Pursuing a Career in Educational Administration

A career in educational administration involves providing structural leadership within educational facilities including preschools, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities, museums, correctional institutions and many more.

Educational Administration Job Outlook

The nature of an educational administrator's work is very broad and includes:
  • developing educational programs
  • establishing policies and procedures
  • helping prospective students
  • meeting academic standards
  • monitoring student progress
  • preparing budgets
  • setting educational standards
  • setting the academic tone
  • supervising managers, support staff, teachers, counselors, librarians, coaches and other employees
  • working with parents.
The duties of an educational administrator can be quite varied and may involve any number of tasks that go into running a school.

Education, Experience and Degree Requirements

Most educational administration jobs require a high level of education, including a master's degree and often a PhD. Here are a few more details on requirements, by position:
  • Admissions jobs and financial jobs usually require a bachelor's degree.

  • Administrators that oversee preschools are often required to have a bachelor's degree.

  • College deans usually need a master's degree and often a doctorate. They are usually professors before they become deans.

  • Child care and preschool directors, in most states, are required to obtain nationally recognized licenses.

  • Most principals in public schools need a master’s degree in education administration or educational leadership. Some states require that principals obtain licenses in educational administration.

  • Educational administrators often have experience teaching before they take on administration roles.

Educational Administration Coursework

Those working towards a career in educational administration must take courses in educational administration theory, research and practice and educational administration concepts and practice. Students also analyze case studies on educational administration.
 
Specific courses in educational administration include:
  • budgeting
  • community relations
  • counseling
  • curriculum development
  • politics in education
  • research design and data analysis
  • school finance
  • school law
  • school leadership.

Educational Administration Jobs

Some of the jobs available to graduates with an educational administration degree include:
  • administrator heading up certain departments (psychology, athletics and professional development)
  • assistant principal
  • chief academic officer
  • dean
  • dean of students
  • director or supervisor at a preschool
  • instructional coordinator
  • principal
  • vice president of student affairs.
A degree in educational administration means that you can do just about anything involving educational leadership.
 
The cost of an educational administration education widely varies. A bachelor's degree in education can range in price from $10,000 per year for an in-state public university to $40,000 per year for an out-of-state or private university. A master's degree has the same range in cost but is only for two years, while bachelor's programs typically last for four.
 
Once you get to the doctorate level, you don't have to pay for your education and you actually get paid a small stipend. Community college courses are much less expensive, ranging in cost from about $60 to $200 per credit.
 
Salary expectations vary significantly depending on what job you choose. Principals and assistant principals make between $65,000 and $95,000 per year. Chief academic officers make about $140,000 and deans make between $85,000 and $130,000. The head of development, the financial director, the dean of student affairs and the registrar make between $50,000 and $80,000 with the director of development making $125,000.

Available Online Degrees in Educational Administration

Degrees in educational administration are also available online. Here are some of the degrees offered through schools on the Internet:
  • educational leadership
  • instructional technology
  • master's in education
  • master's in teaching
  • PhD in education.
The cost for online degrees can be as low as $250 per credit hour.
 
A career in educational administration is challenging and often involves a lot of responsibility, but the pay-offs include a good salary, great benefits and a career working to help students at all levels succeed. You can find a wide range of possible career choices through a degree in educational administration.

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