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 semester hours of educational core courses and 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 or field experience for academic credit (a minimum of 2 credit hours).  The instructor of record for this experience will be a faculty member within the College of Education and Human Development.  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 4115Introduction to Learning Spaces (SP)3
IS_LT 2222Information Management and the Successful Scholar (FS/SP)3
ESC_PS 4115Human Learning (FS/SP)3
ED_LPA 3450Introduction to Research in Educational Settings (FS)3
or IS_LT 3450 Introduction to Research in Educational Settings
IS_LT 4473Introduction to Project Management (SP)3
IS_LT 4361Introduction to Digital Media (FS/SP/SS)3
ED_LPA 4975Educational Studies Senior Capstone (FS/SP)3
or IS_LT 4500 Educational Studies Game Design Senior Capstone
ED_LPA 2001Civil Rights and Advocacy in Education (FS even years)3
Emphasis Area Content Courses
AG_ED_LD 2250Introduction to Leadership (FS/SP)3
ED_LPA 2020Listening Skills for College Student Success (FS odd years)3
ED_LPA 2150Data and Decision Making for Education Leaders (SP odd years)3
ED_LPA 4151Leading Educational Organizations in Global Contexts (FS odd years)3
ED_LPA 4408Introduction to Ethics and PK-12 Policymaking (SP odd years)3
ED_LPA 4428Curriculum Leadership (SP even years)3
ED_LPA 4458Sociology of Education (SP even years)3
ED_LPA 4481Undergraduate Administrative Internships (FS/SP/SS)3

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Semester Plan

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
IS_LT 22223AG_ED_LD 22503
General Education Math Requirement3ED_LPA 41153
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 41153Education Course Elective3
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 43613ED_LPA 44583
ED_LPA 20203ED_LPA 44283
ED_LPA 41513Writing Intensive (3000/4000 Level)3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ED_LPA 44813ED_LPA 49753
Elective3ED_LPA 21503
Elective3ED_LPA 44083
Elective3Elective3
Elective 3Elective3
 15 15
Total Credits: 120

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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.

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