CIP Code: 13.0402
Overview
The Master of Educational Administration (MEA) is a 30-hour program that meets the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requirements for certification as an elementary (K-8) or high school (7-12) building level administrator (principal). The MEA program is offered through two fluid delivery systems: face-to-face and online. Students in the MEA program must complete 300 clock hours of internship in Missouri public or accredited private K-12 schools under the direction and counsel of practicing building administrators and Missouri Baptist University supervisors. The courses in the MEA K-12 program are designed so that students achieve competency as outlined in the Missouri Leader Development System (MLDS) domains and competencies and are aligned to the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL). Verification for meeting these standards must be documented by passing the MPEA School Leaders Performance Assessment, a performance assessment designed for school leaders completing their clinical experience. Students must also pass Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA) 072 - Building-Level Administrator and have three years of documented and approved teaching experience prior to being recommended for certification as a principal.
Summary of the Master’s Degree Process
To earn the MEA degree, a student must complete each of the following steps:
- The student must develop a comprehensive plan of study with the Graduate Advisor.
- The student must complete all coursework included in the plan of study.
- The student must complete 300 clock hours of K-12 internship.
- An Application for Graduation, signed by the student, Graduate Advisor, and Vice President for Graduate Studies, must be filed with the Graduate Office and the Records Office in the semester prior to the term in which the student intends to graduate.
- Students must pay the required graduation fee. All graduate candidates for graduation during an academic year – Summer (previous year) Fall/Winterim, and Spring – are encouraged to attend the commencement exercises which are held at the close of the Spring Semester. Graduate students must have all work completed and a degree conferred in order to participate in the ceremony. Students must notify the Vice President for Graduate Studies and the Director of Records if they choose not to participate. Students must pay the graduation fee whether they attend commencement or not.
- All graduate students must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in order to graduate from the program.
Transfer Students/Transfer Credit
Transfer credits must have been earned within the seven (7) years prior to entry into the Graduate Studies Program. Transfer credits must be approved by Graduate Admissions or Advising and the Division Dean or Program Director and must have grades of A, B, S, CR, or P. Students may not take courses from other graduate programs while enrolled at Missouri Baptist without written approval from the Vice President for Graduate Studies.
Students entering the Master of Educational Administration (MEA) may transfer up to nine (9) graduate credits into the Missouri Baptist University Graduate Studies Program from another regionally accredited college or university; however, students must complete a minium of 24 credits toward the MEA degree at MBU. Students transferring in nine (9) graduate credits will need to complete an approved elective unless they are pursuing Special Education Director certificaton with the MEA.
The University only recognizes institutions accredited by the current edition of Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education published by the CHEA and the American Council on Education.
Directed Studies
Qualified students are permitted to engage in directed studies under graduate faculty supervision. Under this arrangement, students are enabled to explore subjects in depth, or examine new areas of study, beyond the opportunity afforded by the University’s curriculum. In some cases, catalog courses may be offered as directed studies. Graduate students may not earn more than six (6) credit hours of directed study in their master’s program unless special permission is received in writing from the Vice President for Graduate Studies. Certain courses may not be taken by directed study, as specified in the course description. Directed study forms are available in the Records Office and approval must be obtained from the student’s Graduate Advisor, the instructor of the course, Division Dean, and Vice President for Graduate Studies before the beginning of each term. The student and graduate faculty are expected to present the following items as part of the directed study: objectives, detailed description of the study, procedures for student-instructor interaction, method of evaluation, and anticipated resources needed for the study or a course syllabus may be attached to the directed study form.
Exit Exam
While not required for graduation, students must pass Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA) 072 - Building Level Administrator and the MPEA School Leaders Performance Assessment, a performance assessment designed for school leaders completing their clinical experience, in order to be eligible for certification.The MPEA School Leaders Performance Assessment is embedded into EDAD 573 Capstone.
Note: For certification in the state of Missouri, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires that each graduate of the Master of Educational Administration (MEA) program demonstrate basic competencies by achieving a passing score, as determined by the State Board of Education, for the Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA) 072 Building-Level Administrator. MBU’s current program course requirements found in the University’s Graduate Bulletin and on the program Degree Plan Worksheet reflect DESE’s current requirements. Students completing the MEA program are strongly encouraged to readily: (a) take the MoCA assessment for Building-Level Administrator (072) and (b) apply for certification through the DESE web applications portal. Candidates who do not take and pass the current assessment and/or do not apply for certification upon program completion may be impacted by future changes to certification requirements implemented by DESE, which may result in additional course or assessment requirements.
Special Education Director (K-12) Degree Requirements
Candidates for Special Education Director (K-12) must have a minimum of three (3) years special education or student services experience (elementary counselor, secondary counselor, school psychological examiner, school psychologist, speech pathologist, adult education supervisor, career education counselor, or career education placement coordinator) approved by DESE for certification.
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