MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE
AND ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM IN
ELEMENTARY (Grades K-6 or K-8)
or SECONDARY (Grades 7-12)
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION & SUPERVISION

Dear Student:

            Congratulations on your decision to pursue a Master's degree and/or endorsement in elementary or secondary school administration and supervision. The contents of this pamphlet will help you to understand the requirements of the program and the procedures for gaining admission, creating a plan of study, and earning your degree and endorsement. The pamphlet is built around the questions you undoubtedly have about the program and about your opportunities and responsibilities in it. If, after reading the materials that follow, you should have any further questions about requirements, procedures, opportunities, or responsibilities, please feel free to call the office of Educational Administration at (402) 554-2721. One of the professors will be happy to answer your questions over the phone or, if necessary, make an appointment to see you.

Applications are reviewed monthly

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE
AND ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM
IN

ELEMENTARY (Grades K-6) or

SECONDARY (Grades 7-12)

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION & SUPERVISION

I. HOW DO I GET ADMITTED TO THE PROGRAM?

 

A. When do I submit my application?

Students are admitted to the School Administration Degree and Endorsement Program upon presentation of qualifying materials and documentation. The admission procedure involves a review of the student's application by the department's Graduate Program admissions committee. Because the review of submitted materials may require several weeks, it is best to get your materials in as early as you can before the start of the semester in which you would like to begin your studies.

You may take a maximum of 12 hours in Educational Administration while waiting for your application to be considered, or even before you have submitted your application, if you have been admitted to UNO by the Graduate College (see "I-B. What do I submit in my application?" below). Please keep two things in mind, however: (1) successfully completing work in Educational Administration before you are admitted does not guarantee admission (see "I-C. What happens after I submit my application?" below); (2) you still will have a minimum of twenty-seven (27) hours to complete after admission (see "III-F. What about courses I took here in the UNO Department of Educational Administration and Supervision before I was admitted to the degree and endorsement program?" below). 

B. What do I submit in my application?

Admission is a two step procedure. The first involves application for admission to the Graduate College. The second involves application for admission to the Department of Educational Administration and Supervision in the College of Education.

Admission to the Graduate College

Everyone applying for admission to the School Administration Degree and Endorsement Program must first submit an application for graduate admission to the Office of Graduate Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Room 202 in the Eppley Administration Building or online at: https://ebruno.unomaha.edu/php/admissions/graduate/.

The application for admission to the Graduate College must be filled out and returned to the same location. A non-refundable $45.00 filing fee is required.

You must arrange to have an official transcript from each college or university you have previously attended to be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies, or if you were a previous student at UNO (within the last four (4) years), you do not need to request new transcripts from UNO.  

 Admission to the Department of
Educational Administration and Supervision

At the same time or immediately after you submit your application for admission to the Office of Graduate Studies, you need to submit your application for admission to the Department. These application materials for the Department are to be sent to the Department of Educational Administration and Supervision, Kayser Hall 414, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska 68182-0162. (click here to download form, pdf 64kb)

Applying for Unconditional Admission

              (1) Proof of a Bachelor's degree from an approved or accredited institution with an undergraduate overall grade point average of 3.0 or a grade point average of 3.0 in education classes taken in undergraduate standing. You do not need to send transcripts directly to the department. Copies of the transcripts submitted with your application to the Office of Graduate Studies will be forwarded to the department for you.

            (2) Proof of teaching certification. A photocopy of your teaching credential(s) will meet this requirement.

            *(3) Proof of appropriate teaching experience of at least two full years or the equivalent. This can be handled with a letter on letterhead stationery from a person of authority in your school or district. The letter should be addressed to the Members of the Graduate Program Admissions Committee. If you do not have two full years of teaching, you should submit verification that you are currently teaching or that you have been hired to teach in the near future.

            (4) Two letters of recommendation, each from an administrator who can speak to your experience, ability, and potential. The forms for these letters are available online. You will select the people to write the recommendations for you. Each of them will mail the completed recommendation directly back to the Department of Educational Administration and Supervision. (click here to download form, pdf 36kb)

            (5) A resume, using the guidelines in the attached document. (click here to download form, pdf 40kb)

            (6) A personal letter of application written by you, covering such topics as why you want to become a school administrator, your particular interests, relevant educational and work experience, and career goals as you see them now. The letter can be a maximum of two pages, and must be typewritten, double spaced, with standard margins. The letter should be addressed to the Members of the Graduate Program Committee and delivered or mailed directly to the Department of Educational Administration and Supervision, Graduate Program Committee, Kayser Hall 414, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska 68182-0162.

            (7) Conviction Form (click here to download form, pdf 56kb)

            (8) Pre-Enrollment Health Requirement Form (SEND TO HEALTH CENTER) http://studenthealth.unomaha.edu/preenrollment.php

*NOTE: Two years of teaching experience are required for Nebraska certification.

C. What happens after I submit my application?

All applications are reviewed by the department's Graduate Program Committee. Admission decisions are based upon the student's demonstrated potential for successful graduate work, professional training, and success in the field. Submission of all required materials and documentation is not a guarantee of acceptance.

You will be notified whether or not you have been accepted into the program as soon as the Committee has reviewed all of the applications and made its decisions.

If you are accepted into the program, you will be assigned an advisor and asked to make contact at your earliest convenience to formulate your plan of study. If you are not accepted into the program, you will be provided with directions for removing deficiencies and for strengthening your next application for admission.

     

II. WHO WILL BE MY ADVISOR AND WHAT KIND OF ADVICE WILL I GET?

Your advisor will be assigned to you by the Graduate Program Committee. You and your advisor will (a) review your career objectives, (b) discuss the requirements of the program, (c) select what courses you will take as electives, and (d) develop a course of study plan which tentatively outlines which courses you will take.

 

III. WHAT WILL I NEED TO DO TO EARN THE DEGREE WITH AN ENDORSEMENT?

A. What are the requirements for a master's degree with an endorsement in elementary or secondary school administration?

There are two basic requirements:

1. completion of a minimum thirty-nine (39) hours of study: thirty-three (33) in required classes and six (6) in elective classes (EDAD 8030 INTRODUCTION TO THEORY IN EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION IS THE PREREQUISITE FOR ALL OTHER REQUIRED EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION COURSES), and

2. passage of a comprehensive examination at the end of the program.

 

The comprehensive examination will be discussed later.
There are eleven (11) required courses. Each class carries three (3) hours of credit. These courses are:

TED 8010	Introduction to Research in Education
EDAD 8020	Governance and Politics in Educational Administration
EDAD 8030	Introduction to Theory in Educational Administration (THIS COURSE IS THE PREREQUISITE FOR ALL OTHER REQUIRED EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION COURSES.)
EDAD 8050	School-Community Relations
EDAD 8400	Practicum in Educational Administration and Supervision**
EDAD 8460	Administration and Supervision in Elementary Schools*
EDAD 8470	Administration and Supervision in Secondary/Middle Schools*
EDAD 8490	Leadership in Instruction and Supervision
EDAD 8550	School Business Management
EDAD 8700	Administration of Human Resources in Schools
EDAD 8710	Interpersonal Relations in Educational Administration
EDAD 9540	School Law

*EDAD 8460 Administration and Supervision in Elementary School -- OR -- EDAD 8470 Administration and Supervision in Secondary/Middle Schools. You need to take the one course that relates to the area in which you are being endorsed.

**EDAD 8400 Practicum in Educational Administration. (Before enrolling in any Practicum class, you must have completed a minimum of 24 semester hours of course work in your administrative program (which may include your electives).

Note: The State of Nebraska requires all educators to have had training in human relations and special education issues. Most students will probably have satisfied this requirements while earning their teaching endorsements. If they have not, however, they will be required to complete SPED 8030 - Special Education Alternatives, a 3 hour class (questions about whether this requirement has been met can best be answered by contacting the representatives of the Special Education Department at UNO at (402) 554-2201), and Human Relations, EDAD 8720 - Multicultural & Nonsexist Awareness in Schools, a one hour course. Questions should be addressed with advisor.

B. What kinds of electives can I consider?

The choice of electives should be carefully made. The selection of electives is done in consultation with your advisor. Part of the decision needs to be based upon an assessment of your particular strengths and needs, your past experiences, what you think your first position is most likely to be, and what your career goals are. Some of the frequently recommended electives are:

EDAD 8000	Special Studies in Educational Administration and Supervision
EDAD 8060	Planning for Safe and Orderly Schools
EDAD 8400	A Second Practicum in EDAD
EDAD 8560	School Finance
EDAD 8620	Educational Plants & Equipment
EDAD 8810	Urban School Leadership
EDAD 9550	Symposium in School Leadership
EDAD 9650	Program Evaluation
EDAD 8250	Technology for Administrators

There are other acceptable electives to be found in College of Education courses. You may also wish to consider electives from outside the College of Education. There are appropriate classes to be found in Psychology, Sociology, Communications, Business Management, and Urban Studies. The final decision rests with your advisor.

C. What is the Practicum?

The Practicum in Educational Administration is a program of planned experiences in the field. It is designed to provide you with hands-on experience in the school setting, allowing you to draw together the things you have learned in your classroom studies and apply them as you work on specific tasks and projects in a school. Because the Practicum assumes you bring a body of knowledge to the activity, you must have completed a minimum of 24 semester hours of course work in your administrative program (which may include your electives).

Prior to enrolling in Practicum, you must complete the Educational Administration Portfolio documenting your personal reflection about your administrative skills and recording your experiences related to school leadership. The portfolio must be reviewed with your advisor prior to enrolling in Practicum.

Exactly what you will do is decided through discussions between you, your university practicum director, and the school site administrator with whom you will be working. In addition to the work you will be doing in the school, there are seven Practicum sessions in which topics of particular interest and usefulness to aspiring administrators are discussed and at which you have an opportunity to meet with your university practicum director.

As you can see by the description above, a number of things have to be arranged in advance or the practicum will not be as valuable to you as it could be. You must indicate your intention to enroll in the fall semester practicum by April 30 of the preceding spring semester. Those planning to enroll in the spring semester practicum must file their intention by November 30 of the preceding fall semester. The application form is available online (click here to download form, pdf 20kb) or in the department office. Failure to file an application for practicum enrollment could mean that you might have to wait another semester before you can take it.

D. May I transfer credits into the program? If so, will they count toward required or elective credits?

You may apply to transfer in up to twelve (12) hours of graduate credit taken in another department, another college, or another accredited institution providing the units meet four conditions:

(1) The course will be no older than ten (10) years by the time you graduate.

(2) A grade of "A" or "B" was earned in each course submitted for approval. If the course(s) were graded as "Pass" or "Fail," you must present documentation that the "Pass" was equivalent to either an "A" or "B" on a regular grade scale.

(3) The course would have been applicable to a Master's program in Educational Administration in the department, college, or institution in which it was taken.

(4) The UNO Department of Educational Administration Graduate Program Committee approves the course(s).

 

E. What about courses I took here in the UNO Department of Educational Administration and Supervision before I was admitted to the degree and endorsement program? 

All courses you have taken in Educational Administration will appear on your transcript and will become a portion of the record of your accomplishment which will be sent to the State Department of Education as a part of your application for the endorsement. All of those courses will also count toward your minimum required total of graduate hours should you later decide to pursue a Specialist's Degree, Superintendent's Endorsement, or Doctorate. 

However, only four (4) courses from the list of required classes at UNO taken previous to admission may count toward the Master's Degree and Endorsement in School Administration. After you have been admitted to the program, you still will have a minimum of twenty-seven (27) hours to complete. If you have completed more than four (4) of the courses required in the program, you will not be asked to take those classes over, but you will have to take an equivalent number of elective units to satisfy the twenty-seven (27) hour after admission requirement. 

For example: You take EDAD 8020, EDAD 8030 (THIS COURSE IS THE PREREQUISITE FOR ALL OTHER REQUIRED EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION COURSES.), TED 8010, EDAD 8050, and EDAD8460, a total of fifteen (15) hours, before you decide that you want to pursue a degree and endorsement in school administration. After you are admitted to the program, you will ask to apply four (4) of these to your required classes, and they will be approved. You will not be asked to take the fifth one over again, but instead will be required to take an additional three (3) hours of elective study.

Courses you have taken in the College of Education at UNO that you wish to apply to your program requirements must also meet these conditions:

(1) The course will be no older than ten (10) years by the time you graduate.

(2) A grade of "A" or "B" was earned in each course submitted for approval. If the course(s) were graded as "Pass" or "Fail," you must present documentation that the "Pass" was equivalent to either an "A" or "B" on a regular grade scale.

 

IV. WHAT ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION?

The answers below represent just an overview. A "Comprehensive Examination Guidelines and Preparation Handbook" is available for students in the department office. It provides much more detail about content, format, preparation, and grading.

A. What is the comprehensive examination?

A comprehensive written examination is required of all Master's degree candidates. It is usually taken either in the last term of your class work or in the session immediately following completion of your class work. However, you will want to review your work and progress with your advisor as you near the completion of your study plan. You and your advisor should make a joint assessment of when you are ready to take the examination. The examination is offered each semester and once in the summer. You must register for the exam with the secretary in the Department Office.

The examination is a capstone demonstration of what you have learned in your classes through the program and is comprised of questions which (a) relate to specific classes taken in the program, and (b) integrate information from the various classes taken in the program.

B. What is the format of the comprehensive exam?

The examination usually involves an integrative question, and a selection of questions relating to the specific situations. The integrative question requires you to read a scenario and then answer questions about how you would respond to the problem, challenge, or opportunity described. You are expected to cite, apply, and describe appropriate theory, research, and practice in answering the questions presented. The exam must be written on a word processor. You must make arrangements in advance for using a particular word processing program.

C. How do I prepare for the exam?

The exam is something to begin preparing for in your first class. It is recommended that you keep clear copies of all the notes you have taken in class, notes on readings you have done, research projects in which you have participated, examinations, and papers you have written, along with handouts professors have given you throughout your classes. These are extremely valuable in reviewing for the exam. Students very frequently put together study groups in the months before each comprehensive exam administration.

D. How is the exam graded?

The exam is read by members of the department and is graded as Fail, Pass, and High Pass.

E. What happens if I fail the exam?

You will be given an opportunity to take the examination again. If another testing session is authorized, you may be required to complete additional readings, research projects, or course work before being allowed to sit for the examination.

V. WHAT IF I ALREADY HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE?

If you already have a master's degree, you have the option of gaining a second master's (the eleven (11) required courses, two (2) electives, and comprehensive exams), or gaining your administrative endorsement (competing the eleven required courses, no electives or comprehensive exam).

VI. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO ARRANGE FOR GRADUATION AND FOR MY ENDORSEMENT WHEN I HAVE FINISHED THE PROGRAM?

You will prepare papers to file for graduation and for your endorsement during the semester you complete the last of your work.

It is your responsibility to schedule a review of your progress with your advisor as you approach the completion of your program and to prepare and submit the paperwork for graduation and endorsement. It is most important that you mark this on your calendar and see that it occurs. Failure to file for graduation on time can possibly result in a delay in your graduation date or in extra charges. Failure to file for endorsement can delay your credentialing. It is also most important that you double check with the Office of Graduate Studies in EAB 202 and the Office of Student Services in Kayser Hall 330 to make sure that you have indeed met and filed all the state paperwork requirements for your endorsement.