Educational Leadership Pathway
The Educational Leadership Pathway offers a clear and practical route for educators aiming to advance their careers by connecting three graduate programs at the University of Michigan-Flint. By engaging with these programs, educators can set themselves on a path from classroom practitioner to principal to central office administrator while cultivating professional relationships with faculty, professionals, and peers.
Each of these programs operates independently but is offered in an online format. Students benefit from a unique blend of online asynchronous coursework and monthly synchronous sessions, which take place one Saturday per month. Courses are instructed by a diverse faculty, including tenure-track faculty and lecturers who have prior experience as K-12 principals and superintendents.
Admissions to each of the three programs are separate, allowing for entry into the pathway at various points, provided the entry requirements are met.
The three graduate programs that constitute the Educational Leadership Pathway are as follows:
MA in Educational Administration
The Master’s degree in the Pathway is an MA in Educational Administration, designed for principal preparation. This high-quality program equips students with the tools and concepts necessary for successful administration and an informed perspective on the range of situations confronting K-12 education. Graduates of this program are awarded a Master of Arts in Educational Administration degree from the University of Michigan. Upon graduation from the program, students are eligible to apply for the mandatory School Administrator Certificate.
Education Specialist
The Education Specialist degree is a post-master’s program that focuses on applied learning and preparation for executive leadership assignments. The program is designed to prepare practicing teachers and school administrators to assume greater professional roles in their building and/or in administration and supervision. Upon graduation from the program, students are eligible to apply for the mandatory Michigan School Administrator Certificate with a Central Office endorsement.
Doctor of Education
The Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership is a doctoral program that focuses on applied learning and preparation for executive leadership assignments. It is designed to prepare practicing teachers and administrators to assume greater leadership roles, to apply a broad base of scholarship to challenges in the field, and to actively contribute to the knowledge base of the profession.
Academic Advising
At UM-Flint, we are proud to have many dedicated advisors who are the experts students can rely upon to help guide their educational journey. For academic advising, please reach out to your program/department of interest as listed on the Graduate Contact Us page.
