Master of Arts in Education: Leadership Excellence (Degree Program) (Licensure)

College of Arts and Sciences

a teacher gets ready to call on a class of children with raised hands

Why Choose the Master of Arts in Education: Leadership Excellence at Bethel University?

The Leadership Excellence program is designed for experienced teachers who are ready to take the next step into school administration. Whether your goal is to serve as a principal, director of schools, or supervisor of instruction, this licensure-track program equips you with the leadership skills, policy knowledge, and administrative expertise to make a lasting impact on your school and community.
Built for working educators with at least three years of classroom experience, the program bridges the gap between teaching and leading — honoring your foundation in the classroom while preparing you to guide others. At Bethel, you will be challenged to grow as both a professional and a person, grounded in ethical leadership and a commitment to student success.

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What You’ll Learn

Bethel’s MAE: Leadership Excellence program combines advanced coursework in educational administration with practical leadership preparation, positioning graduates to meet state licensure requirements for school administration roles in Tennessee and beyond.

As a Leadership Excellence student at Bethel, you will:

Develop a comprehensive understanding of school law, education policy, and the legal responsibilities of building-level and district-level administrators.
Study instructional leadership frameworks and learn how to evaluate teacher effectiveness, support professional growth, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Examine budget management, resource allocation, and the financial systems that support school and district operations.
Build skills in community relations, stakeholder engagement, and communication strategies that strengthen trust between schools and the families they serve.
Explore ethical leadership principles and apply them to real-world scenarios involving personnel, student discipline, and organizational change.
Analyze data-driven approaches to school improvement planning, curriculum alignment, and closing achievement gaps.
Complete a supervised administrative internship that provides direct, hands-on experience in a school leadership setting.

This is a licensure program. Applicants must have a minimum of three years of teaching experience to be eligible for admission.

Career Possibilities

A Master of Arts in Education: Leadership Excellence prepares you to step into administrative roles at the building and district level, with licensure credentials recognized for school leadership positions.

Principal

Lead all aspects of a school’s academic and operational functions, manage staff, set the instructional vision, and serve as the primary liaison between the school and district leadership.

Typical education: Master’s in education leadership (licensure)
Median salary: $103,460
Job outlook: 4% growth (2023–2033)

Assistant Principal

Support the principal in daily school operations, student discipline, teacher supervision, and the implementation of instructional and behavioral programs.

Typical education: Master’s in education leadership (licensure)
Median salary: $90,180
Job outlook: 4% growth (2023–2033)

Director of Schools

Oversee an entire school district’s operations, including curriculum, personnel, finance, and community relations, as the district’s chief executive officer.

Typical education: Master’s or Ed.D. in educational leadership
Median salary: $132,700
Job outlook: Steady demand in public education

Supervisor of Instruction

Coordinate curriculum development, monitor instructional quality across schools, and lead professional learning initiatives to improve teaching and student achievement district-wide.

Typical education: Master’s in education leadership or curriculum
Median salary: $74,620–$103,460
Job outlook: Stable demand; varies by district