Educational Leadership
- Master of Science
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In This Section
The Master of Science Degree in Educational Leadership
The Saint Vincent College Master of Science Degree in Educational Leadership offers veteran educators a degree program to obtain Pennsylvania certification as a K-12 principal.
The 39-credit hour graduate degree requires students to have three years of documented teaching experience. However, students can enroll in the same courses required for the Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, thereby allowing them to work toward a degree while completing the required three years of teaching.
Students can transfer to the Educational Leadership degree program from the Curriculum and Instruction degree or add the needed K-12 principal courses to become certified. The program is designed with the school administrator in mind; therefore, most courses address current issues, techniques, and information for school principals.
The Educational Leadership 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 offers resources, professional contacts and tools that will enable a pre-service school administrator to become successful and effective in leading a school building or district. In addition, candidates will explore current philosophies, assessment, reporting, community collaboration, creative practices and proactive leadership trends that can develop a strong community and student rapport and support.
Graduate Programs
What Can I Do With a Master in Educational Leadership?
The Master of Science in Educational Leadership offers veteran educators a degree program to obtain Pennsylvania certification as a K-12 Principal that is in full compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education Core and Corollary Standards for Principals. Candidates will be eligible for K-12 school principal certification upon completion of their degree, passed comprehensive exam, satisfactory final competency evaluation and portfolio review.
Curriculum Requirements
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Requirements for a Master of Science Degree in Educational Leadership
Required Courses (39 credits):
GCED 600 Educational Leadership and Professional Development - 3 credits
GCED 605 Statistics and Research Design - 3 credits
GCED 610 Current Issues and Trends - 3 credits
GCED 615 Curriculum and Systems Design - 3 credits
GCED 620 Assessment and Diagnostics - 3 credits
GCED 630 Managing Financial and Material Resources - 3 credits
GCED 645 Philosophical and Ethical Perspectives in Education - 3 credits
GCED 655 Educational Jurisprudence - 3 credits
GCED 675 Inclusionary Education - 3 credits
GCED 680 Supervision of Instruction - 3 credits
GCSE 607 Family and Professional Collaboration - 3 credits
GCSE 697 Teaching Culturally Diverse Students with Limited English Proficiencies - 3 credits
GCAD 676 Internship in School Administration: Fall Term - 1 credit
GCAD 686 Internship in School Administration: Spring Term - 1 credit
GCAD 696 Internship in School Administration: Summer Term - 1 credit
Course DescriptionsSequence and Schedule
The Educational Leadership master’s degree is designed to be an accelerated 39-credit hours that can be completed in approximately 20 months. The courses are held year around in accelerated 7-week sessions offered one night per week between the hours of 6 and 10PM and one Saturday per course. Each full semester has two accelerated 7-week sessions. Thus, students can take two courses a term driving to campus one evening per week. At the close of the coursework, students will take a comprehensive exam which is offered each term, thus enabling students to graduate year around. An additional final competency evaluation is required along with a portfolio of experiences and resources illustrating a student’s proficiency in school administration. -
Student Work and Research
The coursework in the Educational Leadership program covers educational leadership, current issues and trends in education, curriculum design and implementation, qualitative and quantitative assessments, diagnostic theories, financial management, inclusionary education, supervision and research design. The program is designed to prepare candidates for management of a school or district by teaching candidates everything from classroom management and inclusionary education to management and supervision of a building and resources.
Program Highlights
Goals
The three goals of the Master of Science Degree in Educational Leadership are:
- To provide excellent training and experiences in current methods, trends, and strategies for becoming an effective school leader and administrator.
- To offer resources, professional contacts, and tools that will enable a pre-service school administrator to become successful and effective in leading a school building or district.
- To provide insight into current philosophies, assessment reporting, community collaboration, creative practices, and proactive leadership trends that can develop a strong community and student rapport and support.
Certification
Obtaining Pennsylvania K-12 School Principal certification with a Master of Science in Educational Leadership
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 Praxis test for K-12 School Principal.
Admissions Information
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How to Apply
Regular Admission
- Possess an earned Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Official transcripts must be submitted from each institution attended to the Office of Graduate & Continuing Education.
- Have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0. For a GPA lower than 3.0, applicants will be reviewed for provisional acceptance.
- Send three recommendations to the Office of Graduate & Continuing Education.
- Personal statement explaining your desire to obtain a graduate degree.
- Submit completed Graduate School Application.
Provisional Acceptance
If a student does not meet the above requirements for regular admission to the graduate programs in education, consideration will be given for acceptance on a provisional basis. The student will be required to maintain a 3.75 GPA over the course of completing three graduate classes. If the student is able to maintain a 3.75 grade point average he/she will be reviewed for regular admission. A student within this status will not be allowed to take more than 9 credits of graduate coursework. If the student is not able to maintain a 3.75 GPA after completing 9 credits of graduate coursework, regular admission will be denied. The provisional acceptance will still allow a student to qualify for financial aid if needed.Graduate Non-Degree Status
If a student does not want acceptance to a graduate program but would like to register for graduate classes the student may apply as a graduate non-degree seeking student. This allows the student to register for up to 9 graduate credits without applying or being accepted to a program. In order to register under this status a student must complete the graduate non-degree application and submit official transcripts to the Office of Graduate & Continuing Education. Once this information is received the student will be contacted regarding registration for classes. A student within this status is not eligible for financial aid.Note: The Graduate Non-Degree Status also serves the student who decides to apply to a program right before the semester begins without ample time to complete the application. The student can begin taking classes as a Graduate Non-Degree student while completing the application for admission.