MASTER OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
Director: Otis McNeil
Program Description
The thirty-eight (38) semester
hour Master of School Administration is designed to prepare administrative leaders
for the system of elementary, middle, and high schools. The Master of School Administration leads to
licensure in both administration and supervision (curriculum and instructional
specialist, Level I.)
The conceptual framework of
this new program is built around five domains, which provide the program
structure and purpose. The five domains
are as follows:
1. Strategic leadership–training leaders to think strategically, reflecting and communicating about current educational issues and identifying and using strategic problem solving and decision making skills.
2. Instructional leadership–preparing administrator to take a leadership role defining, refining, and implementing the schooling process; developing learning centered school improvement and leadership skills.
3. Organizational leadership–equipping administrator with skills, abilities, and values to work productively within the organization; addressing ethical and societal aspects of leadership.
4. Political leadership–preparing administrator to interact collaboratively with the various publics; investigating politics and legal aspects of education.
5. Managerial leadership–preparing administrator to respond effectively, efficiently, and in a timely manner to the multiplicity of factors involved in the operation of schools; developing an understanding of, and practicing the application of, school based management skills.
Problem-based learning,
practice experiences, and ongoing assessment are key features of this program
of study.
|
Requirements for a Master of School
Administration |
Sem. Hrs. |
|
Required Courses EDNL 502 Legal Aspects of Educational Leadership EDNL 560 Managing Organizational Change EDNL 570 Educational Decision Making EDNL 571 Analyzing Educational Issues EDNL 572 Ethical and Societal Aspects of Educational Leadership EDNL 573 School Based Management EDNL 580 Learning Centered Leadership I EDNL 585 Learning Centered Leadership II EDNL 590 Administration and Supervision Internship I EDNL 595 Administration and
Supervision Internship II |
32 |
|
Guided Electives Each student must complete two (2)
three-semester-hour Guided Electives that will be beneficial in expanding her
or his understanding of the Pre-K–12 educational program. |
6 |
|
|
Program Total: 38 |
COURSES
EDNL 502 Legal Aspects of Educational Leadership
Constitutional, statutory, and case law bases of educational administration; a study of legal provisions and principles relating to education at all levels. Includes research and analysis of laws dealing with pertinent educational topics. Credit: 3 semester hours
EDNL 560 Managing Organizational Change
Managing Organizational Change is designed to develop an understanding of the processes that are necessary for bringing about change and improvement in complex educational organizations. Studying, applying, and evaluating a variety of planning and organizational processes to bring about predetermined educational expectations are the major components of this course. Credit: 3 semester hours
EDNL 570 Educational Decision Making
This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to evaluate educational programs in both formative and summative manners and to address educational problems in light of the best available research. A variety of decision-making models are studied with emphasis on the type of situation to which the respective models are most applicable. Credit: 3 semester hours each
EDNL 571 Analyzing Educational Issues
This course provides students with opportunities to critically analyze current educational issues from a variety of perspectives and disciplines including education, history, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, law, and political science. Credit: 3 semester hours each
EDNL 572 Ethical and Societal Aspects of Educational Leadership
This course examines educational leadership through an analysis of the relationship of personal values and the core values of society to education. There is emphasis on understanding of and sensitivity to the societal dimension of educational decision making. Credit: 3 semester hours
EDNL 573 School Based Management
This course focuses on school quality and the elements essential to administer and operate schools in a manner that supports quality education. Specific aspects of quality considered include 1) the school as a system and a renewing learning organization, 2) team leadership and school-based decision making, 3) school culture and climate, 4) human and material resources, 5) school reform, and 6) relationships of the state, local district, school, and community. Credit: 3 semester hours
EDNL 580 and 585 Learning Centered Leadership I and II
These two courses are designed to develop an understanding of the essential elements of quality instruction and effective learning through school-based visionary leadership. Particular attention is centered on knowledge and application of effective leadership models and styles that are necessary to implement quality instruction and effective curricula. Credit: 3 semester hours each
EDNL 590 and 595 Administration and Supervision Internship I and II
These courses are a two-semester internship in a school or central office setting in order to give the students the opportunity to apply, practice and refine the knowledge and skills acquired from course work. During this experience the student will play an active role in identifying and solving a school-related problem; the student will also engage in the routine duties of administering the school. The student will be required to submit a scholarly report of the action research undertaken as part of the internship. The student’s internship participation will be supervised jointly by school-based administrators and university personnel. Credit: 4 semester hours each