M.S. in Educational Leadership
Program Details
Program Overview
The Master of Science (M.S.) in Educational Leadership program is designed for educators who want to expand their leadership knowledge and skills to serve in formal or informal leadership roles in schools. Our master's degree leads to Wisconsin certification as principal (#51) and director of instruction (#10). If you are not interested in formal administrative positions but are interested in expanding your leadership capacity for roles such as site council member, grade-level coordinator or department chair, you also will benefit from the program. The format of the M.S. in Educational Leadership program is an accelerated cohort model with courses typically lasting six to eight weeks. The program is offered year-round in a face-to-face format at locations throughout Wisconsin, as well as online.
The course content emphasizes the knowledge, skills and dispositions that are compatible with effective school leadership in the 21st century, as defined in the Wisconsin Principal and Director of Instruction Content Standards. During the 31-credit program, you will accrue practicum hours that are aligned with the Wisconsin Administrator Standards. The practicum contributes to the development of the School Improvement Plan that you will complete under the supervision of the school-based supervisor and the University supervisor. You also will complete a leadership portfolio as part of administrator licensure requirements.
Program Coursework
- Leading Beyond Organizational Improvement
- Leadership in Planning, Facilitating and Assessing Learning
- Developing, Supervising and Evaluating Staff
- Legal and Financial Leadership in Adaptive Change
- Analysis of System Leadership
- Leading in a Culture of Continuous Improvement
- Graduate Seminar
- Introduction to Leadership
- Leading Complex Systems
- Fundamentals of Research Methods
The specific degree requirements on the website are for illustrative purposes and may change at any time. Please contact the Registrar's Office, Academic Advising or refer to the course catalog for detailed program requirements.
Highlights
Graduate Core
Courses include:
- GS 500 Graduate Seminar
- GS 501 Introduction to Leadership
- GS 503 Fundamentals of Research Methods
- GS 502 Leading Complex Organizations
Application Requirements
Professional Credential and Competency
- A valid Wisconsin teaching license, including 3 years teaching experience with this license, is currently required to receive the administrative licenses from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
- Students who do not hold a valid Wisconsin teaching license earn the master degree only.
Two Letters of Recommendation
Your letters of recommendation should be provided by your building principal, department leader, or another individual who can comment on your professional leadership abilities.
Personal Essay
Essays should be a maximum one-page (double-spaced) word-processed statement addressing the challenges you see in education today and how you as a leader hope to make a positive change.
For more information please contact admissions or the program faculty.
Kirsten Brown
Senior Admissions Counselor
Eric J. Dimmitt
Chair - Leadership Education|Associate Dean - College of Graduate Studies
