This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.uta.edu/.

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies - Graduate Programs


Programs

The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies offers the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. In addition to core courses in K-16 educational leadership and policy, two distinct emphases are available: Principal Certificate Courses and Higher Education Administration Emphasis. Students build upon their existing expertise with progressive skills that can increase student achievement, improve teacher performance, and increase organizational effectiveness of schools and higher education institutions. 

For those with a master’s degree, the Department offers certification preparation courses for candidates seeking a Principal as Instructional Leader Certificate or a Superintendent Certificate. Applications for the Superintendent Certification Program are not being accepted for the 2021-22 academic year.

The department has specific requirements that must be met for recommendation to take the TExES Exam. Please see the department's website at https://www.uta.edu/coed/educleadership/.

The Department also offers the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and a BA-PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with Higher Education Administration Emphasis.

In addition to the single degrees, the department offers a dual degree with the School of Social Work, which is a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (Higher Education Administration Emphasis) and a Master in Social Work  (MEd/MSW)  with two concentrations: Direct Practice Concentration - Specialty in Mental Health and Substance Abuse or a Community and Administrative Practice Concentration.

Students accepted in the M.Ed. with Higher Education Administration Emphasis can elect, with program approval, to pursue the integrated BA-PhD track which allows students to start doctoral work earlier and transfer into the PhD program upon completion of 30 SCH and after two evaluations of their academic progress.

The department also offers a dual degree with the School of Social Work, which is a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (Higher Education Administration Emphasis) and a Master in Social Work  (MEd/MSW)  with two concentrations: Direct Practice Concentration: Specialty in Mental Health and Substance Abuse and a Community and Administrative Practice Concentration.

Degrees and Certifications

Graduate work in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at UTA may lead to the following degrees and certifications:

Degrees

  • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
    • Principal Certificate Courses
    • Higher Education Administration Emphasis
  • BA-PhD track in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with Higher Education Administration Emphasis
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
  • Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with Higher Education Administration Emphasis and a Master in Social Work dual degree (MEd/MSW) with two concentrations: Direct Practice Concentration - Specialty in Mental Health and Substance Misuse or a Community and Administrative Practice Concentration.

Educator Preparation Programs

  • Principal 
  • Superintendent (Not Accepting Applications for 2021-22 academic year)

Criminal History Acknowledgement

As required by Texas HB1508, applicants need to be aware of the following.

1.       In order to receive educator certification in Texas, you must pass a criminal history background check.

2.       If you have been convicted of an offense that is considered not appropriate for an educator, you could be ineligible to earn this certification from the state of Texas.

3.       You have a right to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation letter from the Texas Education Agency prior to admission into this program. The Texas Education Agency currently charges a non-refundable $50 fee for this criminal history evaluation.

For more information on Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation:

https://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Investigations/Preliminary_Criminal_History_Evaluation-FAQs/

Information for Out-of-State Students Who Complete COEd Programs

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires candidates seeking certification to complete all practica in a TEA-approved site. Out-of-state students who do not complete the practicum at a UTA College of Education and TEA-approved site and meet all other TEA requirements do not qualify for Texas educator certification. If seeking certification outside of Texas, please work with your state agency in the state in which you are seeking certification to determine eligibility and to complete any additional requirements.  Please note that after successful completion of your UTA College of Education degree, you may request a memo indicating your degree completion.  UTA cannot recommend out-of-state students for certification and cannot recommend out-of-state students to take Texas certification exam(s). Additionally, UTA faculty and staff cannot complete out-of-state form requests for individuals seeking certification, licensure, and/or endorsements in another state according to TEA.

Professional Dispositions

Each student/candidate in the College of Education of UT Arlington will be evaluated on Professional Dispositions by the faculty and staff. These dispositions are identified as essential for a highly-qualified professional. Instructors and program directors will work with students/candidates rated as “unacceptable” in one or more stated criteria. The student/candidate will have an opportunity to develop a plan to remediate any digressions. If digression(s) are not, or cannot be successfully remediated as in the case of an egregious digression, a determination will be made by Committee on continuation or dismissal from the College of Education.

Changes

Certification program requirements may change as state/TEA certification requirements change.