Masters Student Information

Master’s Degree Programs

All students who complete master’s degree programs in the Department of Educational Administration will have an opportunity to develop their knowledge of educational leadership and increase their potential to serve important leadership roles in educational organizations. The department provides three master’s degree programs.

  • The MEd with a major in educational administration.  The focus of the MEd degree is on P-12 school leadership and includes coursework towards Nebraska Department of Education endorsement as an Elementary (P-8) or Secondary (7-12) Principal or as a Special Education Supervisor (P-12). Courses in the MEd are offered both online and on campus. All students will required to complete the 6 hour block in the first summer of enrollment, including some on campus attendance.
  • An online MA with a major in educational administration. The focus of the MA degree is on higher education administration. All courses in this MA are offered online.
  • A MA with a specialization in student affairs administration. The student affairs administration specialization is offered in a cohort based program with all courses offered on campus.
Options for the Masters Degree

The MEd degree is available only as an Option II degree, with the student completing a portfolio demonstrating competencies necessary for school leadership. 

The online MA is offered only as an Option III degree, with the student completing a capstone paper demonstrating knowledge and skills related to the practice.

The MA with a specialization in student affairs administration is offered as an Option I (thesis) or Option III degree, with the student completing a case study demonstrating the Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Practitioners.

Memorandum of Courses

The Memorandum of Courses is the list of courses students must complete for their Master’s degree. This Memorandum of Courses must be approved by the student’s advisor and by the EDAD Graduate Chair. The Memorandum of Courses must be submitted to and approved by the Office of Graduate Studies before students have completed half of the program of studies. A student must complete at least 30 credit hours after admission to a master’s degree program.

Residency for Masters Students

The term “residency” is used in two separate ways. First, the University of Nebraska has a well-defined policy regarding residency within the State of Nebraska for the purpose of establishing tuition rates. Information on residency for tuition purposes can be found at http://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/prospective/money.

 “Residency” for master’s degree students also refers to the number of credit hours a student must complete in regularly scheduled courses at UNL. While some graduate credits may be transferred from other institutions, students seeking an Option I masters degree must complete 10-12 semester hours of UNL courses, excluding credit in thesis research. Option II master’s degrees must complete at least 18 hours in regularly scheduled courses. At least one-half of the work for a master/s degree must be in the department or area constituting the student’s major.

The MEd

Master’s degree students interested in obtaining P-12 administrative certification/endorsement as an elementary or secondary principal or special education supervisor should pursue the MEd, Option II degree. Each student will complete a portfolio demonstrating competencies in school leadership. The MEd, Option II degree leading to P-12 administrative certification/endorsement requires on campus attendance during the first summer session of enrollment. can The following courses are required for the MEd

The Summer Block

The MEd program begins with a 6 credit hour block of courses, taught only in the summer. 

EDAD 800 Foundations of Research & Methods of Inquiry in Educational Administration

EDAD 948 Instructional Leadership

 

The content of the block courses is integrated together throughout the summer. Students will meet on campus for two days in June, two days in July, and will also attend Nebraska Administrator Days to present culminating projects.

 

The Core

After the Summer Block, students will complete a core of school leadership courses. Core courses are offered in two formats.  The on campus format delivers two courses each semester, arranged in seven face-to-face class sessions for each course—which will be on the same day and time. Therefore the student will need to dedicate only one day per week to attend class. The online format delivers two courses each semester, requiring no on campus attendance.  Each student can complete the core requirements on campus, online, or in a mixture of formats      

 

Fall Core Offerings     

7 weeks of on-campus meetings w/additional online component (each course)

EDAD 833 Educational Finance

EDAD 837 Education Law

 

14 week online courses

EDAD 851 Faculty and Staff Appraisal

EDAD 852 School Culture and Student Behavior

 

 

 

Spring Core Offerings   

7 weeks of on-campus meetings w/additional online component (eachcourse)

EDAD 851 Faculty and Staff Appraisal

EDAD 852 School Culture and Student Behavior

 

14 week online courses

EDAD 833 Educational Finance

EDAD 837 Education Law

 

Summer Options

An EDAD elective, developed specifically for individuals interested in P-12 school leadership will be offered each summer. In addition to this elective, students should complete one of two support courses during the summer: TEAC 801 Curriculum Inquiry or SPED 856 Supervising Special Education. You should select TEAC 801 if you will complete the practicum (EDAD 811) during the Fall semester. SPED 856 should be selected if you will complete the practicum during the Spring semester. Both the EDAD elective and the TEAC/SPED support course will be offered online.

 

Culminating Components

Depending on the TEAC/SPED support course completed in the summer, each student will complete the MEd culminates with additional courses to develop leadership competencies and the completion of a supervised practicum experience.

 

Fall Online Offerings

EDAD 830 Administrative Theory in Educational Organizations

TEAC 801 Curriculum Inquiry OR EDAD 811 Principal Practicum

 

Spring Online Offerings

EDAD 903 Community Relations

SPED 856 Supervising Special Education OR EDAD 811 Principal Practicum

 

Special Education Supervisor Endorsement 

Students completing the MEd with the special education supervisor endorsement should make the following substitutions

 

Principal Endorsement Track (15 hours)

SPED 814       Instructional Methods for Students with Diverse Needs should be substituted for TEAC 801 Curriculum Inquiry

SPED 880       Educating Students with Intellectual Impairments & Developmental Disabilities should be substituted for TEAC 948 Instructional Leadership

EDAD 857      Special Education Administration should be substituted for SPED 856 Supervising Special Education

SPED              Elective (860/960/843/809/824/872/846 recommended) should be substituted for EDAD XXX Elective

EDAD 811B   Special Education Supervisor Practicum should be substituted for EDAD 811 Principal Practicum

The Student Affairs Administration Specialization

An MA degree with a specialization in student affairs administration is available as an on campus program designed for students that will be enrolled full-time for two consecutive academic years and hold graduate assistantships, a graduate hourly position, receive an Edgren Tuition Fellowship, or be employed full-time in a higher education institution or related agency. Designed to meet ACPA/NASPA competency areas for student affairs practitioners and the CAS standards, 43 hours are required to complete the degree. Students complete either an Option 1 (thesis) or Option III (electives) program. A master’s degree student may change his/her M.A. Option (I or III) at any time during the program of study with written approval from the adviser, the Graduate Chair and the Dean for Graduate Studies. The only exception to this policy is that students may not change from Option I to any other Option if certification of full time status has been utilized.

The cohort follows a sequence of courses, with all courses except electives offered on campus.

Fall Semester 1st Year

EDAD 800      Foundations of Research & Methods of Inquiry        

EDAD 842      College Students in America  

EDAD 879      Introduction to Student Affairs

EDAD 966      Student Affairs Seminar         

 

Spring Semester 1st Year

EDAD 843      Counseling Principles

EDAD 980      College Student Development

EDAD XXX   Assessment and Evaluation of Student Affairs Programming

EDAD 966      Student Affairs Seminar

 

Summer Session

EDAD 998      Internship

 

Fall Semester 2nd Year

EDAD 922      Finance in Higher Education  

EDAD 830      Administrative Theory in Educational Organizations

EDAD 899      Masters Thesis (option 1) OR Elective (option 3)

EDAD 966      Student Affairs Seminar

 

Spring Semester 2nd Year

EDAD 925      Law and Higher Education

EDAD 832      Higher Education in America 

EDAD 899      Masters Thesis (option 1) OR Elective (option 3)

EDAD 966      Student Affairs Seminar

The Online MA

An online MA is offered for master’s degree students interested in higher education administration. Each student will complete a capstone portfolio demonstrating competencies in school leadership. A capstone paper is required as a culminating examination, linking knowledge and skills from courses to the practice of higher education administration. All courses are offered online. Courses for the online MA are offered in the following sequence, allowing students to complete the degree in either 2 years (completing 6 hours each semester) or in 4 years (completing 3 hours each semester).

Fall Semesters

EDAD 830      Administrative Theory in Educational Organizations

EDAD 832      Higher Education in America 

EDAD 800      Foundations of Research & Methods of Inquiry        

EDAD 980      College Student Development

 

Spring Semesters

EDAD 910      Higher Education Environments                    

EDAD 842      College Students in America                          

EDAD 845      Personnel Management in Higher Education

EDAD             Elective           

 

Summer Sessions

EDAD 922      Finance in Higher Ed

EDAD             Elective

EDAD 925      Law and Higher Education

EDAD             Elective           

 

Master’s Comprehensive Exam Requirement

All master’s degree students are required to complete a comprehensive examination or equivalent as specified by the department.

Masters degree students obtaining P-12 administrative certification/endorsement (M.Ed., Option II) will complete a portfolio during their practicum (EDAD 811 or EDAD 811B).

Students pursuing the MA with a student affairs administration specialization may elect to conduct a final oral examination on the thesis (Option 1) or write a final capstone paper based on a case study (Option 3).

The comprehensive examination requirement must be completed within 24 months prior to the date of graduation (examinations more than 2 years old are not valid for graduation). A final examination (written and/or oral) in the minor department may be waived-subject to the approval of the minor department-provided all grades in the minor are at least a B or Pass. If a student fails to pass the final written exam, the Graduate Chair must file a report in the Office of Graduate Studies and indicate what the student must do before taking another exam. A makeup exam may not be taken during the same semester or summer session in which the student failed.

Masters Thesis

The subject of the thesis should be chosen from the candidate’s field of major interest and must be approved by the departmental Graduate Committee. The thesis should reveal a capacity to carry on independent study or research and should demonstrate the student’s ability to use the techniques employed in her/his field of investigation.

Thesis Format

The thesis must conform in style and form to the guidelines set forth in the Guidelines for the Preparation and Submission of an Electronic Thesis found in our Masters Degree Forms and Deadlines.

A Candidate is not eligible for the oral examination until the thesis is completed and approved by the major adviser

Preliminary Approval by Adviser

The masters thesis and abstract in preliminary form must be approved by the adviser prior to applying for the final oral examination or for its waiver and should be presented to the committee at least two weeks prior to the oral examination.

Preliminary Review by Masters Specialist

At least two weeks before the date of the oral examination, submit an electronic copy of the thesis and abstract for preliminary review to the Masters Degree Specialist in the Office of Graduate Studies (note: for summer sessions, submit an electronic copy of the thesis and the abstract at least one week before the date for the oral examination).

Final Review (After Defense)

 

Following the successful completion of the oral examination, the student should submit an electronic copy to the Masters Degree Specialist for final approval.

Once the student receives notification of final approval, the thesis should be uploaded to Digital Commons. Upon a successful upload, the student will receive an email notification.  Follow these steps:

  1. Print this email notification.
  2. Bring the printed notification, one copy of the title page, two copies of the abstract and their signed Final Examination Report Form to the Masters Degree Specialist in the Office of Graduate Studies, 1100 Seaton Hall.
  3. The title page and one of the abstracts will be stamped for approval and returned to the student for depositing in 318 Love Library.
  4. The Final Examination Report Form will be signed by the personnel in the Library.
  5. Proceed to the Cashier in Canfield Administration Building and pay the archiving fee. The cashier will sign off on the Final Examination Report Form.
  6. Return to the Office of Graduate Studies with the signed Final Examination Report Form from the Cashier’s office.
  7. Consult with your major adviser about the number of additional copies of the thesis which should be prepared, and also about the binding of these copies. One copy must be filed in the departmental office of the major and, typically, one copy is furnished to the major adviser who directed the study.
Full-time Student

Graduate students requiring certification as full-time students must be enrolled for at least 9 credit hours during an academic semester or at least 6 credit hours during summer sessions, whether or not the student holds a graduate assistantship. With approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies, students in a thesis-option masters degree program (i.e., Option I) registered for fewer than the minimum hours required for a full program may be granted full-time status provided they are not employed more than 20 hours per week (half time). Form available at http://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/bulletin/registration/reqs#full-time.

In order to be eligible to utilize the full-time certification, the student must have been registered at least half time (i.e., at least 4 credits) in the fall and spring terms prior to the initiation of the full-time certification status. Masters students may utilize the full-time certification not longer than 12 months.