ELPA: Certification Preparation Programs

Certification

The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis offers course work and practical experiences that lead to either a master's or educational specialist degree along with certification preparation approved through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Both programs consist of content areas that are developed to respond to current and relevant educational issues. The goal of these programs is to prepare school leaders and administrators to become reflective and inquiring professionals with a commitment to moral and ethical principles of the profession. The programs combine online and in class study.

Master’s in Education (M Ed)

This University of Missouri-Columbia program allows participants to earn a master's degree and prepare for initial principal certification simultaneously. The master's of education with focus in educational leadership provides the course work necessary to apply for the initial Missouri principal's certificate, at either the elementary or secondary level.

Educational Specialist (EdS)

Upon completion of the EdS degree, students will be eligible for Missouri state superintendent certification and continuing principal certification or for initial principal certification, if needed. In addition, students can apply all of the credits they take for this EdS towards a PhD in Educational Administration.

Note: The University of Missouri-Columbia has been approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to offer courses that lead to certification in the state of Missouri. Courses in this program encompass all competencies required for Missouri administrator certification. MU provides course work for administrator certification, but does not grant certification. DESE is the agency that certifies educators for administrator certification. Students must provide transcripts of course work to DESE when applying for administrator certification. For more information about Missouri administrator certification requirements, visit DESE's educator certification web page.

For additional information about principal or superintendent certification, contact the College of Education Certification Office at (573) 882-7831, certinfo@coe.missouri.edu.

Other States: If you are interested in administrator certification in states other than Missouri, we recommend you contact the state's certification office and obtain confirmation that the program of study required for the master's in educational leadership will be accepted by that state's certification office.