Educational leader in superintendency

Ed.S., Superintendent Online

Arkansas State University's Ed.S., Superintendent is a 100% online, CAEP-accredited post-master's degree built for licensed building-level administrators advancing to district-level leadership. Completed in as few as 18 months (30 credit hours), the program satisfies Arkansas Department of Education requirements for District Level Administrator (Superintendent) licensure and prepares candidates for the School Superintendent Assessment (SSA).

Next Apply Date: 9/28/26
Next Class Start Date: 10/12/26
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 9/28/26
Next Class Start Date: 10/12/26

Program Overview

What will you learn in the superintendent Ed.S. program?

The online Education Specialist, Superintendent program from Arkansas State University is designed to improve your general educational and specific professional competencies as a leader in public school systems. This program provides advanced study beyond the master's degree.

Candidates complete performance-based activities in P-12 school sites and related settings. Students are required to complete 30 hours of coursework. Courses are tightly integrated and focused on application-based curriculum. Students will benefit from the incorporation of technology that aligns with national expectations for the 21st-century educator. This program can be completed in as little as 18 months.

For state program approvals, please refer to our State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.

Additional documents

Textbook Information (.PDF)

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

In this superintendent education specialist program you will:

  • Improve your general educational and specific professional competencies to be a leader in the public school system
  • Prepare to utilize hands-on, performance-based activities in P-12 school sites and related settings
  • Meet state or professional requirements for career advancement
In this superintendent education specialist program you will:+
  • Improve your general educational and specific professional competencies to be a leader in the public school system
  • Prepare to utilize hands-on, performance-based activities in P-12 school sites and related settings
  • Meet state or professional requirements for career advancement

As a graduate of this online Ed.S. Superintendent program, you will build upon your educational administration expertise and be prepared to serve in roles such as:

  • Superintendent
  • Assistant Superintendent / Deputy Superintendent / Associate Superintendent
  • Chief Academic Officer / Chief of Schools
  • Central Office Administrator / District-Level Administrator
As a graduate of this online Ed.S. Superintendent program, you will build upon your educational administration expertise and be prepared to serve in roles such as:+
  • Superintendent
  • Assistant Superintendent / Deputy Superintendent / Associate Superintendent
  • Chief Academic Officer / Chief of Schools
  • Central Office Administrator / District-Level Administrator
+

Also available:

A-State's online Ed.S. Superintendent is one of several post-graduate programs designed for working educators. If you're weighing your options, explore the related programs below:

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

Accreditation

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Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

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Tuition

How much does the Ed.S. Superintendent program cost?

Our online Education Specialist, Superintendent program offers the same affordable tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on an annual basis.

Tuition breakdown:

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

Calendar

When can you start the superintendent Ed.S. program?

Our online superintendent Ed.S. program is designed to be flexible and convenient for working professionals, featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates each 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
Fall 18/19/268/5/268/5/268/17/268/17/2610/2/26
Fall 210/12/269/28/269/28/2610/8/2610/9/2612/4/26
Spring 11/11/2712/28/2612/28/261/7/271/8/272/26/27
Spring 23/8/273/4/272/22/273/4/273/5/274/30/27

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 9/28/26
Start Class 10/12/26

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

What are the admissions requirements for the online superintendent education specialist program?

Students who are interested in our Ed.S. Superintendent online program must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution and three years of teaching experience. For students seeking District Level Administrator (Superintendent) licensure, you must have at least 1 year of administrator experience and you must already have Building Level or a Curriculum endorsement on your teaching license. 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 standard active teaching license as a Building-Level or Curriculum/Program Administrator
  • Three years of experience as a certified teacher in an educational institution
  • One year of building-level or curriculum/program administrative experience
  • Commitment from an appropriate professional who will function as your mentor during the degree program. View acceptable mentors.
  • 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.

Dondre Harris
The Ed.S. prepared me well to become a superintendent. ... I received very good value from the program.

Dondre Harris, A-State online Education Specialist, Superintendent graduate

Courses

What courses are in the Ed.S. Superintendent online curriculum?

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

You can view your schedule of courses for this degree through the Course Smartsheet:

View the AOS Course Smartsheet

How to Use the Course Smartsheet

Expand All

For the superintendent track the internship will be the 14-week course separated into two seven-week courses.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A consideration of systems and procedures for accounting, budget planning and preparation, auditing, purchasing, and bonding.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of the effective performance pat­terns for school district superintendents with emphasis given to the relationships among the local board of education, superintendent, school personnel, and the community.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of emerging professional re­sponsibilities and ethical practices; current selection, retention, and promotion practices; and de­signs for salary schedules and fringe benefits.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines vari­ous techniques of program analysis and evaluation for individual schools and for the total school system.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Analysis of significant contem­porary issues confronting American education.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of current curriculum innovations and their underlying theoretical bases. Emphasis is given to current research on effective schools and to the translation of effective curriculum designs into practice.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of diverse cultural backgrounds represented in the nation’s schools. Emphasis is placed on understanding educational and cultur­al issues along with identifying agencies and programs that are designed to facilitate and nurture learning environments.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A comprehensive study of educational facilities, transportation, and food services programs for school district administra­tors. Administrators learn to use data logically and systematically to provide effective services and make decisions.
Duration: 14 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A supervised clinical experience in a school district with emphasis on authentic problems and activities that require students to demonstrate leadership, skills, and practices integral to the performance of the school district administrator.  Prerequisites: Completion of all required program coursework, portfolio, and/or permission of department chair.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of the relationship of culture, law, and policy as applied to educational settings.
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
UNITED STATES HISTORY. An advanced survey of Arkansas history from prehistoric times to the present with an emphasis on political, economic, and social/cultural themes. Fall, Spring, Summer. Required of BSE Social Science majors.

Built for Arkansas Educators

Arkansas State University's online Ed.S., Superintendent is built for licensed building-level administrators working in Arkansas schools and districts who are ready to move into district-level leadership. Coursework is delivered entirely online with accelerated terms and multiple start dates each year, so you can keep working while you finish your degree in as few as 18 months.

This degree is a logical next step for administrators already on a leadership path. The Ed.S. satisfies Arkansas Department of Education requirements for District Level Administrator (Superintendent) licensure and prepares you to sit for the School Superintendent Assessment (SSA).

The program offers the same affordable tuition to all U.S. residents, with all fees included. For Arkansas educators, that means a predictable, all-inclusive rate for preparing you to advance into district leadership without leaving the state. For state authorization and Arkansas-specific licensure and disclosure details, visit the State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.

FAQ

Ed.S., Superintendent Online FAQs

Intro copy

A-State's Ed.S., Superintendent satisfies Arkansas Department of Education requirements for District Level Administrator (Superintendent) licensure. The program is CAEP-accredited.
Yes, this program requires administrative experience. You'll need a master's degree from an accredited institution (3.25 GPA), three years of teaching experience, a valid Building Level or Curriculum/Program Administrator endorsement, and at least one year of administrative experience in that role. You'll also need a mentor commitment and a self-disposition document.
This program is built specifically for you. The typical path to the superintendency starts with a Building Level Administrator (principal or assistant principal) credential and administrative experience, then this Ed.S. in Superintendency to earn District Level Administrator licensure. If you already meet the one-year administrative experience requirement and all other admissions requirements, you're ready to apply directly.
Students in most U.S. states may be eligible for this program. See the State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures page for state-by-state details. International students are not eligible at this time.
Yes. This program is 100% online and includes a required Supervised Internship, a 14-week clinical experience in a school district, split into two seven-week courses for the superintendent track, offered only in Fall 1 or Spring 1 terms.
As few as 18 months across 30 credit hours (10 courses). Up to 9 graduate credit hours may transfer into this program, subject to department approval; no transferred course may be older than six years at the time of graduation.
In Arkansas and most states, the Ed.S. satisfies the credential requirement for superintendent licensure — a doctoral degree is not required for most superintendent positions. Graduates who want to pursue doctoral study for larger district leadership or higher education administration can advance to A-State's Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.
Building Level Administrator credentials authorize service as a principal, assistant principal, or vice principal within a single school. District Level Administrator (superintendent) credentials authorize oversight across an entire district — all schools, the central office, and reporting to the school board. This program leads to District Level Administrator licensure; A-State's Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Principalship leads to Building Level Administrator licensure.
A-State's Ed.S. in Principalship prepares educators without prior administrative experience to become school principals. This program is different: it requires applicants who already hold a Building Level or Curriculum/Program Administrator credential and at least one year of administrative experience, and prepares them specifically for district-level leadership.
Yes. Arkansas requires the School Superintendent Assessment (SSA) — part of the same ETS School Leadership Series that includes the SLLA for principals — for District Level Administrator licensure. This program's coursework, including School District Administration, Educational Policy and Advocacy, and School Business Management, addresses the leadership and operational content the SSA covers.

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