Educational Leadership (M.A.)

Getting Started

Applicants must submit an application online at apply.fgcu.edu. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 239-745-GRAD or graduate@fgcu.edu for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.

See program website at URL listed above.

Program Specific Requirements

The department bases decisions for regular admissions on a holistic review of credentials in which the criteria listed below are used to assess the potential success of each applicant. Performance in courses taken in other graduate degrees and/or non-degree seeking post-baccalaureates will also be taken into consideration for admission. 

• Transcripts that verify a four-year undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution or US equivalent;
• One of the following:
  • A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 semester hours attempted that were accrued to the undergraduate degree
  • A graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution

Submission of

• Two letters of recommendations from working professionals in the field and/or a current or previous supervisor and/or an academic advisor indicating they have performed at least at a satisfactory level in that position.
• A letter of intent from the applicants that spells out their reasons for wanting to enter the program and a list of a perceived set of skills and dispositions.

• International graduate applicants are required to submit a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test) or 79 (internet-based test), or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, unless otherwise specified by the program.
• FGCU Regulation 3.005 also allow students to prove their English proficiency by completing “English Composition I and II (ENC 1101 and ENC 1102, or equivalent) with a grade of C or better” (these courses should be completed prior to admission into the graduate program).

Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search

Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.

*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)

Academic Learning Compact

Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning that is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. The Academic Learning Compact (ALC) initiative supports the teaching-learning process by clearly identifying expected core student learning outcomes in the areas of content/discipline knowledge and skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills; aligning curricula with expectations; and using assessment to guide continuous improvement.

Content/Discipline Knowledge and Skills

• Work collaboratively to develop and implement an instructional framework that aligns curriculum with state standards, effective instructional practices, student learning needs and assessments.
• Manage the organization, operations, and facilities in ways that maximize the use of resources to promote a safe, efficient, legal, and effective learning environment. 

Content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the program level through assignments in the following courses: EDG 6326 Learning, Accountability, and Assessment (Curriculum Development Project) and EDA 6242 School Finance (School Budget Project). They are also assessed on the EDA 6999 Educational Leadership Learning Portfolio and the Florida Educational Leadership Examination.

Communication Skills

• Practice two-way communications and use appropriate oral, written, and electronic communication and collaboration skills to accomplish school and system goals by building and maintaining relationships with students, faculty, parents, and community.

Communication skills are assessed at the program level through assignments, projects, and senior research project in every course and in the EDA 6999 Educational Leadership Learning Portfolio- Community and Stakeholders Partnership Integrative Essay. Communication Skills are also assessed on the Florida educational Leadership Examination.

Critical Thinking Skills

• Employ and monitor a decision-making process that is based on vision, mission and improvement priorities using facts and data; specifically, use critical thinking and problem solving techniques to define problems and identify solutions.

Critical thinking skills are assessed at the program level through assignments in EDG 6326 Learning, Accountability (School Improvement Plan Project).

Information on Tuition and Fees is available on the Office of the Bursar website.

Financial Aid and Estimated Cost of Attendance

Contact the Financial Aid Office for information about grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment. See FGCU's Financial Aid website for information and applications. This site also has information on estimated cost of attendance for graduate students.