BES in Educational Studies with Emphasis in Educational Leadership

Degree Program Description

The Educational Leadership emphasis area will fill a need for undergraduate learners who are interested in becoming educational and community leaders in PK-12 or Higher Education settings. The courses will provide a foundation in educational theory, research, and practice that will help engage students in settings where they can influence change (e.g., schools, international contexts, student affairs, churches, sports, non-profits, private organizations).

Major Program Requirements

The BES in Educational Studies with Emphasis in Educational Leadership requires students to complete 120 credit hours. Students are required to complete all University general education, and University graduation requirements, in addition to at least 24 credit hours of educational core courses and 24 credit hours of emphasis area course requirements.  

Students must earn no less than a 2.00 GPA, as defined by the GPA of Record. Students must meet the residence requirements of MU and shall have a professional practicum. The student must be recommended for the degree by the faculty of the College of Education and Human Development. At 60 credit hours of completed coursework, students will be required to complete a Graduation Plan that will serve as a preliminary graduation check. All courses are offered with online options.

Educational Core Courses
ED_LPA 2001Civil Rights and Advocacy in Education (Fall semester even years)3
ED_LPA 3450Introduction to Research in Educational Settings (Fall)3
or IS_LT 3450 Introduction to Research in Educational Settings
ED_LPA 4115Introduction to Learning Spaces (Spring semester even years)3
ED_LPA 4975Educational Studies Senior Capstone (Fall and Spring)3
or IS_LT 4500 Educational Studies Game Design Senior Capstone
ESC_PS 4115Human Learning (Fall and Spring)3
IS_LT 2222Information Management and the Successful Scholar (Fall and Spring)3
IS_LT 4473Introduction to Project Management (Spring)3
IS_LT 4361Introduction to Digital Media (Fall and Summer)3
Emphasis Area Internship Requirement
ED_LPA 4481Undergraduate Administrative Internships (Fall and Spring and Summer)3
Emphasis Area Content Courses Choose a minimum of 21 credit hours from the list of course options below. Students may take more than 21 credit hours from the options below, but must complete a minimum of 21 credit hours.
ED_LPA 3204Social Justice for Educational Leaders (Fall and Spring)3
or AG_ED_LD 2250 Introduction to Leadership
ED_LPA 1400The College Student (Fall semester even years)3
ED_LPA 2020Listening Skills for College Student Success (Fall semester odd years)3
ED_LPA 2010College Student Development (Spring semester even years)3
ED_LPA 2030College Student Success Theories (Spring semester odd years)3
ED_LPA 2150Data and Decision Making for Education Leaders (Spring semester odd years)3
ED_LPA 3110Foundations of Peer Education (Fall)3
ED_LPA 4151Leading Educational Organizations in Global Contexts (Fall semester odd years)3
ED_LPA 4404Introduction to Academic Advising (Fall semester even years)3
ED_LPA 4408Introduction to Ethics and PK-12 Policymaking (Spring semester odd years)3
ED_LPA 4428Curriculum Leadership (Spring semester even years)3
ED_LPA 4458Sociology of Education (Spring semester even years)3

Back to Top

Semester Plan

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
IS_LT 22223ED_LPA 41153
General Education Math Requirement3Emphasis Area Content Course3
Humanities3ENGLSH 10003
American History or Government3Biological, Physical, Mathematical Science3
Elective3Humanities3
 15 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ED_LPA 34503IS_LT 4473 (Behavioral Science)3
ESC_PS 41153Emphasis Area Content Course3
ED_LPA 2001 (Social Science)3Biological, Physical, Mathematical Science w/Lab3
Biological, Physical, Mathematical Science3Writing Intensive Course3
Humanities3Elective3
 15 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
IS_LT 43613Emphasis Area Content Course3
Emphasis Area Content Course3Emphasis Area Content Course3
Emphasis Area Content Course3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ED_LPA 44813ED_LPA 4975W3
Emphasis Area Content Course3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective 3Elective3
 15 15
Total Credits: 120

Back to Top

Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

Back to Top