g., principals, assistant principals), and advanced district level administrators (e.g., superintendents, assistant superintendents, program coordinators) and those interested in becoming university professors and researchers. Courses are also available for non-degree students interested in satisfying requirements for license renewal. With several completely online degree options, our fully accredited programs are designed for working professionals wishing to advance their careers in education!

The School of Education teacher education and educational administration programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). All programs are accredited by the State of Mississippi Process and Performance Review.

USM is also a member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) Consortium, joining more than 125 national and international institutions working together to redesign professional practice preparation in education for the improvement of individuals and communities. CPED is a grassroots effort of faculty, administrators and practitioners collaborating to strengthen the doctorate in education (Ed.D.) degree. Learn More

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3Fully Online Degree Options
3former P-12 Educational Administrators on Faculty
3Programs for Working Education Professionals

What Will I Learn?

Our Educational Administration P-12 Programs are a top choice for educators who aspire to become P-12 school leaders or to advance their existing school leadership careers.

As an educational administration student, you will:

  • Explore leadership theories
  • Learn the fundamentals of effective school leadership
  • Learn to supervise teachers
  • Analyze data to inform school decision making
  • Understand school budgeting and finance
  • Work with school leaders through supervised internships

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Programs at the University of Southern Mississippi that prepare students for licensure as P-12 administrators are designed to meet the licensure standards set by the Mississippi Department of Education.  The University of Southern Mississippi cannot determine whether a particular licensure program meets requirements for licensure outside of the State of Mississippi. Students seeking licensure in another state are advised to contact the appropriate licensing board in that state to determine specific requirements of guidelines for reciprocity. For a list of the state departments of education that oversee professional teaching licensure, see the U.S. Department of Education website - State Contacts page.

For questions, please contact Noal Cochran at  Noal.CochranFREEMississippi

Students applying to the educational administration program must submit GRE scores and are required to have at least three (3) years of education experience at the P-12 level completed prior to program entry. Teaching experience allows aspiring P-12 administrators to have a reference point for providing leadership to teachers following the attainment of their degree in educational administration. 

Students enrolling in the M.Ed. program must have access to school administrators who will agree to serve as mentors over the course of the program.

Students enrolled in educational administration programs have the opportunity to gain real world leadership experience through a structured internship. Each student chooses a mentor at an approved school who supervises the student’s activities over the course of the internship. Students also receive periodic visits from a university supervisor who is available as an additional layer of support to both the student and the mentor.

Students accepted into the educational administration Ed.D. program will engage in a field-based capstone project as part of their degree requirements, while Ph.D. students will complete a traditional dissertation.

Gibbes-Liberto Lifelong Learning Scholarship 
Nancy Whitten New Scholarship Award

Faculty Specialization Areas

Our faculty comprises a diverse array of active researchers who have previously held positions as school superintendents, deputy state superintendents, and P-12 administrators of top performing Mississippi school districts.

Availability

Degree Plan Availability
Education (Educational Administration P-12) EdDHattiesburg, Online 100%
Education (Educational Administration P-12) PhDHattiesburg, Hattiesburg Hybrid
Education (Educational Administration P-12) EdSHattiesburg, Hattiesburg Hybrid, Online 100%
Educational Administration and Supervision MEdOnline 100%
  • Principal, Assistant Principal
  • Special Education Director, Athletic Director
  • Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent
  • Personnel Director, Federal Programs Director
  • Curriculum Coordinator, Program Coordinator
  • University Professor or Researcher
  • Undray Scott, 2016, 
    Assistant Superintendent, Rankin County School District
  • Dr. Carla Evers, 2011, 
    Superintendent, Pass Christian School District
  • Dr. Cherie Labat, 2003, 
    Superintendent, Columbus School District
  • Dr. Steven Hampton, 2016, 
    Principal, Petal High School, Petal School District
  • Dr. Robert Williams, 2008,
    Superintendent, Hattiesburg Public Schools