The Master of Science Degree in School Administration and Supervision offers veteran educators a degree program to obtain Pennsylvania certification as a K-12 Principal. This 45 credit hour graduate degree requires students to have five years of documented teaching experience. However, students can enroll in the same courses required for the Master’s of Science in Curriculum and Instruction; therefore, allowing students to still work toward a degree while concluding their five years of teaching. Students can transfer to the School Administration and Supervision degree program from the Curriculum and Instruction or they can just simply add the needed K-12 Principal courses to become certified. This program is designed with the school administrator in mind; therefore, most courses will be addressing current issues, techniques, and necessary information needed for school principals.

Program Goals:

The School Administration and Supervision Master's degree provides excellent training and experiences in current methods, trends, and strategies to enable the candidate to become an effective school leader and administrator.  The program will offer resources, professional contacts, and tools that will enable a pre-service school administrator to become successful and effective in leadig a school building or district.  In addition, candidates will explore newer philosophies, assessment reporting, community collaboration, creative practices, adn proactive leadership trends that can develop a strong community and student rapport and support. 

The goal of the program is to assure quality graduate study with stability adn permanence that is achieved in a campus-based program.  Students will have all necessary resources immediately available including the Saint Vincent College Library, computer labs, Internet and e-mail services, the College Bookstore, adn the many technology and curricular resources of the education Department.  Most importantly, students will have academic and research advisors housed on the campus that will be readily available for assistance.

Program Format

The School Administration and Supervision Master’s degree is designed to be an accelerated 45-credit hours that can be completed in and around 30 months (15 required courses). Courses are held in the fall, spring, and summer semesters in a 2-session sequence (each session/course is 7 weeks), allowing candidates to complete two courses each term by only attending class one night a week.  At the close of the candidate's degree coursework, a comprehensive exam is required.  The exam is offered every term, which enables candidates to graduate year round.  An additional final competency evaluation will be assessed along with a portfolio of experiences and resources illustrating a student's proficiency in school administration.

Courses Required for Master’s in School Administration and Supervision (45 credits):

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GCED 600 Educational Leadership and Professional Development (3)
GCED 605 Statistics and Research Design (3)
GCED 610 Current Issues and Trends (3)
GCED 615 Curriculum and Systems Design (3)
GCED 620 Assessment and Diagnostics (3)
GCED 625 Instructional Technology (3)
GCED 635 Instructional Methodology (3)
GCED 645 Philosophical and Ethical Perspectives in Education (3)
GCED 655 Educational Jurisprudence (3)
GCED 680 Supervision of Instruction (3)
GCED 695 Managing Financial and Material Resources (3)
GCSE 607 Family and Professional Collaboration (3)
GCLM 623 Creative Programs for Children and Young Adults (3)
GCED 685 Practicum in Curriculum and Supervision and/or Administration (3)
GCED 690 K-12 Supervision of Curriculum and/or Administration Internship (3)

Getting a Pennsylvania K-12 School Principal certification with a Master’s of Science In School Administration and Supervision

Students will be eligible for K-12 school principal certification upon completion of their degree, passed comprehensive exam, satisfactory final competency evaluation and portfolio review. Students are also required to have completed and documented five or more years of professional teaching experience and have passed the required Praxis exams.

Comprehensive Exam Requirement

At the completion of the graduate degree program, all students are required to respond to a battery of essay questions posed by their professors. This requirement acts as an academic collective exercise that formally admits students into the exclusive group of scholars that hold a master’s degree in education. Students are graded by their professors and are ranked in their ability to fully address the questions. Students are permitted to re-take the exam twice in the event of failure.