Specialist in Education with a Major in Educational Leadership

Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the Master’s level calculated on all graduate work attempted.

Minimum of a Master's degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university. To be used to satisfy degree requirement, evaluation of foreign educational transcripts must show degree(s) earned that are the U.S. equivalency of degree(s) required by the program.

Official transcripts are required from all universities and colleges ever attended. In the case of transcripts from international colleges/universities, an official course-by-course transcript evaluation will be accepted in lieu of an official transcript. Official electronic transcripts should be emailed from the issuing institution to Augusta University's Office of Graduate Admissions Operations at graduateadmissions@augusta.edu 

Alternatively, Augusta University will accept official transcripts in the original, unopened, sealed and stamped/signed envelope mailed from the issuing institution directly to:

• Unofficial transcripts from US colleges/universities can be used in the admissions review process in lieu of official transcripts for this program.
• Neither unofficial transcripts from international colleges /universities nor unofficial transcript /credential evaluations of international transcripts can be used in the admissions review process in lieu of official transcripts or official transcript/credential evaluations.  Official transcript/credential evaluations must be received before an admission decision can be made. 
• All required application materials and documents must be received for an application to be considered complete and before an admission decision can be made.  
• Applicants can monitor the receipt of their application materials by logging into their application portal. 
• Applicants who are offered acceptance based on unofficial transcripts must submit their official transcripts no later than:
  • December 31, 2024 for Spring 2025 entry term
  • May 7, 2025 for the Summer 2025 entry term
  • August 1, 2025 for the Fall 2025 entry term
• If official transcripts are not received by the deadlines indicated for each term, then enrollment will not be allowed for that term and the acceptance will be deferred to a future term or will be withdrawn. 

Note: ONLY for applicants enrolled in the term immediately prior to their entry term will the deadline for those official transcripts to be received by the Graduate Admissions office be extended to:

• • January 3, 2025 for Spring term entry
  • May 12, 2025 for Summer term entry  
  • August 11, 2025 for Fall term entry

An official, professional course-by-course evaluation based on official transcripts and documents is required for all foreign educational transcripts and documents from one of the following three credentials evaluation services: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE), Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., or World Education Services (WES). Course-by-course transcript evaluations may also be accepted from a current National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, or NACES, member on a case-by-case basis. Official transcript evaluations based on unofficial transcripts, documents or copies will not fulfill this requirement. 

Specific Ordering Instructions for ECE, Silny and WES

• If ordering from ECE, please select "Augusta University - Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions" as the institution delivery.
• If ordering from Silny, please complete the required PDF ordering form per their webpage. In the Method of Delivery section, please write the following, "Augusta University - Office of Academic Admissions email to graduateadmissions@augusta.edu.
• If ordering from WES, please select the following, "Augusta University" as the recipient, "Office of Academic Admissions" as the school/division,  "Standard Delivery" as the delivery method. 

A letter of recommendation from Building or District Administrator verifying leadership certification is required. 

Recommendations must be submitted online only. Within the application, you will provide the names and current email addresses for the individuals you have asked to serve as your recommenders. Once you have completed the recommendation section within the application, each recommender will receive an email notification directing them to the online site where they can complete their recommendation.

None are required for this program.

English proficiency exam scores are required for applicants whose first language is not English and who do not qualify for an English proficiency exam waiver per the criteria listed below. Augusta University will accept official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Test (IELTS) exam scores. Official exam scores must be taken within 2 years of the date of application. The Augusta University institution code for submission of TOEFL or IELTS scores is 5406. Please do not select a department code.

• TOEFL Minimum Overall Score: 79 internet based or 213 computer based
• IELTS Minimum Overall Band Score: 6.5

English Proficiency Exam Waiver Criteria: An English proficiency exam will be waived for applicants to graduate programs who:

• submit proof of earning a Baccalaureate, Master’s or Doctoral degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university. The requirement will be waived upon receipt of the official transcript showing proof of degree
• are citizens of countries on the approved waiver list

Please visit the International Student webpage for more information.

A valid, level 5 or higher Standard Professional, Advanced Professional, or Lead Professional teaching certificate, leadership certificate, or service field certificate.

A valid Tier I Educational Leadership Certificate or its equivalent.

A valid, level 5 or higher Standard Professional, Advanced Professional, or Lead Professional teaching certificate, leadership certificate, or service field certificate. A minimum of three years of successful classroom teaching experience.

The LUA Tier-II Clinical Practice Permission Form, stating you will be released for the equivalent of two hours per day for the required clinical practice,must be obtained and signed by your district Superintendent(or authorized designee).

NOTE: This requirement is after that applicant has completed Tier I and is beginning Tier II work.

NOTE: The Tier 1 Section courses are only prerequisites within the Extended Ed.S. Program. To obtain a Tier-I Certification within the Extended Ed.S. Program, you must have taken, at a minimum, one more course in the Tier-II Section (excluding the Tier-II Clinical Practice Residency Courses). This will make the 21 credit-hours required for Tier-1 Certification.

An oral interview is required as part of the admission process before a final decision is made.