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About the Program
Belmont's M.Ed. in Leadership and Learning Innovation is for people who want to lead in education — whether that's in a K-12 school, a college or university, a nonprofit or another learning-focused organization.
The program is fully online, so you can keep working while you earn your degree. Every course is built around real challenges you face in your job. You'll finish with new skills in leadership, instructional improvement and organizational change.
What Makes This Program Different?
Built for Working Professionals
All courses are online and asynchronous — no set meeting times, no campus visits. The program is designed to fit around your job, not the other way around. Most students finish in about 18 months.
Focused on Leadership That Works
You'll learn how to lead change in your organization, support your colleagues and build stronger teams. Coursework is grounded in research but always tied to what's happening in real classrooms and learning environments.
Centered on Equity and Advocacy
Good leaders understand the communities they serve. This program challenges you to look critically at educational policy and practice — and prepares you to advocate for the students, educators and communities who need it most.
Is This Program Right for You?
This program is a good fit if you are:
A teacher ready to move into leadership. Looking to become an instructional coach, mentor, curriculum leader or department head.
A higher ed professional. Working in student affairs, academic affairs, advising or program leadership — or hoping to get there
A nonprofit or organizational leader. Working in a learning-focused setting outside K-12 or higher ed and want stronger credentials in instructional design and organizational improvement.
Changing careers. Coming from corporate training, workforce development or community education and want a graduate degree that bridges theory and practice.
You do not need a teaching license to apply.
What You'll Learn
Every course connects directly to your work. By the time you finish, you'll be able to:
Lead Change. Plan and carry out improvement efforts that make teaching, learning and organizational culture stronger.
Coach and Develop Others. Help colleagues grow through evidence-based coaching, mentoring and feedback.
Make Decisions with Data. Use research and evidence to improve instruction and guide organizational decisions.
Design Better Learning Experiences.Apply current research in teaching, adult learning and instructional technology to the work you do every day.
Advocate for Your Community. Examine policy and practice through an equity lens — and speak up for the learners, educators and communities you serve.
Navigate and Shape Systems. Understand how educational organizations work and influence them at the school, district or institutional level.
- EDL 6035: Introduction to Higher Education
- EDL 6075: College Student Success
- EDL 6130: Higher Education Law and Policy
- EDL 6145: Higher Education Leadership & Governance
- EDL 6230: Assessment and Accountability in Higher Education
- EDU 5180: Instructional Coaching and Teacher Leadership — Mentoring
- EDU 5330: Adult Learning and Professional Development
- EDU 6830: Data and Decision Making
- EDU 5431: Instructional Design & Pedagogy (4 credits)
- EDU 6580: Intro to English Learners
- EDU 5021: Applied Linguistics
- EDU 5424: Language and Literacy Acquisition
- EDU 5025: Advanced Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities
- Endorsement coursework is 12 credit hours — completable in one year.
- You must also pass the ESL Praxis to earn the endorsement.
- EDU 5630: Leadership in Communication and Collaboration in Special Education
- EDU 5660: Advanced Study of Instructional Practices in Special Education
- EDU 5680: Leadership in Assessment for Decision Making in Special Education
- EDU 5735: Advanced Study in Specially Designed Instruction in Literacy
- EDU 5745: Advanced Study in Specially Designed Instruction in Mathematics
- EDU 5765: Advanced Behavioral Interventions for Using Data-Based Decision Making
- IDI 5000: Instructional Design Theory & Practice
- IDI 5010: Digital Design Techniques and Tools
- IDI 5020: E-Learning Design and Development
- IDI 5050: Assessment and Evaluation in Learning Design
- IDI 5060: Current and Emerging Trends in Learning Innovation
How the Program Works
Online and flexible. All coursework is online and asynchronous. There are no required class times or campus visits.
Connected to your job. Assignments are built around real challenges in your professional setting — so what you learn, you can use right away.
Collaborative. You'll build connections with peers from a wide range of educational and organizational backgrounds.
Taught by experienced faculty. Your instructors bring real-world experience in education, leadership and learning — not just academic credentials.
Endorsement options available. Two concentrations include pathways toward state add-on endorsements in ESL and special education, depending on your state's requirements.
- Complete the online application through the BU4U portal.
- Pay the $50 non-refundable application fee.
- Request official transcripts from all colleges you've attended. Hard copies can be mailed to:
Belmont University
Office of Admissions
1900 Belmont Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37212.
Electronic copies can be sent to belmontadmissions@belmont.edu through services such as Parchment or the National Student Clearinghouse. Please allow 4-6 weeks for transcripts to be received and processed. - Submit two professional recommendations through the BU4U portal. After you pay the application fee, you'll find recommendations listed under Supplemental Items. Your recommenders will receive instructions by email.
- Upload a professional resume as a supplemental item through your BU4U portal.
Tuition: $1,135 per credit hour
Financial aid options: [Confirm available scholarships, graduate assistantships, employer tuition assistance and federal loan options with the program office.]
Ready to take the next step?
Meet the Faculty
You'll learn from instructors who have worked in the field — not just studied it. Belmont's M.Ed. faculty bring experience in educational leadership, instructional design and learning innovation, and they're committed to helping you grow as a leader.
Cathy Eschete
Email: cathy.eschete@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 5021
Amanda Nelms
Email: amanda.nelms@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 5027
Darcie Finch
Email: darcie.finch@belmont.edu
Office Location: Location: Ayers 5034
Geoff Price
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. All courses are online and asynchronous. There are no required class times or campus visits.
Most students finish in about 18 months.
The program accepts students for fall, spring and summer start terms.
No. You do not need a current teaching license to be admitted.
No. This program does not lead to an initial teaching license. Some concentrations do offer pathways toward add-on endorsements, depending on your state.
There are five: Higher Education, Teacher Coach, Teacher of English Language Learners (with ESL endorsement pathway), Special Education (with endorsement pathway) and Instructional Design. You'll choose two, and your total credit hours will vary based on the combination you select.
Graduates go on to roles like instructional coach, mentor, professional learning leader, team or department leader, higher education professional, instructional designer and program or organizational leader.
It's a good fit for educators, school leaders, higher ed professionals, nonprofit administrators and other learning-focused professionals who want to build their leadership and instructional skills.
Yes. The Teacher of English Language Learners concentration includes an ESL add-on endorsement pathway, and the Special Education concentration includes a special education add-on endorsement pathway. State-specific requirements apply, including passing the ESL Praxis for the ESL endorsement.
It's fully online, practitioner-focused and designed to fit your life. You'll choose from five concentrations — two with add-on endorsement options — and finish in about 18 months. No teaching license is required to apply.
Contact Us
Addison Wallace
Admissions Coordinator
615.460.5505
Email Addison