A Master's degree in Education/Administration and Supervision is available through an online graduate program and will prepare candidates for principal licensure. The program will provide candidates with the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to be successful school leaders who can apply theory to practice. The course of study covers instructional leadership, organizational management, technology management, and data-driven decision making. A major component of the program is an administrative internship which will provide potential candidates with field-based experience in several areas of school administration and supervision. Education administration positions include principals, assistant principals, administrators, school directors or supervisors, provosts also known as chief academic officers, college or university department heads, deans of students and more. Educational administrators hold leadership positions with significant responsibility including:
Candidates for educational administrative positions should possess a number of qualities including leadership, determination, confidence, innovativeness and motivation. Those pursuing a degree in educational administration and supervision will learn:
According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for educational administrators is expected to grow by about eight percent through 2018 due to growing enrollments of school-aged children. Administrative positions will increase and preschool and child care center administrator positions are expected to grow. Principal positions and other administrator positions in elementary and secondary schools will be limited as student enrollment is expected to grow slowly through 2018. The number of students in post-secondary schools is expected to grow more rapidly than at any other level, as many of these schools cater to working adults and offer convenient programs. Therefore, the need for administrators to oversee them will increase.
With a large number of expected retirements and fewer applicants for certain positions, job opportunities for those seeking education administrative positions is projected to be great. Job prospects may vary geographically. The Western and Southern regions of the country, where the population is growing the fastest, will see the most rapid increase in enrollments. Enrollments will remain stable or decline in the Northeast and Midwest. School administrators are in greater demand in rural and urban areas, where pay is usually lower than in the suburbs. From May 2010, education administrators in preschools and child care centers earned a median annual salary of $42,960. Education administrators in elementary and secondary schools earned a median annual salary of $86,970. Education administrators in post-secondary school settings earned a median annual salary of $83,710. Individuals in all other education administrator positions earned a median annual salary of $75,690.