Why Study Educational Leadership Studies
You have developed your craft as a teacher. Are you ready to take your passion for education to the next level and impact your school community? This degree path, also known as the Aspiring Administrator Preparation Network, prepares high-caliber educators to become effective school administrators, equipped with the knowledge and skills to lead and inspire students, teachers and school communities as assistant principals, principals, district leaders or in other capacities. This graduate degree leads to a Tennessee Instructional Leaders License – Beginning (ILL-B) Administration and Supervision from the Tennessee Department of Education. Aspiring administrators must pass 10 courses and the SLLA 6990 Praxis to be granted licensure.
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership Studies
Whether you want to improve your skills as a teacher-leader or desire a principalship
or district-level position, this degree is practical and relevant. Our licensure program
is fully accredited and completely online.
Faculty members are primarily former leaders in high-achieving schools who understand
the practice of leadership first-hand.
Most affordable principal preparation degree program in Tennessee!
Candidate Requirements
- Apply and be admitted through Austin Peay graduate admissions
- Demonstrate leadership readiness in application process
- Submit a minimum of three years teaching or school service provider experience
- Secure a mentor principal to support you in your educational journey
Application deadline
- For 2025-26 Academic Year: June 30, 2025
Cost Breakdown
- Tuition: $6,425
- Scholarship support is available through APSU and the Tennessee DOE, which covers partial tuition and one (1) Praxis voucher.
- Two (2) Required Textbooks
Program Highlights
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Accelerated one-year program:
10 courses, completed in 7.5-week terms, which allow you to balance your studies with other responsibilities. Classes begin in August 2025, with course completion in July 2026.
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Convenient online format:
Learn from anywhere with internet access through our user-friendly D2L platform and regular Zoom meetings.
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Experienced faculty and mentors:
Gain insights and practical guidance from our dedicated professors and experienced administrative coaches with monthly mentoring sessions.
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Job-embedded, cohort-style learning:
Apply coursework directly to real-world situations through job-embedded assignments in your own school, while interacting with other students in the program.
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Evidence-based curriculum:
Designed to cultivate inclusive and effective learning environments, with a focus on instructional leadership, balcony view, data-informed decisions and a growth mindset.
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Aligned with state standards:
Our curriculum meets the Tennessee Instructional Leadership Standards and Tennessee Literacy Standards to ensure student success.
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ILL-A license:
The Instructional Leader Leaders License – Aspiring (ILL-A) license granted by the Tennessee Department of Education allows you to serve in administrative capacities even before graduation.
Next Steps
Program participants must apply and be admitted to Austin Peay State University.
How to Apply
1) Create an Application Account
- Visit APSU Apply.
- Create a new account by selecting “Create an account” under First-time User.
- Please create your account using a frequently checked email, as you will need to monitor this email address in the future to receive communications from APSU.
- Be sure to double check the spelling of your email address.
2) Complete all Application Sections
- Personal Information
- Fill out all details.
- Note: Not including your SSN on the application can impact your financial aid, scholarship, or grant disbursement.
- College Plans
- Choose "Graduate (Seeking a Masters Educational Leadership)."
- Academic History
- List all previously attended schools.
- Note: Unlisted schools you have attended may affect your financial aid, scholarship, or grant eligibility.
- Additional Information
- Official Transcripts
- Request official transcripts from every institution where you earned credits. Missing transcripts will be flagged, so ensure all institutions are listed.
- Ensure they’re sent to APSU Graduate Admissions, not just APSU.
- Transcripts may not be uploaded since they have to come directly from your previous institution to be official.
- Philosophy Statement
- Write a 1-page statement titled “Philosophy of Education” about why you believe in being a professional educator and what your specific beliefs are.
- Upload in application “Additional Information” section.
- Professional Teaching License
- Download your current license from TNCompass or TN Teacher License Lookup.
- Upload in application “Additional Information” section.
- Teacher Evaluations (3 years)
- These may be found on your TNCompass Account or in a personnel file.
- This is the end-of-year form that adds everything together and gives you an LOE score.
- Preferably years 2021-2024, if available.
- Download each year as a PDF and upload in application “Additional Information” section.
- If you do not have three-years in TN, it is not in TNCompass, or you have been in a private or charter school that handles evaluations differently, scan the evaluations you do have from the past three years.
- Questions still? Email barnettl@apsu.edu
- These may be found on your TNCompass Account or in a personnel file.
- Principal Mentor Reference
- Select “Add New” under References in the Additional Information Section.
- Choose “Principal Mentor” as the reference type in References box.
- Add the contact information for your LEAD/HEAD/EXECUTIVE principal – not an assistant principal or other district leader.
- If you do not work in a school, send it to your direct supervisor.
- Please alert this person that you are applying and ask him/her to complete this reference form for you within 2 weeks.
- Letter of Recommendation
- Select “Add New” under References in the Additional Information Section.
- Choose “Standard” as the reference type in References box.
- Add the contact information from a SEPARATE/DIFFERENT/ NOT YOUR PRINCIPAL LEADER in your district or in your building.
- This letter will be generated by that person and it should tell us that capacity in which you have worked together and that they support you in being prepared to enter a leadership program and role.
- If you do not work in a school, send it to your direct supervisor.
- Please alert this person that you are applying and ask him/her to complete this evaluation for you within 2 weeks.
- Official Transcripts
3) Completing the Application
- Finalize the signature section and submit.
- Use the promo code AAPN2025 to waive the $45 application fee.
- You’ll receive a confirmation email after submission.
4) Application Review/Account
- Complete the Lawful Presence Checklist Item in Your Application Status Page
- You will need to upload a PDF copy of one of these proof of citizenship documents found here: https://www.apsu.edu/admissions/apply/tennessee-eligibility-verification-entitlements-act.php
- You will use the email you created your account with to access your Application Status Page anytime at http://apply.apsu.edu in the “Returning User”
- You can upload any missing materials (except transcripts) on your Application Status
Page that were not uploaded at the time of application.
- If you are experiencing trouble with document upload, you can email the documents using the email you created your application with to: gradadmissions@apsu.edu.
5) Other Important Items
- No GRE/MAT Required: You do not need to take these tests for this program.
- You’ll receive email updates to the email you used to create your account as your application progresses.
- If you need assistance with any aspect of the application process, please contact
Graduate Admissions at gradadmissions@apsu.edu or 931-221-7662.
- Their business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.
- If you have questions regarding the AAPN MAED program, please contact Program Coordinator, Dr. Laura Barnett at barnettl@apsu.edu.
6) Application Deadline
- Have all documents submitted by June 30, 2025.
Next Steps
The Austin Peay State University Eriksson College of Education is proud to offer full-tuition scholarships to outstanding educators in your district who are ready to take the next step in their careers. These educators must be nominated by a Tennessee school district. This graduate degree leads to a Tennessee ILL-B Administration and Supervision license. The new APSU model is a federally-approved Principal Registered Apprenticeship Model (PRAP).
Nomination Overview
Districts will be contacted by APSU to nominate apprentices and complete a PRAP contract
and partnership agreement.
District requirements:
- Provide support from the Mentor Principal in the candidate’s building
- Coordinate weekly planned release time for job-embedded work within the school
Austin Peay is finalizing details to offer the new PRAP contract to all Tennessee school districts. Look for an email with next steps or email Program Coordinator Dr. Laura Barnett.
Questions?
Dr. Laura Barnett
Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator
(931) 221-7752
barnettl@apsu.edu
Program Information
Educational Leadership Studies Program Requirements
Educational Leadership Studies, MAED
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Students should be aware that licensure and certification requirements vary from state to state and are subject to change. Licensing agencies or boards also may have requirements in addition to an earned degree. APSU has not made a determination whether APSU’s programs will meet all of the licensure and certification requirements in each US state or territory. APSU recommends that students who are not Tennessee residents or who plan to seek licensure or certification outside the state of Tennessee contact the appropriate licensing agency or board before they enroll in an academic program designed to lead to licensure or certification and discuss their plans with an advisor.
Please visit the Professional Licensure Disclosure webpage to review specific licensure information for your state and academic program.
