Educational Leadership (MA)
MA
Earn your master's in educational leadership
Move from classroom to administration with a master's in educational leadership. You'll earn the credentials and confidence to advance your career and improve student outcomes.
You'll start with a foundation in management, community relations, curriculum supervision and instructional assessment. Depending on your career goals, you'll further refine your degree with one of three emphases: charter school leadership, supervision and special education supervision.
This program also qualifies you for the Michigan Administrator Certificate through the Michigan Department of Education, a requirement for state principles. You'll graduate ready to transform schools and improve communities.
AT A GLANCE
Why earn your master's in educational leadership?
This master's program is aimed at professional educators looking to become school administrators (certification option) or for individuals preparing for an advanced degree in education (thesis option). This program is fully online and taught in the evenings, so you can continue to work while you prepare for your next career move.
You'll study topics like:
- Using research to lead school improvement.
- Public school law.
- School and community relations.
- Curriculum supervision.
You can choose from three emphasis areas to further refine your skills: Charter school leadership, supervision and special education supervision.
This program also qualifies you for the Michigan Administrator Certification at the building level (elementary and secondary certification). If you already have a master's degree in a related field, you may be able to earn certification through our Fast Track program. Contact an advisor for details. No matter your path, you'll graduate ready to build a transformational school culture.
Highlights of the master's in educational leadership program
As a master's student at CMU, you'll:
- Join a nationally accredited program: This program is accredited through The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, so you can be confident your degree meets the field's highest standards.
- Apply credentials you've already earned to your degree: You may be eligible to transfer up to 15 credits for work you've already completed with our certification to credit program. Hold a valid administrator certification through an accredited, state-approved alternative route program, like MASSP, MASA, NCSI? You may be able to use these credits for up to half your degree.
- Customize your degree to fit your career goals: Choose one of three emphasis areas to fit your career goals.
- Join a network of professional educators: We confer 700 master's degrees in teaching every year, more than any other college in Michigan.
Master's in educational leadership careers
Prepare for a leadership position in all educational settings: public, private, charter and virtual with a master's in educational leadership. You'll graduate ready to make a lasting impact on students, faculty and staff.
| Career | Projected Salary |
|---|---|
| Principal | $104,070 |
| Elementary & Secondary School Administrator | $63,712 |
| School Athletic Director | $58,906 |
Advance with a Michigan Administrator Certification
Earning your master's in educational leadership qualifies you for the Elementary & Secondary (ES) K-12 Administrator Certification. This certification is required for Michigan principals and school administrators whose primary responsibility is administering instructional programs.
Earn your master's degree and qualify for certification all at once!
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