Educational Leadership, M.A.

Leadership Preparation Grounded in Equity and a Hope-Filled Future

Saint Louis University’s Master of Arts in Educational Leadership prepares current and aspiring school leaders to create equitable, effective learning environments across diverse educational settings. Offered as a 100% online program, the degree from the SLU School of Education equips educators with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to lead schools with purpose, integrity and impact.

Through a curriculum grounded in research-based, solution-focused leadership practices, students learn from SLU faculty with decades of experience as superintendents, principals and administrators in public, Catholic and private schools. The program can be completed in as few as two years and is aligned with state and national leadership standards.

Students may pursue Missouri principal certification by meeting designated coursework and supervised internship requirements. Graduates who obtain Missouri principal certification may be eligible to seek certification in other states, subject to state-specific requirements.

Program Highlights

• 100% Online Delivery
  Courses are offered synchronously via Zoom with additional asynchronous coursework completed through the Canvas learning management system.

• Equity-Driven Curriculum
  Develop personal, social, and systems intelligences to lead learning organizations centered on justice, cultural responsiveness, and continuous improvement.

• Transformative Field Experiences
  Professionally guided internships or practicum experiences allow students to apply leadership theory to authentic problems of practice.

• Solution-Oriented Focus
  Students apply research-based leadership strategies directly to real-world educational challenges within their professional contexts.

Curriculum Overview

The Master of Arts in Educational Leadership curriculum is grounded in Jesuit values of educational equity and social justice and emphasizes applied, research-informed leadership practice across diverse educational contexts. Coursework integrates theory, case-based learning, and applied leadership practice to prepare leaders to make informed, ethical decisions.

Students complete coursework in leadership theory, curriculum and instruction, school law, finance, research methods, program evaluation, and professional seminar experiences.

• The standard educational leadership track requires completion of 32 credits of coursework.

• The Catholic education concentration requires completion of 31 credits of coursework.

  • Catholic education students who wish to pursue Missouri principal certification must complete an additional three-credit supervised internship.

Course sequencing is designed to support working educators and cohort-based progression through the program.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

All courses in the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program include school-based application of leadership concepts and practices. Field experiences are integrated throughout the program and aligned with students’ professional roles and program pathway.

Fieldwork requirements vary by pathway:

• Students in the standard educational leadership track complete a supervised, site-based internship focused on building-level leadership.

• Students in the Catholic education concentration complete a Catholic Leadership Practicum, which involves leadership experiences across one or more school sites. Catholic education students seeking Missouri principal certification must complete an additional site-based internship beyond the practicum.

Students in the standard track are also required to participate in the Gateway Leadership Institute, a three-day, on-campus experience held annually in June. The institute provides opportunities to engage with nationally recognized scholars and practitioners and to connect leadership theory with current challenges in educational practice.

Research coursework prepares students to analyze data, evaluate programs, and apply evidence-based decision-making within their professional settings.

Careers

Graduates of the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership are prepared to assume a range of leadership roles within public and nonpublic educational settings. Depending on the pathway and certification pursued, graduates may serve as principals or assistant principals, instructional coaches, program directors, curriculum leaders, or administrators at the building or district level. The program also supports educators seeking advancement into department-, grade-level, or instructional leadership roles, as well as broader leadership positions within educational systems.

Graduates of the Catholic education concentration are additionally prepared for leadership roles in Catholic and faith-based educational contexts. These may include school administration, mission and identity leadership, campus ministry, faith formation, mentoring, coaching, and teacher leadership. Coursework and field experiences in the Catholic concentration emphasize spiritual leadership, governance, and the integration of mission and educational excellence, preparing graduates to lead in alignment with the values and traditions of Catholic education.

Admission Requirements

Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply.

Application Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Transcript(s) from all schools attended
• One letter of recommendation
• Résumé
• Professional goal statement

Requirements for International Students

Along with the general admission requirements above, the following must be provided by prospective international students:

• Demonstration of English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support that must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University.
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University.
• Academic records, in English translation, for postsecondary studies outside the United States. These must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted. 

Application Deadlines

Domestic students should apply for the fall semester by June 15, for the spring semester by November 1 and for the summer semester by April 1. International students should apply by May 1 for the fall semester, October 1 for the spring semester, and by February 1 for the summer semester. 

Review Process

Applications are reviewed by committee.

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Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For more information about Saint Louis University scholarships and financial aid, please visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

The master's in educational leadership program aligns with the Missouri Leadership Development System Standards (MLDS) and with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL). The areas included in the MLDS include visionary leader, instructional leader, managerial leader, relational leader, and innovative leader. The outcomes are aligned with the SLU graduate student outcomes.

The Catholic concentration additionally aligns with the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools (NSBECS) and the Catholic Bishop Council in the Vatican.

Master of Arts in Educational Leadership Outcomes

1. Graduates will assess data, relevant literature, leadership practices, and educational theories to analyze issues related to building-level leadership.
2. Graduates will apply knowledge about evidence-based leadership, communication, financial, legal, curriculum/instruction/assessment, and management practices to work in building-level educational administration areas.
3. Graduates will evaluate and articulate explanations about leadership, communication, legal, financial, curriculum/instruction/assessment, and management in educational administration and leadership.
4. Graduates will evidence educational leadership practices demonstrating professional ethics. 

Non-Course Requirements

Students seeking Missouri certification as a principal must pass both the practicum (for the Catholic Education track) and internship course and pass the Missouri Leaders Performance assessment.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

This roadmap is just one example of a semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. There are other plans students can and do take. The plan of study for each particular student is established in consultation with each student’s academic advisor; this roadmap does not replace academic advising appointments.

Roadmap notes:

• This Roadmap assumes full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
• Courses/Milestones marked with an “!” are critical and must be completed in the semester listed in the Roadmap to ensure a timely graduation.
• Course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

All courses are offered online via Zoom and Canvas, SLU’s learning management system, with the exception of Gateway Leadership Institute, which is held on campus for three days in June.

Standard Track 

Catholic Education Concentration

Program Notes

Students in the Catholic concentration benefit from a special focus on the unique domains of Catholic educational leadership: mission and Catholic identity, governance and leadership, academic excellence, and operational vitality. The Catholic concentration is aligned with the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools (NSBECS). Theories and practice in visionary leadership, instructional school leadership, managerial school leadership, relational school leadership, and innovative school leadership are also embedded in the program, which is aligned with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL). Coursework engages students with the unique aspects of Catholic educational leadership, including spiritual leadership, the vocation of the Catholic school educator, the evangelizing Catholic school, and nonpublic school administration such as recruitment, funding mechanisms and laws applicable in religious schools, while preparing students to take the assessments for principal certification. Students seeking Missouri state certification as a building principal are required to take EDL 5913 Internship: Building Principal.

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions, please contact:
Saint Louis University School of Education
314-977-3292
slued@slu.edu