Program Overview
Educational Leadership, M.A.
The Master of Arts in Educational Leadership at Saint Louis University's School of Education is designed for working educators who want to lead. The program prepares students to earn their Missouri principal certification in as few as two years.
Overview
The program is offered online, with synchronous sessions delivered through Zoom and asynchronous coursework through the Canvas learning management system. Students learn from experienced faculty with backgrounds in theory and practice as previous superintendents and assistant superintendents in public, Catholic, and private school settings.
Curriculum Overview
The standard track requires 32 credits of coursework, while the Catholic education track requires 33 credits. The curriculum includes:
- Foundations of Educational Administration
- School Law
- Curriculum Development and Implementation Fidelity
- General Research Methods for Education
- Evaluation of Education Programs
- The Principalship
- Principalship II
- Building Level Professional Development and Teacher Evaluation
- School Finance
- Professional Seminar
- Internship: Building Principal (for standard track) or Educational Leadership Non-Certification Practicum (for Catholic education track)
Admission Requirements
To apply, students need:
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Transcripts from all schools attended
- One letter of recommendation
- A resume
- A professional goal statement
International students must also provide:
- Demonstration of English language proficiency
- Proof of financial support
Tuition
Tuition per credit is $690 for School of Education master's programs and graduate certificates. Additional charges may apply.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.
Program Outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
- Assess data, literature, administration practices, and educational theories to analyze issues related to building-level administration practices.
- Apply knowledge about evidence-based leadership, communication, financial, legal, curriculum/instruction/assessment, and management practices to work in building-level educational administration areas.
- Articulate explanations about leadership, communication, legal, financial, curriculum/instruction/assessment, and management in educational administration.
- Evidence educational leadership practices demonstrating professional ethics.
Careers
The program prepares students for leadership roles, including principal, assistant principal, program director, administrator, instructional coach, curriculum, or department- or grade-level chair or director.
Catholic Education Concentration
This track prepares students for school-level leadership positions, most commonly principalship in Catholic elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as teacher leadership. Coursework focuses on the unique aspects of Catholic educational leadership, including spiritual leadership, the vocation of the Catholic school educator, and non-public school administration.
Roadmap
The program is designed to be completed in two years, with courses offered online via Zoom and Canvas, except for the Gateway Leadership Institute, which is held on campus for three days in June.
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
Program Notes
The master's 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. Students seeking Missouri state certification as a building principal are required to take EDL 5913 Internship: Building Principal.