Educational Leadership, M.A.
The Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership Program has a multi-disciplinary design, enhanced by problem-based learning, evidence-based content that connects theory and practice, and opportunities for practice. Students engage in professional learning by collaborating with peers using problem-oriented instructional strategies, studying a curriculum grounded in the literature on effective practice, engaging in professionally-guided practice in schools, and completing in-depth internships in schools under the guidance of on-site supervisors.
Besides the traditional Master of Arts in Educational Leadership a concentration in Catholic Education is offered. The Catholic Education concentration designed to prepare students for school-level leadership positions, most commonly the principalship in Catholic elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as teacher-leadership. Coursework engages students with the unique aspects of Catholic educational leadership such as including spiritual leadership and the vocation of a Catholic school leader, and non-public school administration such as funding mechanisms and applicable laws, while also preparing students to take the Missouri assessments for principal certification.
Curriculum Overview
The degree requires a completion of 32 credits of coursework and culmination examinations, written and oral. The Catholic Education concentration requires completion of 33 credits of coursework. An additional three-credit internship is required if the student wishes to pursue Missouri Principal Certification.
Fieldwork and Research Opportunities
All courses include school-based application of concepts and processes. The practicum requires involvement in school-site leadership activities at multiple schools. Students seeking Missouri certification as a principal complete an additional site-based internship.
Careers
The educational leadership degree programs prepare students to fill a variety of leadership roles, including: superintendent, principal, program director and curriculum/teacher leader. Additionally, some doctoral students design a special individualized program to prepare for a leadership role in a nonprofit, medical or business organization.
The Catholic Education concentration prepares students to fill a variety of leadership roles, most often Catholic school principal or assistant principal positions, but also teacher-leader positions both formal, such as department chair or program director, and informal roles of mentoring, coaching, and modeling effective Catholic school teaching and faith formation.
Admission Requirements
Students should possess above-average GPA and sufficient TOEFL scores (for international applicants).
Students must complete six credits of graduate level research coursework as a prerequisite to receiving the specialist degree.
These do not count as part of the 30 credits required to receive a specialist degree and may be taken at other universities.
Application Requirements
- Application form and fee
- Transcript(s)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Résumé
- Professional goal statement
Requirements for International Students
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
- Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
- Proof of financial support 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, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States 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
Applications are considered on a rolling basis.
Review Process
The program has a year-round, rolling application process. Applications are reviewed by committee.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.
Accreditation
The School of Education at Saint Louis University is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). NCATE and TEAC (Teacher Education Accreditation Council) consolidated to form CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) July 2013. To contact CAEP:
1140 19th St NW #400
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 223-0077
- Graduates will be able to explain how leadership vision, mission, and goals promote student success.
- Graduates will be able to analyze leadership implementation strategies.
- Graduates will be able to explain how school culture affects student learning.
- Graduates will be able to analyze the effectiveness of instructional practices.
- Graduates will be able to explain how professional learning affects student learning.
- Graduates will be able to explain educational management and organizational theories.
- Graduates will be able to explain the educator evaluation and management process.
- Graduates will be able to explain effective resource management strategies.
- Graduates will be able to explain how to build community relationships that promote student learning.
- Graduates will be able to analyze school/community connection strategies.
- Graduates will be able to explain how to identify community resources to support student learning.
- Graduates will be able to explain principles of educational ethics.
- Graduates will be able to explain how to support the instructional practice of teachers to support student learning.
Standard Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDL 5100 | Foundations of Ed Admin | 3 |
| EDR 5100 | Intro to Inferential Stats: Ed | 3 |
| EDL 5300 | School Law | 2 |
| EDL 5450 | Managing the Building Level Curriculum | 3 |
| EDL 5500 | Professional Seminar | 2 |
| EDR 5500 | Evaluation of Ed. Programs | 3 |
| EDL 5630 | The Principalship | 3 |
| EDL 5660 | Principalship II | 3 |
| EDL 5730 | Building Level Professional Development and Teacher Evaluation | 3 |
| EDL 5913 | Internship: Building Principal | 3 |
| EDL 5950 | Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams | 0 |
| EDL 6390 | Gateway Leadership Institute | 2 |
| EDL 6500 | School Finance | 2 |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
Catholic Education Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDL 5000 | Educational Leadership Non-Certification Practicum | 3 |
| EDL 5100 | Foundations of Ed Admin | 3 |
| EDL 5150 | Special Dimensions of Ed Admin | 3 |
| EDL 5300 | School Law | 3 |
| EDL 5450 | Managing the Building Level Curriculum | 3 |
| EDL 5630 | The Principalship | 3 |
| EDL 5660 | Principalship II | 3 |
| EDL 5730 | Building Level Professional Development and Teacher Evaluation | 3 |
| EDL 5913 | Internship: Building Principal (*If seeking Missouri Certification as a Principal*) | 0-3 |
| EDL 5950 | Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams | 0 |
| EDL 6500 | School Finance | 3 |
| EDR 5100 | Intro to Inferential Stats: Ed | 3 |
| EDR 5500 | Evaluation of Ed. Programs | 3 |
| Total Credits | 33-36 | |
Non-Course Requirements
- Students seeking Missouri certification as a principal must take both the practicum and internship course and pass the Missouri Leaders assessment.
- Students must pass program culmination examinations, oral and written.
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
Standard Track
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| EDL 5100 | Foundations of Ed Admin | 3 |
| EDL 5450 | Managing the Building Level Curriculum | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDL 5630 | The Principalship | 3 |
| EDL 6500 | School Finance | 2 |
| EDL 5300 | School Law | 2 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Summer | ||
| EDL 6390 | Gateway Leadership Institute | 2 |
| EDL 5913 | Internship: Building Principal | 3 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDL 5730 | Building Level Professional Development and Teacher Evaluation | 3 |
| EDR 5500 | Evaluation of Ed. Programs | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDL 5660 | Principalship II | 3 |
| EDR 5100 | Intro to Inferential Stats: Ed | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| EDL 5500 | Professional Seminar | 2 |
| EDR 5950 | Special Study for Exams (Please register in your advisor’s section number) | 0 |
| Credits | 2 | |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
Catholic Education Concentration
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| EDL 5100 | Foundations of Ed Admin | 3 |
| EDL 5450 | Managing the Building Level Curriculum | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDL 5630 | The Principalship | 3 |
| EDL 5300 | School Law | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| EDL 5000 | Educational Leadership Non-Certification Practicum | 3 |
| EDR 5100 | Intro to Inferential Stats: Ed | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDR 5500 | Evaluation of Ed. Programs | 3 |
| EDL 5660 | Principalship II | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDL 6500 | School Finance | 3 |
| EDL 5730 | Building Level Professional Development and Teacher Evaluation | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| Completion of the Written Comprehensive Examination and Oral Examination | ||
| EDL 5150 | Special Dimensions of Ed Admin | 3 |
| EDL 5950 | Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams | 0 |
| EDL 5913 | Internship: Building Principal | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Program Notes
The Master of Arts Degree in Educational Leadership cohort program in Catholic school leadership includes outcomes aligned with national and state standards as well as those articulated by the Catholic Church. Courses are taught as part of a cohort program that is enhanced by problem-based learning, evidenced-based content that connects theory and practice, and opportunities for practice. Students engage in professional learning by collaborating with peers using problem-oriented instructional strategies, studying a curriculum grounded in the literature on effective practice, engaging in professionally-guided practice in schools, and completing an in-depth practicum experience as well as the option for an internship under the guidance of on-site supervisors. All courses are taught in a four-Saturday format (Fall and Spring), and in an eight week period spanning mid May to mid July in the summer.
The program is designed to prepare students for school-level leadership positions, most commonly the principalship in Catholic elementary, middle, high schools, as well as teacher-leadership. Coursework engages students with the unique aspects of Catholic educational leadership including spiritual leadership, the vocation of the Catholic school educator, and the evangelizing Catholic school, and non-public school administration such as recruitment, funding mechanisms, and laws applicable in religious schools, while preparing students to take the assessments for principal certification. The degree additionally requires the completion of a written examination, and an oral examination. Students seeking Missouri state certification as a building principal are required to take EDL 5913 Internship: Building Principal.