Graduate Programs

• Doctor of Education in Leadership

• Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership (Superintendent)

• Master of Arts: Excellence in Teaching
• Master of Arts in Teaching (with licensure)
• Master of Science in Education

Leadership Degrees

• Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction Administration
• Master of Education in Educational Leadership (Principal)
• Master of Education in Special Education Administration

Specialized Degrees

• Master of Education in Reading with Dyslexia Endorsement
• Master of Education in Special Education K-12

Our Master of Education in curriculum and instruction administration prepares you to become a highly qualified curriculum and instruction administrator. If you already have a master's degree, an endorsement can be specifically designed for you. Completion of either the degree or the endorsement, along with the successful completion of the School Leaders Licensure Assessment and three years of teaching experience, will qualify you for standard curriculum and instruction administration licensure at the P-12 level in Arkansas.

The curriculum and instruction administration endorsement program is offered in a hybrid format, a combination of face-to-face and online instruction. Admission requirements for the endorsement are identical to those for the Master's degree in this field of study, but may vary for each individual based on previous graduate coursework. Before beginning the endorsement program, each individual's graduate transcripts will be reviewed, and a personalized curriculum plan will be prepared. At a minimum, this curriculum plan will be followed.

Admission requirements for the endorsement are identical to those for the Master's degree in this field of study. Download the checklist for details. 

Apply Now!

For more information about the curriculum and instruction administration endorsement please contact Harding’s Department of Educational Leadership at 501-279-4117 or edleadership@harding.edu.

Schools need teachers who understand dyslexia, dyslexia assessment and how to help these students who struggle to read and write. This program can be completed in one calendar year. This endorsement program is approved by the Arkansas Department of Education and meets the standards of the International Dyslexia Association, the Arkansas Teaching Standards and the International Literacy Association Standards for Reading Professionals.

The dyslexia endorsement program is offered fully online and requires 15 hours of coursework. These hours are outlined in the dyslexia curriculum plan. For a list of admission requirements, download the checklist. 

Apply Now!

For more information about the dyslexia endorsement please contact Dr. Wendy Ellis, director of reading, at graduatereading@harding.edu.

If you are a licensed teacher seeking a Master of Education in Special Education K-12 and would like to add the dyslexia endorsement, this program is for you! By completing two additional courses from the dyslexia program of study, you will have completed the coursework requirement for the dyslexia endorsement.

All coursework except for SPED 656, Special Education Practicum and Internship K-12, is offered online for this program of study. The dyslexia special education K-12 endorsement consists of 15 hours that include clinical experiences in special education. These hours are outlined in the dyslexia curriculum plan.

For a list of admission requirements, download the checklist.

Apply Now!

For more information about the dyslexia endorsement please contact Dr. Carol Douglass, director of special education, at cdouglass@harding.edu.

If you are a teacher with a current, standard Arkansas Educator License in Early Childhood P-4, Elementary Education K-6 or 1-6, P-4 Special Education (Special Education Instructional Specialist), or Special Education K-12 (other licensure areas may be acceptable with additional coursework) seeking a birth through kindergarten endorsement, the early childhood/special education integrated birth to kindergarten endorsement program is for you!

All coursework is offered online for this program. It involves 15 hours that include clinical experiences in early childhood settings. These hours are outlined in the early childhood/special education integrated birth to kindergarten curriculum plan.

For a list of admission requirements, download the checklist.

Apply Now!

For more information about the early childhood/special education integrated birth to kindergarten endorsement program, please contact Dr. Carol Douglass, director of special education, at cdouglass@harding.edu.

If you are looking for an endorsement that you can complete fully online in one calendar year, the gifted and talented licensure endorsement program is designed for you. This state-approved program is designed for the working professional and meets current Arkansas state guidelines leading to gifted and talented licensure endorsement.

Our Master of Education in educational leadership rigorously prepares you to become a highly qualified principal. If you already have a master's degree, an endorsement can be specifically designed for you by the director of educational leadership. Completion of either the degree or the endorsement, along with the successful completion of the School Leaders Licensure Assessment and three years of teaching experience, will qualify you for principal licensure as a P-12 administrator in Arkansas.

The principal endorsement program is offered in a hybrid format, a combination of face-to-face and online instruction. The program will be developed based on a 25-hour curriculum plan, but each program will vary based on previous graduate coursework.

Admission requirements for the endorsement are identical to those for the Master's degree in this field of study. Download the checklist for details.

Apply Now!

For more information about the principal endorsement please contact Harding’s Department of Educational Leadership at 501-279-4117 or edleadership@harding.edu.

This reading endorsement program is designed to provide you, as a classroom practitioner or literacy supervisor, with rigorous, intensive training and advanced knowledge. The program content consists of 24 hours of study in linguistic and cognitive bases of the reading process, reading comprehension, word identification, vocabulary development, reading methodologies, diagnosis and reading program development. Our program's philosophical underpinnings reside in the science reading approach to teaching literacy and establishing highly effective literacy processes based on current research and best practices. The course of study is aligned with standards derived from national associations as well as the Arkansas Department of Education. The national agencies whose standards drive the course content of the program include the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the International Literacy Association and the International Dyslexia Association.

The reading endorsement program is offered through classroom instruction and online classes and requires 24 hours of coursework. These hours are outlined in the reading endorsement curriculum plan. For a list of admission requirements, download the checklist.

Apply Now!

For more information, contact Dr. Wendy Ellis, director of reading, at graduatereading@harding.edu.

Our Master of Education in special education administration prepares you to become highly qualified in special education administration. If you already have a master's degree, an endorsement can be specifically designed for you. Completion of either the degree or the endorsement, along with the successful completion of the School Leaders Licensure Assessment and three years of teaching experience, will qualify you for standard special education administration licensure at the P-12 level in Arkansas.

The special education administration endorsement program is offered in a hybrid format, a combination of face-face and online instruction. The program will vary for each individual based on previous graduate coursework. Before beginning the endorsement program, each individual's graduate transcripts will be reviewed, and a personalized curriculum plan will be prepared. At a minimum, this curriculum plan will be followed.

Admission requirements for the endorsement are identical to those for the Master's degree in this field of study. Download the checklist for details.

Apply Now!

For more information about the special education administration endorsement please contact Harding’s Department of Educational Leadership at 501-279-4117 or edleadership@harding.edu.

Schools need teachers who are highly qualified to help all students learn. If you are interested in working with students who learn differently, and you have a teacher's license but not a special education K-12 endorsement, this program is for you! Approved by the Arkansas Department of Education, this program can also be applied to a Master of Education in special education K-12.

The method of delivery is fully online for the special education K-12 endorsement program. The majority of the courses for the Master of Education in special education K-12 are offered online as well. The SPED K-12 endorsement program involves 21 hours. These hours are outlined in the SPED K-12 curriculum plan.

For a list of admission requirements, download the checklist.

Apply Now!

For more information about the SPED K-12 endorsement, please contact Dr. Carol Douglass, professor and director of special education, at cdouglass@harding.edu.

If you are a teacher holding a standard K-6 or 4-8 license or a teacher holding a standard 7-12 license in a content area of English Language Arts, Mathematics or Science and are seeking resource K-6 or 7-12 licensure, the special education K-6 and 7-12 resource program is for you! This endorsement will prepare you to teach students with exceptionalities in the K-6 or 7-12 population.

All coursework is offered online for this program. The special education K-6 and 7-12 resource endorsement program requires 12 hours of coursework, outlined in this curriculum plan. For a list of admission requirements, download the checklist.

Apply Now!

For more information about the SPED K-6 and 7-12 resource endorsement, please contact Dr. Carol Douglass, director of special education, at cdouglass@harding.edu.

Our Educational Specialist in educational leadership degree provides you with the competencies necessary for school district leadership. If you are not interested in obtaining an educational specialist degree, a state-approved endorsement for obtaining superintendent licensure is also available. If you already have your principal licensure, completion of either the educational specialist degree or this endorsement, along with the successful completion of the School Superintendent Assessment, will grant you superintendent licensure in Arkansas.

The superintendent endorsement program is offered in a hybrid format, a combination of face-to-face and online instruction. The program requires 24 hours of coursework, as outlined in the curriculum plan.

Admission requirements for the endorsement are identical to those for the Master's degree in this field of study. Download the checklist for details.

Apply Now!

For more information about the superintendent licensure program of study, please contact Harding’s Department of Educational Leadership at 501-279-4117 or edleadership@harding.edu.

If you are looking for an endorsement that makes you very marketable and can be completed in one calendar year, the teaching English as a second language endorsement program is designed for you. This state-approved program is designed for the working professional and meets current Arkansas Department of Education guidelines leading to the endorsement for teaching English as a second language. This is a P-12 endorsement that enables teachers to be English language-learner coordinators in schools, English as second language teachers, or general education classroom teachers better equipped to reach all students in their classroom. ESL is a high-need field in many areas of the United States. The population of ESL students is growing to become a significant part of the K-12 student population, and teachers with coursework in bilingual and bicultural education are needed.

The teaching English as a second language endorsement program is offered face-to-face on the Searcy campus as well as through distance learning classes for students at the North Little Rock Professional Center and the Northwest Arkansas Professional Center. Two of the four classes are usually offered completely online during the summer. The teaching English as a second language endorsement program involves 12 hours outlined in the TESL curriculum plan.

For a detailed list of admission requirements, download the checklist.

Apply Now!

For more information about the teaching English as a second language endorsement program please contact Lauren Boone, assistant professor, at lboone@harding.edu.

If you are seeking additional graduate coursework and if you have already taken the 6 hours of graduate work allowed under the "Special Student" designation, you are classified as "Not Seeking a Degree" (NSD). All NSD students must apply for admission to the Graduate program and are required to submit all admission paperwork and fees. 

For additional information about these options, you may want to consult the Catalog.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Complete the online application. 
• Request official transcripts* be sent directly from previous institutions to admissions@harding.edu.
• Upload a copy of your current educator license or request official results from at least one of the following tests: 
• • Praxis subject content exam(s)
  • Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT)
  • Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Upload a copy of your Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) immunization record.

*Note: Harding alumni and current students do not need to request Harding transcripts as they are on file.

GPA REQUIREMENTS

• Hold a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or 2.75 on the last 60 hours. 
• Cumulative GPA for provisional admittance: 2.35.
• If admitted provisionally for no educator license or test score(s), the student must submit a passing test score during their first graduate semester.

Please direct questions to:

Harding University
Department of Graduate Studies in Education
Phone: 501-279-4315 
Fax: 501-279-4083 
Email: graded@harding.edu 

If you wish to take graduate classes simply for personal or professional advancement, you may take up to 6 hours of credit as a "Special Student."  There is no application fee.

Apply Now

No transcript is required for the first 1-6 hours taken in the *first semester* but may be requested to register for the second semester.

• Curriculum & Instruction Administration/Special Education Administration
• Dyslexia Endorsement (Reading Program)
• Dyslexia Endorsement (Special Education Program)
• Ed.D. in Educational Leadership
• Ed.S. in Educational Leadership (Superintendent) and Endorsement
• Gifted & Talented Endorsement
• M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (Principal) and Endorsement 
• Master of Arts: Excellence in Teaching
• MAT K-6, 4-8, 7-12, or K-12
• MAT Early Childhood/Special Education Integrated (B-K)
• MAT Special Education K-12
• Reading
• Special Education
• Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Endorsement

• Curriculum & Instruction Administration/Special Education Administration
• Dyslexia Endorsement (Reading Program)
• Dyslexia Endorsement (Special Education Program)
• Ed.D. in Leadership
• Ed.S. in Educational Leadership (Superintendent)
• Gifted & Talented Endorsement
• M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (Principal)
• Master of Arts: Excellence in Teaching
• MAT K-6, 4-8, 7-12, or K-12
• MAT Early Childhood/Special Education Integrated (B-K)
• MAT Special Education K-12
• Reading
• Special Education
• Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Endorsement

• Curriculum & Instruction Administration/Special Education Administration
• Dyslexia Endorsement (Reading Program)
• Dyslexia Endorsement (Special Education Program)
• Ed.D. in Educational Leadership
• Ed.S. in Educational Leadership (Superintendent)
• Gifted & Talented Endorsement
• Master of Arts: Excellence in Teaching (MAET)
• MAT Early Childhood/Special Education Integrated B-K
• MAT K-6, 4-8, 7-12, or K-12
• MAT Special Education K-12
• M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (Principal)
• Reading
• Special Education
• Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Endorsement

To order your textbooks online, visit the Harding Bookstore. If you need further assistance, you can contact the bookstore at (800) 477-4351.

Financial aid is available to most Harding graduate and professional degree students in the form of graduate assistantships, federal and private loans, veterans programs, and vocational rehabilitation programs. Learn more.

Activate Your Pipeline Account: All students must activate their Harding student account before beginning classes. As a graduate student, this account will give you a Harding email address, allow you to view and pay your business office account, view and accept financial aid records, view grades, order textbooks, and access several other services. Visit pipeline.harding.edu and click on the Student Access tab on the right side of the page. Click Activate My Account. This will open a new page that asks you to fill in your personal information. If the account activation was successful, you should see your user name displayed in red. For further assistance, call DormNet at 501-279-4545.

View Courses: To view, add, and drop classes and use the Schedule Planner, log into pipeline.harding.edu and click the blue Student bar. Scroll down and click on the sub-section called My Classes.

Access Student Records: To check your grades, submit academic appeals, and view and pay your bill, log into pipeline.harding.edu and click on the blue Student bar. Scroll down and click on the sub-section Student Records.