USF Lakeland offers flexibility within the program to meet student needs by providing alternative course delivery systems. Course work is offered Monday–Thursday evenings, webenhanced or web-based, Saturdays or other alternative calendar options as announced.

Educational Leadership (M.Ed.)

Master's Degree Holders

2nd Master's Degree Option

Students wishing to earn a 2nd Master's degree must complete the new 36 hour program. If you have taken some of the exact courses listed on the course track in a prior Master's degree, those courses may be waived to reduce the total number of hours to a minimum of 30. For example, if you completed EDG 6627 in a prior Master's you would not be required to take it again and would earn a 2nd Master's with 33 hours of coursework.

Certification Only Option

Students not wishing to earn a 2nd Master's may be admitted under a "Certification Only" program. After admission and evaluation of previous coursework by an advisor, a planned program of courses will be developed for each student individually. The State of Florida currently requires a Master's degree and completion of a leadership core curriculum in eight areas of school administration (a total of 30 credit hours is required) to certify administrators. Upon completion of recommended courses, a letter will be issued to the student from the Department of Educational Leadership that may be submitted to the Florida Department of Education. The student must apply to the FLDOE for state certification. The FLDOE will perform a transcript review and determine if certification requirements have been met.

"Certification Only" students are required to apply and attain acceptance to the program and may not complete the entire program as a non-degree seeking student.