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Master of Education in Educational Leadership

Explore the world of education administration.

This one-year master’s degree in Educational Leadership program is based on the Administrative Services Credential preparation program. You'll learn to manage school sites, as well as sites at the district, county, and state levels.

Educational Leadership Master of Education Degree Options

This Application Pathway allows applicants to apply for one of the following options:

  • Master of Education in Educational Leadership
  • Master of Education in Educational Leadership with a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential

The program builds on the strengths of the administrative credential preparation program and serves as an effective forum for exploring the ideas, experiences, and issues encountered by new principals in their schools and districts. The ability to share experiences and issues with other new administrators who are part of their cohort extends the power and purpose of the administrative preparation program design.

Students in the Master of Education in Educational Leadership program meet all of the requirements for the Graduate School of Education’s preliminary or clear administrative services program.

Applying to the Program

The program has a summer start, and the deadline to apply is March 31. An interview is required before entering this program.

Learn more about admissions requirements and how to apply

Curriculum

A typical course sequence is as follows:

Semester I (9 units):

EDUC 608a Fieldwork Practicum In School Administration

(3 units) This course focuses on real world application of coursework and CCTC CPSELs. Students design fieldwork experiences around the six major themes and document their experiences in an electronic portfolio (TaskStream), Their activities are accomplished in conjunction with a school district or school and Touro University. Each student will gain experience and increase competence in the many areas of educational leadership. Personal growth and reflection are integral parts of each experience

Semester II (12 units):

EDUC 611 Assessment and Digital Age Leadership

(3 units) The purpose of this course is to provide leaders with skills which will enable them to use, evaluate, plan, and implement instructional program development in diverse educational settings. The use of technology as a tool for teaching and learning and to support work as an administrator will be explored. To help contextualize the concepts and skills needed for demonstrating leadership supported by technology, students will be asked to examine the ways in which technology can support school-wide efforts to improve the teaching and learning process. The International Society for Technology in Education standards for administrators will be explored and applied to current educational initiatives. ISTE’s NETS for Administrators (NETS•A) are the standards for evaluating the skills and knowledge school administrators and leaders need to support digital age learning, implement technology, and transform the education landscape.

EDUC 605 Instruction, Curriculum & Supervision

(3 units) This course will examine visionary instructional and curriculum planning, implementation and evaluation; meeting the need of a diverse learning community through content, social climate, instructional curriculum strategies and the role of the learner. The course will present current movements in curriculum and instruction and the use of technology in the curriculum as an educational tool; assessment and issues related to supervision, program evaluation, program development, implementation, staff development and support services. The hands-on as well as theoretical/analytical side of redefining curriculum; the role of staff, parents, students and community at large in curriculum development and planning will be reviewed. In addition, particular focus will be given on the instructional leader’s responsibility as a mentor and supervisor of classroom teachers and personnel decisions that have a direct impact on quality of instruction in the schools.

EDUC 606 Budget, Planning & Human Resources

(3 units) This course will present various organizational, educational, and personnel decisions that have a direct impact on quality of instruction in schools. The course will highlight issues related to employment, teacher evaluation, due process, and implications for the quality of instruction. In addition, issues involving human resources (salaries, hiring, demographic characteristics, negotiations, and collective bargaining) also will be explored. The course also will provide an overview of the essential features related to financing and budgeting at every level, including significant codes and regulations. And lastly, the course will present an analysis of the many factors involved in decisions that affect overall school finance, legislation, and the monetary implications personnel contracts play in school budgeting.

EDUC 792 Capstone Seminar

(3 units) This course provides support and direction during the development and completion of the master’s thesis or project requirement for the master’s degree. This culminating research requirement may be fulfilled either individually or in collaborative teams through an action research study or an applied project with the approval of the faculty advisor. Students who do not complete the culminating research requirement during this course are required to enroll in the one credit course EDUC 796 each semester, until the research requirement for the degree is met.

Semester III (9 units):

EDUC 607 Law, Ethics & Special Education

(3 units) This course will present an examination of the issues in special education law and ethical behavior and the ways in which the law cannot be separated from professional ethics and morality. The course will highlight the theories of law and the relationship of special education and other laws to social and ethical values. The course will illustrate how to better understand the law and the politics associated with governance and the ability to assist people to work through moral dilemmas associated with the law, specifically scenarios involving cross cultural miscommunications, desegregation, and discrimination. The role of the school leader/administrator also will be explored in relation to serving disabled, non-conventional, at-risk, delinquent, truant, addicted, and troubled students.

EDUC 608B Fieldwork Practicum in School Administration

(3 units) This course focuses on real world application of coursework and CCTC CPSELs. Students design fieldwork experiences around the six major themes and document their experiences in an electronic portfolio (TaskStream), Their activities are accomplished in conjunction with a school district or school and Touro University. Each student will gain experience and increase competence in the many areas of educational leadership. Personal growth and reflection are integral parts of each experience.

EDUC 609 Interpersonal Communication & Post-Assessment

(3 units) This course will present theories processes on interpersonal communication and collaboration, effective listening, sending and confrontation, problem solving and conflict resolution. The course will specifically highlight theories related to communication such as cybernetics, information theory, and conflict resolution. In addition, this course will serve as the location for the collection of formal and summative assessment data on candidate’s administrative leadership and administrative knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be an effective educational leader at a school site or system.

NOTE: California regulations allow an individual to be a school administrator while simultaneously going through an educational leadership program. Our program is accredited to provide that option to our educational leadership students who are earning their administrative credential.