What Program is Right For Me?
P-12 School Leadership Program Application Information
Educational Administration Degree Programs
Master of Education (MA) (with principal endorsement)
Doctor of Education (EdD) (UNL, can be completed with superintendent endorsement)
Teacher/Administrator Endorsement Programs
Principal 7-12 Endorsement
Principal P-8 Endorsement
Administrative Endorsement Renewal
Special Education Supervisor Endorsement
Superintendent Endorsement
Application Deadlines
January 15: Ph.D. – higher education (does not include administrative endorsement)
January 15: P-12 school leadership Doctor of Education (EdD)
April 1: Masters of Education (MA)
Endorsement Programs have rolling admission
| Career Goal | Degree/Program | Format | Number of Credits | Notes |
| I don’t have a master’s degree and want to serve as a principal. | MA – Master of Education – P-12 School Leadership | Hybrid | 36 hours Contact Dr. Shavonna Holman | |
| I want to earn a doctorate of education (EdD) and superintendent endorsement. | EdD (UNL) – Educational Administration - P-12 school leadership | Hybrid | 60 hours Contact Dr. Nick Pace, or Dr. Xia | Assumes 36 hours completed in masters. Must earn at least 45 hours after program admission. Total minimum hours required beyond bachelor's: 96 |
| I’m currently an EdS student with UNK and would like to earn the doctor of education (EdD) through UNL. | EdD (UNL-UNK) – Educational Administration – P -12 school leadership | Hybrid | 60 hours Contact Dr. Nick Pace, Dr. Xia, Dr. Mike Teahon | Students complete 21 hours of superintendency courses through UNK and then enroll in the UNL EdD program. Enrollment subject to availability. |
| I have a master’s degree and would like to serve as a college professor or researcher studying P -12 school leadership. | Doctor of Philosophy – PhD – Educational Studies – Educational Leadership & Higher Education with a concentration in school leadership. | Hybrid | Minimum of 72 hours, beyond a 36 hour master’s Contact Dr. Abrica | This degree does not provide administrative endorsement. |
| I have a master’s degree and want to add endorsement to serve as principal. | Administrative endorsement | Hybrid | Varies by hours in your master’s. Contact Dr. Shavonna Holman | Usually around 30 hours. |
| I have a Nebraska principal endorsement and want to add an elementary or secondary endorsement. | Administrative Endorsement | Hybrid | 9 hours Contact Dr. Shavonna Holman | |
| I have a master’s degree and would like to add the superintendent endorsement. | Superintendent Endorsement | Hybrid | 27 hours Contact Dr. Don Johnson | Hours earned outside of a degree program must be no more than 10 years old to be transferred. New superintendent endorsement courses can be integrated into the UNL EdD |
| I have a master’s degree and want to add the special education supervisor endorsement. | Supervisor of Special Education Endorsement | Hybrid | Usually 9 additional hours. Contact Dr. Shavonna Holman | |
| I don’t have a master’s degree and want to earn the special education supervisor endorsement. | Supervisor of Special Education Endorsement | Hybrid | 36 hours Contact Dr. Shavonna Holman | Includes many of the same courses included in the MEd for the principalship |
| Program | MEd (with Principal Endorsement) | EdD (UNL) | EdD (with UNK) | Principal 7-12 Endorsement | Principal P-8 Endorsement | Administrative Endorsement Renewal | Special Ed Supervisor Endorsement | Superintendent Endorsement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resume | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Essay | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Residential/ Nonresidential Status | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Application Fee | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| English Proficiency | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Transcript(s) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Personal Statement | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 3 Writing Samples | X | X | ||||||
| Teaching Certificate | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 3 Letters of Recommendation | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
What is included?
Resume
List your educational background and career experiences.
Essay
MA: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln EDAD P-12 leadership program is built around the school leader as a Visionary Thinker, Reflective Learner, and Servant Leader. Explain what these core values mean to you and how your experiences and aspirations align with them.
EdD: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln EDAD P-12 leadership program is built around the educational leader as a Visionary Thinker, Reflective Learner, and Servant Leader. Describe how you have exemplified these actions in your current or previous leadership roles.
Personal Statement
MA: P-12 leadership is increasingly dynamic and complex. Please describe what you see as the most significant problems, challenges, or opportunities facing P-12 education today and how your experiences, knowledge and background prepared you to deal with such challenges as a P-12 leader.
EdD:
- Part 1: Explain your professional experiences and motivations for doctoral studies, specifically in this EdD program, which is focused on the educational leader as a Visionary Thinker, Reflective Learner, and Servant Leader.
- Part 2: Describe a local problem, challenge, or opportunity that is unique to your context that might be addressed as part of your Program of Studies and dissertation. Share how our EdD program would help you address this local challenge, problem, or opportunity.
3 Writing Samples (required only for EdD/PhD programs)
Share examples that demonstrate your ability to communicate through scholarly/academic writing (papers written in previous academic programs, professional writing, etc.).
3 Letters of Recommendation
Letters should speak to your skill, integrity, and aptitude for school leadership and success in graduate study.