School Leadership: Admissions Information

We hope you will explore our website and call to answer any questions you may have about the School Leadership Program and its ExSL and LPP tracks. 

We hope to see your application! 

To Apply to the 2012 School Leadership Masters Program, click here: 2012App

Who can apply? 

Interested teachers, counselors, or other educators who hold a bachelor’s degree and a Level 2 teaching license. 

How to Prepare:

  • Begin or continue discussions with your principal about your interests in administration.  ExSL students will work very closely with their current principal as their administrative internship mentor.
  • Look for opportunities to gain leadership experience at the school, e.g. committee leadership, team leadership, etc.
  • Plan NOW to study for and take the graduate examinations at least two months before the application deadline (e.g. GRE, Miller's Analogy).  To be more competitive in your applications, take advantage of study materials, books and classes to improve your performance on these exams.

Application Deadlines:

  • LPP Track -  1 December  2012   (begins Spring term 2013)
  • ExSL Track - 12 February 2013     (begins Summer term 2013)

For more information about the School Leadership Program:

How are participants selected? 

The BYU School Leadership Program (M.Ed.) evaluates candidates in several key areas:

  • Scholarship
  • Leadership Experience
  • Teaching Experience

Competitive applicants will have a Level II Teaching License (or equivalent), more years of teaching experience, more administrative experience (e.g. TSA, literacy coach, etc.) at the school or district level, higher GPA and graduate exam scores (or sub-scores) above the 50th percentile.

Application Process

Applicants must complete all application processes for the BYU Graduate School and the School Leadership Program. Applicants are responsible to ensure that all application materials are received prior to the application deadline.  Applications that are incomplete at the application deadline will not be considered.

1. BYU Graduate Studies Application

Applicants for admission to the BYU School Leadership Program (M.Ed.) need to apply to the BYU Graduate Studies.   Graduate application packets are also available from BYU Graduate Studies (105 FPH). Ensuring that a completed application is submitted to the BYU Graduate Studies is the responsibility of the candidate.

Submit the following information online or to the BYU Office of Graduate Studies, BYU, 105 FPH, Provo, UT 84602-1339 (801-422-4091; FAX 801-422-0270) by the application deadlines (above).

  1. BYU Graduate Studies Application - Online application
  2. Ecclesiastical Endorsement for Graduate Admission.  BYU Honor code commitment & confidential report from ecclesiastical leader (Form E).
  3. Graduate Exam Scores (GRE, GMAT, LSAT or MAT).  Complete exams in sufficient time to submit  scores to BYU before the application deadline.
  4. One official transcript from all institutions attended - GPA must be above 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 semester hours of coursework.
  5. Three letters of recommendation (submitted online). One letter must be from your current principal or school leader. One letter must be from your current department chair or team leader.  All letters of recommendation will be submitted electronically by the recommender.  Mailed paper copies will no longer be processed.

**A TOEFL score of at least 580 or equivalent is required for students for whom English is a second language.

2. School Leadership Program Application

In addition to the BYU Graduate School Application, applications must also complete the School Leadership Program Application. 

Beginning with applications for 2013, this program application will be completed online (the link will be available HERE on 1 Nov 2012).

  1. School Leadership 2012 Application -- (you can download the application to prepare your information; this information will need to be entered online)
  2. Resume:  Upload a PDF copy of your resume (when the online application link is available).  See Resume Instructions for what to include.
  3. Letter of Intent:  Upload a PDF copy of your Letter of Intent. The Letter of Intent should provide your rationale for pursuing the BYU School Leadership Program (M.Ed. in Educational Leadership).  In addition, address your philosophy of education, academic preparation, future career plans and describe your experience in the following areas: 
    1. Scholarship &continous learning,
    2. Leadership & change
    3. Improvement of teaching and learning
    4. Learning communities
    5. Data-driven decision making
    6. Service to children and youth

             4.  State of Utah Level II License:  Submit a copy of your State of Utah Level II license or evidence that you hold the equivalent to a Level II license.  Applicants are responsible for obtaining alternate evidence of Level II License equivalency from their district (e.g. counselors) or from the State (e.g. out of state applicants).

**Any student who does not hold a Utah Teaching Endorsement must have a Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) and FBI background check involving finger printing before fulfilling an administrative internship in the State of Utah.

Applying to Both Tracks

Applicants may choose to apply to both tracks.  To do so, they must notify the Department in writing both prior to the respective track application deadlines.  No additional application materials need to be submitted. 

Please note that an application for one track does not transfer to the other track without your specific written request.  Note also that admissions decisions for each track are made independently and that admission to one track does not guarantee admission to the other track. 

Re-Application

**If you have made previous application to the Department for a different program or for a different year, please call the EDLF Graduate Secretary (801-422-6070) to have your file re-activated.  You may wish to update your resume and letter of intent.

To Download the 2011-2012 School Leadership Program Application, Click Here.

Admissions Process

Deadlines.  All applications that are complete as of the application deadlines will be considered.  Applicants to the LPP Track must notify the Department in writing prior to the ExSL track deadline if they want to be considered in the ExSL pool (see applying to both tracks, above).

Campus Screening.  Qualified applicants will be invited to an on-campus screening that involves interviews and group interactions. This screening will also give applicants the opportunity to meet faculty and school administrators. 

  • LPP Track Screening - 8 Jan 2013
  • ExSL Track Screening - 26 Feb 2013

Admission Notification.  Applicants will be notified about admission decisions within 2 weeks of the campus screening.

Program Orientation.  Program orientation will be held about one month before starting the program.  Dates for program orientation will be included in the admission notification letter.

For More Information

Questions concerning the requirements and procedures for program application and admission should be directed to:

Department Secretary
Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations
Brigham Young University
Provo UT 84602
Telephone: (801) 422-4291 or (801) 422-6070
Fax: (801) 422-0196
URL: http://education.byu.edu/edlf/
Email: edlfsec@byu.edu
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND FOUNDATIONS

Financial Aid

  • LPP BYU School/Public School Partnership Sabbaticals- see your district
  • Regular District Sabbatical - consider full year sabbaticals as well as 1/4 and 1/2 year sabbaticals
  • EDLF Department Financial Aid-- EDLF Financial Aid Application -- Applications are due Sept 30 for financial support during following calendar year.  Very limited funds available for tuition.  Most funds distributed for Winter semester tuition.
  • Federal Student Loans - Application  
  • Personal Loans
    • NOTE:  Research has demonstrated that the costs are recouped in most situations in about two years with the salary differential resulting from administrative appointment

 

Program Requirements

I. ENTRY TERM

A. LPP track begins Spring Term.
B. ExSL track begins Summer Term.

II. REQUIREMENTS FOR M.Ed. DEGREE

A. Credit Hours: Students must complete the credit hour requirements for their chosen emphasis. The School Leadership program requires 41-43 credit hours to receive the master’s degree. Appropriate credit earned at BYU while the student is in non-degree status (not to exceed a total of 10 semester hours) may be applied toward the Master’s degrees upon approval of the School Leadership Program committee.

B. Graduate: Transfer Credit: Appropriate transfer credit from other institutions of higher education (not to exceed a total of 10 semester hours) may be applied toward the Master’s degree upon approval of the School Leadership Program committee. However, courses used to obtain a previous degree may not be transferred.

C. Grades: The candidate must achieve at least a 3.0 average in all graduate work. No grade lower than a C- will be counted toward graduation.

D. Registration: Students should register for courses as outlined on their study list. Students must be registered for a minimum of 6.0 credits per academic year (fall, winter, spring, summer) to remain in the program.

E. Study List: All students must submit an approved study list by the end of their first semester.  Approved study lists will be provided at the program orientation.  Any changes must be entered on a Change of Study List form, receive the appropriate signatures, and be kept on file in the Department.

F.  Administrative Internship.  Students must complete the State-required administrative internship requirements. 

F. Project & Comprehensive Examination: All students will complete a School Leadership Project and the comprehensive examination requirements (oral presentation & paper). 

***Students seeking Administrative Licensure will also need to pass the State-required Administrative Praxis Exam (ETS 0411) to obtain recommendation for licensure from BYU.

III. HONOR CODE AND DRESS AND GROOMING STANDARDS

Students who are admitted to Brigham Young University have committed themselves to abide by the standards outlined in the Honor Code and Dress and Grooming Standards. It is expected that each student will follow these standards with integrity.

IV. CONTINUING ECCLESIASTICAL ENDORSEMENT

All continuing students must submit a new continuing ecclesiastical endorsement by the University deadline each year. Non-LDS students may obtain an endorsement through an ecclesiastical officer of their choice or through the Student Life Office.