The University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) has recently announced that they will add a new master’s degree program in educator leadership this fall. This program will be an online program for students wanting a certification to become a principal.
While the School of Education currently has a master’s degree program that allows students to gain other teaching certifications, this new program will allow students to complete schoolwork in elementary and secondary principalship and supervision to earn the principal certification.
It has been approved the S.C. Commission on Higher Education and is currently waiting the final approval from the Department of Education.
“This program provides a way for area educators to move into administration within a school district,” said Judy Beck, dean of USCA’s School of Education. “Because we work the school districts in the area for our undergraduate teacher preparation programs, we are more in tune with the needs of the school districts and the challenges they face. We are also right here in the event they want to meet with faculty face-to-face or utilize in-person services on the USCA’s campus.”
Before the addition of this master’s degree program, local educators who wanted to pursue administrative roles had to enroll out-of-state online programs or in programs in Georgia.
Retired Aiken County Public Schools Superintendent King Laurence supports the USCA educator leadership master’s degree program.
“A master’s degree program on the USCA campus will better prepare our future leaders for South Carolina’s educational landscape,” said Laurence. “A South Carolina-based program with emphasis on our school regulations, finances, and laws will give them a leg up in how they approach the job and goes a long way toward future successes and satisfaction.”
Completion of a bachelor’s degree is required for admittance into the program. The program is 36 graduate credit hours with six hours being internship hours. Only ten participants will be accepted into the program each year.
“Having teacher leaders ready is critical to our success in the future,” said Laurence. “The availability of a quality educational leadership program at USCA will bolster the applicant pool and provide our community with the next generation of school leaders.”
