The educational leadership program at Saint Louis University's School of Education is a long-standing, highly respected graduate program preparing educational leaders through the specialist in educational leadership degree. The educational leadership specialist degree is designed to prepare students to become executive-level educational leaders. Students enter the program with a master's in educational leadership or a related field. The specialist degree is used by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to qualify students who do not yet have a doctorate for advanced, superintendent certication. In addition to a master's degree, 30-36 credits in educational leadership coursework is required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for program coursework to count toward the superintendent certificate. Educational leadership students with a job opportunity dependent on early certication or a salary increase in a school district salary schedule may apply for the specialist degree while completing doctoral coursework. Students engaged in the concentration in Catholic education can achieve an Ed.S. by ensuring they complete the courses outlined in the roadmap if wishing to get certification as a superintendent.