Master of Arts in Education: Educational Leadership – 39 Credits
Overview
Program Description
This program is approved by the New Jersey Department of Education to grant Principal Licensure. The Master of Arts in Education: Educational Leadership is a 39-credit program designed to prepare educators for leadership roles in the public schools. It is designed to enhance the competencies, knowledge, and skills of educational leaders in the areas of school leadership and administration as well as the design, implementation, practice, and assessment of instructional programs. The program will assist students in developing a thorough understanding of the theory and practice of educational leadership, developing the skills necessary to function as an educational leader and to support effective teaching and learning, acquiring the necessary evaluative skills to critically analyze a learning organization's performance, understanding the uses of technology in education and the skills to use educational technology effectively, developing an appreciation of the legal, cultural and ethical issues that influence the nation's educational institutions, and developing educational leaders at the K-12 level who are qualified for certification as school building administrators (supervisors and principals).
Program Goals
- Develop a thorough understanding of the theory and practice of educational leadership.
- Learn the skills necessary to function as an educational leader and to support effective teaching and learning.
- Acquire the necessary evaluative skills to critically analyze a learning organization’s performance.
- Develop an appreciation of the legal, cultural and ethical issues that influence the nation’s educational institutions.
Program Requirements
- Graduate students must achieve a grade of “B” or higher in each course and must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order to receive a degree. Any graduate student who receives more than one grade of “C” (to include C+, C, or C-) will be dismissed from the program. A graduate student who has received a grade of “C” must repeat the course. No grades of “D” will be given (anything lower than a C- is an F). A grade of “F” will result in dismissal from the program. Note: If a student repeats a course in which a grade of “C” has been received, both the original grade and the repeated grade will count in the GPA. The original grade of “C” will be used to determine eligibility to stay in or to be removed from the program.
- Students are required to take 39 credits in Educational Leadership.
- **Recommended: GED-697 should be taken in the semester prior to taking GED-698. The thesis proposal should be approved in GED-697 and completed in GED-698.
- It is strongly suggested that students who are working full time do not take another course while they are taking GED-698. If due to extenuating circumstances, a student feels it is necessary to take GED-698 and another course in the same semester, they need to obtain a signed waiver from the graduate director.
- Please note: The NJ Department of Education now requires that individuals working towards their Principal Licensure complete 300 mandatory hours of field experience (courses GED-670 and GED-671). To be sure all students accomplish this and to ensure a thorough educational experience Centenary University has built this requirement directly into the program to obtain your degree in Educational Leadership.
Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA 3.0.
- Teaching or Educational Services Certification - Please send a copy of your standard certificate or your Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing with your application. (If you do not have a teaching certification please contact the Transfer Admissions Office regarding the Post Baccalaureate teaching certification program)
- Two professional or educational letters of recommendation.
- No GRE/GMAT required.
Curriculum Requirements
Educational Leadership Core Requirements (33 credits)-Traditional
| GED-550 | Seminar in Curricular Evaluation & Assessment Evaluation | 3 |
| GED-619 | Students, Teachers, Social Policy & the Law | 3 |
| GED-642 | Case Studies in Supervision | 3 |
| GED-650 | Principles & Practices of Supervision | 3 |
| GED-651 | Curriculum Development & Evaluation | 3 |
| GED-660 | The Principalship | 3 |
| GED-670 | Field Supervision Internship I | 3 |
| GED-671 | Field Supervision Internship II | 3 |
| GED-680 | Finance and Facilities | 3 |
| GED-697 | Educational Research | 3 |
| GED-698 | Research in Instructional Leadership | 3 |
Electives- 6 credits: Choose 2
| GED-510 | Educational Administration Theory | 3 |
| GED-530 | Remote Learning Strategies and Assessment for Educators | 3 |
| GED-540 | Literacy Instruction for School Leaders | 3 |
| GED-560 | Seminar in Instructional Leadership | 3 |
| GED-667 | ELL Parent and Student Communication Strategies for Educators | 3 |
Please note: The NJ Department of Education requires that students applying for Principal Licensure have a minimum of 5 years of successful educational experience under a valid provisional or standard NJ or equivalent out-of-state certificate.
Please note: The NJ Department of Education requires students applying for Supervisor Licensure have a minimum of 3 years successful, full-time teaching and/or educational services experience.
If you have already been admitted to this program, please contact the Program Director, Dr. Timothy Frederiks, for clarification as to how to progress towards earning your degree.