Education leaders in principalship in a meeting

Principalship - Ed.S. in Educational Leadership Online

Prepare for the many roles and responsibilities of a school principal with this 100% online program that offers you an intense study of the latest research on effective school management and education.

Next Apply Date: 12/15/25
Next Class Start Date: 1/12/26
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 12/15/25
Next Class Start Date: 1/12/26

Program Overview

Find out why our Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Principalship online degree is for you

Our Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Principalship online program is designed to improve your general educational and specific professional competencies as a school system leader. Our esteemed faculty developed the program to provide additional training, beyond a master's, based on recommendations from professional organizations and accrediting associations. Candidates complete performance-based activities in P–12 school sites and related learning.

This program includes an internship requirement that can be completed while you continue working as an educator or school administrator. In addition, some of the coursework you complete as part of this post-master's degree program may apply to an Arkansas State University doctoral degree in education.

Please

refer to the Program Approval Map for eligibility

information related to this program.


In this program you will:

  • Improve your general educational and specific professional competencies as a school system leader
  • Receive instruction on maintaining a successful culturally responsive school environment and learn to work collaboratively with teachers and parents to implement instructional improvement
  • Utilize valuable experiences from an internship that can be completed while you continue working
  • Meet state or professional requirements for career advancement
In this program you will:+
  • Improve your general educational and specific professional competencies as a school system leader
  • Receive instruction on maintaining a successful culturally responsive school environment and learn to work collaboratively with teachers and parents to implement instructional improvement
  • Utilize valuable experiences from an internship that can be completed while you continue working
  • Meet state or professional requirements for career advancement

As a graduate of this online program, you will be prepared for various educational leadership roles, including:

  • Principal
  • Assistant Principal
  • Director
As a graduate of this online program, you will be prepared for various educational leadership roles, including:+
  • Principal
  • Assistant Principal
  • Director
+

​Additional documents

Textbook Information (.PDF)

This program requires Student Learning & Licensure (SL&L).

State Program Approvals (.PDF)

​Additional documents+

Textbook Information (.PDF)

This program requires Student Learning & Licensure (SL&L).

State Program Approvals (.PDF)

Also available:

A-State offers a variety of post-graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online post-graduate programs.


Total Tuition: $10,500
Program Duration: As few as 18 months
Credit Hours 30

Accreditation

Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

Tuition

Pay for your online program by the course

Our Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Principalship online program offers the same affordable tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $350
Total Tuition: $10,500

Calendar

Upcoming dates and deadlines

Our Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Principalship online program is designed to be flexible and convenient for working professionals, featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates a year.

Please note that the internship course lasts a full semester and only starts in Fall 1 and Spring 1 of terms.

Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.

View full calendar +

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring 11/12/2612/15/2512/15/251/8/261/9/262/27/26
Spring 23/9/262/23/262/23/263/5/263/6/265/1/26

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 12/15/25
Start Class 1/12/26

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

Apply Now

Admissions

Learn how to apply to this online Ed.S. principalship program

Students who are interested in our Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Principalship online program must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution and one year of teaching experience. For students seeking Building Level Administrator (Principal) licensure in the state of Arkansas, you must have 3 years of teaching experience to acquire this licensure. Review full admission requirements below. At this time, International students may not be accepted into any Educational Leadership program – only students with a valid US teaching license that are working in a US school district are eligible for this program.

Admission Requirements:

  • Online application
  • Master's degree
  • Valid teaching license
View all admission requirements +

Admission requirements

  • Master’s degree from an accredited institution with at least 3.25 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
  • A valid, standard teaching license
  • One year of experience as a certified teacher in an educational institution
  • Commitment from an appropriate professional who will function as your mentor during the degree program. View acceptable mentors (PDF).
  • Candidates will be required to submit the self-disposition document provided and verification for teacher effectiveness and leadership abilities

Note: If you have a 3.0-3.24 GPA, you must make a grade of B or better during the first 9 hours of graduate work at Arkansas State University.

Application submission requirements

  • Complete online application
  • Pay the nonrefundable $30 fee
  • Send official transcript(s) from the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution. For this program, we will only need an official transcript that shows your conferred master's degree.

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467


Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

Additional information

While not required for admission, Teacher/Leader Effectiveness Credentials will be required prior to registering for your first course.

For more information on state eligibility, please visit our State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures page.

Additional required documents

As part of the student's portfolio, the following information is required to be completed prior to registering for the 3rd term (second semester):

  • Video Essay
  • Writing Sample

These additional documents are not required to render an admissions decision.

Appeals process

  • Email a written Letter of Appeal and GRE or GMAT scores (may be unofficial) to [email protected]

Transfer credits

Up to 9 graduate hours from A-State or other higher education institutions may be credited toward a program subject to department approval. No course can be older than six years by graduation time. The course must have been taken at the level of the program you are seeking. To request prior credit be evaluated, please complete the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.

Courses

Take a look at the online principalship curriculum

Students pursuing this Ed.S. program must complete the following 10 courses (30 credit hours).

Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.

Expand All
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Provides an in-depth study of and an exploration into the administrative processes of special education.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Addresses planning and resource allocation in public schools with special attention given to site-based management.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the qualities, dispositions, and characteristics of effective leaders, along with research and evaluation strategies for school improvement.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Presents an overview of educational administration for practitioners within the context of ethical and professional behavior.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on constitutional and statutory provisions and court decisions regarding the legal aspects of education.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on concepts, programs, and procedures for establishing and maintaining positive relations between the school, its constituents, and related agencies.

What is school and community relations?

School and community relations builds reciprocal partnerships between educational institutions and communities to support student success. It involves family communication, collaboration with organizations, media engagement, and leveraging external resources. This practice recognizes that achievement depends on strong home-school connections and coordinated services.

This course examines the concepts, programs and procedures for building and maintaining positive relationships between schools, their constituents and related agencies. Topics include media and public relations, publications and strategies for increasing community and parental involvement. Special emphasis is placed on transitional student support services through collaboration with non-school agencies such as social services, law enforcement and disability service providers.

Upon completion, students will be able to:

Collaboratively engage diverse families to strengthen student learning in and out of school

Cultivate relationships with diverse community members, partners and constituencies to support school improvement and student development

Communicate effectively through oral, written and digital means within organizational, community and political contexts to advocate for school and community needs

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on perspectives, skills, and processes necessary for managing curriculum and formalizing the curriculum decision-making process.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Combines attributes of supervising teaching with the formal aspects of teacher evaluation via emphasis on adult development, clinical supervision, and evaluation processes and models extant in public schools.
Duration: 14 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on authentic problems and activities that require candidates to demonstrate leadership skills and practices integral to school leadership. The internship must be completed during the semester in which a candidate completes the degree.
Students must take one of the following courses:
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasizes the selection and organization of content, selection of instructional materials and activities, factors affecting curriculum revision, and current curricular issues in the modern elementary school.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasizes the selection and organization of content, selection of instructional materials and activities, factors affecting curriculum revision, and current curricular issues in the modern middle school.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasizes the selection and organization of content, selection of instructional materials and activities, factors affecting curriculum revision, and current curricular issues in the modern secondary school.
Applicants seeking an Arkansas teaching license by reciprocity who hold a valid license from another state in Childhood (P-4), Elementary Education (K-6), Middle Childhood (4-8), or Secondary Social Studies (7-12) must meet an Arkansas History requirement by documentation of the successful completion of three (3) college credit hours in Arkansas History at an accredited college or university OR a 45-hour professional development piece in Arkansas History through Arkansas IDEAS. Applicants holding a valid license in areas other than the four mentioned above do not have to meet the Arkansas History requirement. HIST 3083 History of Arkansas (offered in summer terms only) meets the Arkansas history requirement.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An advanced survey of Arkansas history from prehistoric times to the present with an emphasis on political, economic, and social/cultural themes. Required of BSE Social Science majors.

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