COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Leadership at Wichita State University is a 30-credit-hour graduate program designed to prepare educators for leadership roles in schools, districts, and other educational organizations, as well as for advanced doctoral study. The program includes a background check requirement prior to the first semester, reflecting its strong focus on field-based learning and licensure preparation, where students may work directly in school settings during practicum experiences. The licensure track is structured as a sequence of core leadership, policy, and practicum-based courses such as Introduction to Educational Research (CLES 801), Introduction to Educational Leadership and School Finance (EL 813), School Law and Personnel Management (EL 833), Diversity and Social Justice (EL 831), Curriculum and Learning Theory (EL 843), Collaborative Engagement/Literacy (EL 823), and multiple Building-Level Leadership Practicum courses (EL 825, EL 835, EL 845) that provide hands-on administrative experience. Additional coursework includes Building-Level Leadership for Special Populations (EL 853), ensuring candidates are prepared to support diverse student populations and inclusive school environments. Students in the licensure track must complete the full program sequence, pass a comprehensive written examination, and successfully pass the required Kansas state Praxis II exam (test code 6990) to qualify for building-level administrator licensure. The non-licensure track offers a more flexible 30-credit-hour structure for those pursuing leadership roles outside formal school administration or continuing professional development. It includes courses such as leadership and finance, diversity and social justice, education law, curriculum theory, and electives selected from graduate certificate programs like mentoring and coaching, higher education leadership, or professional learning and training. Overall, the program emphasizes applied leadership, policy understanding, and real-world school experience, preparing graduates for roles such as principals, instructional leaders, education coordinators, and district-level administrators while maintaining strong academic grounding in educational research and organizational leadership.