Online Master’s in Educational Leadership

Advance into a leadership role in education

Deepen your expertise and expand your skills with an online Master's in Educational Leadership.

Take on a leadership role in your school or district with PennWest’s Master’s in Educational Leadership online degree. This rigorous program will give you the skills and experience you need to create conditions in schools that foster creativity and lead to optimal learning experiences for all students.

Choose from two concentrations – K-12 Principal certification or the Supervisor of Special Education certification. Both are designed to advance your career ─ and while you continue to work full time. Asynchronous classes allow you to work at your own pace, on your own time.

PennWest’s distinguished M.Ed. faculty will mentor and guide you as you deepen your expertise and expand your skills. Among other things, you will learn to be an effective leader in instruction and curriculum development, and become an agent for positive change. Emphasis will be placed on identifying your own personal leadership vision and style, while at the same time learning to lead others.

Upon completion, you will be eligible to sit for the Praxis exam and apply for certification as a K-12 Principal or Supervisor of Special Education. Once you secure a Principal or Supervisor position, you will also then be qualified to apply for PennWest’s Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility program and the Doctor of Education in Educational Administration and Leadership degree.

Top Accreditation

Approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Flexible and Accessible

Earn your master’s degree while you continue to work in your current professional capacity.

Internships

Hands-on internships further enhance your leadership skills.

Fast Facts

Nationally Ranked

Our graduate programs are consistently ranked among the best online programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Credits:

Format:

100% online

Contact:

Graduate Admissions
gradadmissions@pennwest.edu
724-938-4187

Start Terms:

Fall, Spring, Summer Flights A & B, all terms

Concentrations

What Can I Do with a Master’s in Educational Leadership degree?

According to bestaccreditedcolleges.org, a variety of positions are available to graduates with a master's degree in Educational Leadership. You could work in elementary, middle, and high schools as well as post-secondary institutions. Depending on your personal interests and goals, you could become a principal, assistant principal or headmaster, an instructional coordinator, an academic department director or supervisor.

Graduate Outcomes

Collaboratively lead, design and implement a school mission, vision and process for continuous improvement that reflects a core set of values and priorities that include data use, technology, equity, diversity, digital citizenship and community
Understand and demonstrate the capacity to advocate for ethical decisions and cultivate and enact professional norms
Develop and maintain a supportive, equitable, culturally responsive and inclusive school culture
Evaluate, develop and implement coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, data systems, supports and assessment
Engage families, community and school personnel in order to strengthen student learning, support school improvement and advocate for the needs of their school and community
Improve management, communication, technology, school-level governance and operation systems to develop and improve data-informed and equitable school resource plans and to apply laws, policies and regulations
Build the school’s professional capacity, engage staff in the development of a collaborative professional culture, and improve systems of staff supervision, evaluation, support and professional learning
Complete an internship under the supervision of knowledgeable, expert practitioners that engages candidates in multiple and diverse school settings and provides candidates with coherent, authentic and sustained opportunities to synthesize and apply the knowledge and skills identified in NELP standards 1–7 (above) in ways that approximate the full range of responsibilities required of building-level leaders and enable them to promote the current and future success and well-being of each student and adult in their school

Admissions Requirements

K-12 Principal Certification Concentration

Bachelor's Degree in Education and Certification in Education preferred
Verification of three years of professional certificated service or three years of relevant professional experience in an educational setting that is related to the instructional process (as verified by PDE) prior to acceptance.
Mentor Form
Copy of professional certificate
A current resume or curriculum vitae
Writing sample: “Why have you chosen to be an educational leader?”

Supervisor of Special Education Certification Concentration

Bachelor's Degree in Education and Certification in Special Education required
* If student does not have a master’s degree in special education, additional graduate course as determined by the program coordinator is required.
Verification of five years professional certificated service in special education on a special education certificate prior to acceptance
Mentor Form
Copy of professional certificate
A current resume or curriculum vitae
Writing sample: “Why have you chosen to be an educational leader?”