Educational Administration Degree Overview

Educational administrators include principals, assistant principals, deans and department chairmen.These individuals manage the day-to-day activities in schools and provide instructional leadership in preschools, schools, colleges and universities.They set educational standards and goals and establish policies and procedures to carry them out.They supervise managers, support staff, teachers, counselors, librarians, and coaches.They develop academic programs, monitor students' progress, train teachers, manage career-counseling services, prepare budgets, and handle relations with parents and the community.Unlike teachers, they work year-round.

Principals and assistant principals manage elementary and secondary schools.They set the academic tone, work with teachers to develop and maintain high curriculum standards, develop mission statements, and set goals and objectives.

In colleges and universities, deans assist presidents, make faculty appointments, develop budgets, and establish academic policies and programs.Department chairpersons are in charge of departments that specialize in particular fields of study.They teach, coordinate class schedules, propose budgets, recruit faculty and serve on committees.

Education, Training & Degrees

Most education administrators begin their careers in related occupations, often as teachers.They prepare for advancement into Education Administration by completing a PhD or Master's degree.Their educational backgrounds vary considerably.

In most public schools, principals and assistant principals need a Master's degree in Education Administration or educational leadership.Some hold doctorates or specialized degrees in Education Administration.Most states require that principals be licensed as school administrators, and some require administrators to take continuing education classes to keep their license.Academic deans and chairpersons usually hold a doctorate in their specialty, and most have been professors in their departments before advancing.

Advanced degrees in higher Education Administration are offered in many colleges and universities.Education Administration degree programs include classes in school leadership, school law, school finance and budgeting, curriculum development, research design, community relations, counseling and politics in education. In evaluating candidates, supervisors look for leadership, confidence, innovativeness and motivation.

Career Opportunities

According to the U. S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of Education administrators is projected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations.As education takes on greater importance in everyone's lives, the need for people to administrate education programs will grow.A large portion of Education Administrators are expected to retire in the next ten years.

Job prospects for principals and assistant principals should be very favorable.An increase in responsibilities in recent years has made the job more stressful and has discouraged some teachers from taking jobs in administration.

Job prospects for college and university administrators are also expected to be favorable.Increasing enrollments will require that institutions replace the large number of administrators that retire, and even hire additional administrators.A significant number of new positions will stem from growth in the private and for-profit segments of higher education.

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