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Educational Leadership
Education at all levels is changing for many reasons. The Educational Leadership specialization can help you acquire the knowledge and skills to assess current K-12 education trends and address these ever-changing conditions of education today. You will explore educational reform from a current and historical perspective, and develop the skills that can help you guide and transform education as you evaluate the needs of diverse student populations and work to improve educational outcomes. As an Educational Leadership graduate, you will be positioned to pursue leadership roles in your current educational environment.
Certification and Licensing
The School of Education serves educational leaders by providing online graduate studies in education to reach worldwide populations. The MEd program is designed to reach national and international markets and does not purport to provide licensure or certification in any particular state or country. Certification requirements vary by state. Students are advised to contact their state department of education or local school district for guidance in obtaining certification or licensure, or for approval in fulfilling district level incentive programs.
There are several reasons why an educator would want to pursue a graduate degree in education that does not lead to state licensing or certification.
Reasons may include:
- "Move up" steps on the salary schedule.
- Improve skills and professionalism in general or to pursue a ”leadership” position outside the classroom (school-based or district level).
- Advance as a ”teacher leader” through a graduate degree (already has a bachelor's degree and certification).
- Meet the needs of increasingly diverse students.
- Work in a traditional K-12 classroom environment (trainer, educational consultant, etc).
Completion Period for Master's Degrees
Northcentral University allows 5 years to complete all 30 credit hour master's programs. Normal time to complete varies depending upon the rate courses are taken and credits transferred.
Course Length
Existing MEd students may opt to switch to eight-week courses by contacting their Academic Advisor. Once existing MEd students have opted for eight-week courses, they must receive approval from the Office of the Dean to switch back to a program of 12-week courses. All eight-week courses are indicated by a "-8" (dash eight) at the end of the course code.
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
EDU5000 / EDU5000-8 | Foundations for Graduate Study | This course is an orientation to Northcentral University and to the essential skills needed to pursue a Master's degree in Education. Graduate level skills, such as academic integrity, time management, effective use of the Northcentral Library, comprehending complex scholarly texts and research articles, and APA form and style in professional communication are also introduced. Students will complete the course with a better understanding of personal goals, strengths, and challenges, and a roadmap to navigate their way to completion of their educational aspirations. |
ED5022/ED5022-8 | Educational Policy and Practice | This Master’s level course focuses on research and theory in developing effective schools. Topics include: aligning contemporary educational practice with Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards, collaboration, communication, decision-making, and conflict management. Current educational trends will be addressed to promote the establishment of effective educational climates for teaching and learning. |
Specialization Course 1 | ||
ED5001/ED5001-8 | Contemporary Issues in Education | This course examines the major contemporary issues impacting education. Students evaluate the issues, attempt solutions, and develop personal professional positions. In a broader context, the education profession is affected by numerous and diverse issues that are highly political, emotional, and complex. It is imperative that students understand the issues; the effects the issues have on the profession, as well as formulating a personal response to the issues. |
ED5034/ED5034-8 | School and Community Relations | This course introduces educators to essential competencies and considerations needed to build and sustain positive, productive relationships with members of school communities and the external communities in which schools reside. Emphasis is placed on the development of effective communication policies and practices to instill public confidence in community schools, improve school quality, and improve student learning. |
Specialization Course 2 | ||
ED5023/ED5023-8 | Multicultural Relationships in Educational Organizations | The effects of cultural diversity on organizational behavior are complex and powerful. What is diversity and what are the goals in achieving a more diverse society? This course examines the educational community's thinking on race, language, culture, gender and disability in the educational setting. |
Specialization Course 3 | ||
Specialization Course 4 | ||
ED6002/ED6002-8 | Action Research Capstone | This graduate course emphasizes practical research skills utilized by education practitioners. Students will develop an action research project based on the scientific method and concepts presented in ED6001. The culminating product will reflect critical thinking, graduate level writing skills, and correct APA format. This course is open only to students pursuing the Master of Education. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
EDU5000 / EDU5000-8 | Foundations for Graduate Study | This course is an orientation to Northcentral University and to the essential skills needed to pursue a Master's degree in Education. Graduate level skills, such as academic integrity, time management, effective use of the Northcentral Library, comprehending complex scholarly texts and research articles, and APA form and style in professional communication are also introduced. Students will complete the course with a better understanding of personal goals, strengths, and challenges, and a roadmap to navigate their way to completion of their educational aspirations. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
ED5008-8 | Teaching Diverse students | As the United States continues to experience increasing cultural diversity, todays educators must become proficient in reaching diverse and exceptional students. Additionally, individuals differ in gender, sexual orientation, age, physical, and mental abilities. The purpose of this Masters level course is to address the nature of cultural diversity, its sources, and its importance to educators. Students will understand how to adapt instructions to the needs of diverse students, taking into consideration epistemological and axiological perspectives unique to each culture. |
ED5004-8 | School Law | students will investigate the impact of school law on the rights of students and educators as guaranteed by the Constitution and its amendments. This investigation will include state and federal statutory and regulatory provisions as well as tort and contract liability as they influence education. |
ED5011-8 | Leading and Developing Human Capital | This course provides students working in professional settings opportunities to research, practice problem solving and leadership skills as applied to human resource issues. People, and the knowledge and skills they possess, are an organization's most important asset. Students delve into the streams of thought that contribute to the bases of logic of individuals and their organizations, their performance, their learning, development and their change. This course will promote student acumen to practice different styles and techniques of HR leadership, development and management. Students will practice HR leadership strategies with hands on experience in their work arena. |
ED5012-8 | Leadership in Educational Organizations | This Master's level course is about effective leadership in educational organizations. It is particularly relevant for practicing school administrators, those who desire to become administrators, and classroom teachers who recognize the importance of leadership to positively impact schooling in our nation. Students pursuing a specialization in Educational Leadership are advised to take this as their first course of study. |
ED5013-8 | School Finance | This course will provide students with an understanding of and practical experience with the major concepts and tools in school finance. The course will cover the three distinct components of education finance: (1) evaluating revenue sources, including school aid; (2) developing and defending budgets; and (3) managing the finances and business operations of a school district. The objective is to provide students with an understanding of the general principles of education finance that can be applied in any setting. |
ED5014-8 | School Organization | Examines the organizational structure of schools and school systems and their relationships to and effects on school programs, teaching strategies, testing and measurement, and evaluation of programs in schools. |
ED5015-8 | School Safety | This course is designed to provide students with set of standards that educators can use to evaluate their schools and then develop practical and systematic plans for ensuring orderly and caring learning environments. The course also addresses several theoretical perspectives through which students can come to understand school safety. Attention is given to the distinction between preventing violence and promoting safety. |
ED5016-8 | Instructional Supervision and Leadership | The purpose of this course is to examine the theoretical framework and practical applications of instructional leadership within the economic, social, political, and educational context of schooling. This course proposes a concept of supervision and leadership designed to help educational leaders build a repertoire of approaches and strategies that will enhance professional growth while showing the importance of sensitivity to individual needs. Emphasis is placed upon the student gaining a clear understanding of the interrelatedness among supervision and leadership, instruction, and assessment. |
ED5022-8 | Educational Policies and Practices | This Master’s level course focuses on research and theory in developing effective schools. Topics include: aligning contemporary educational practice with Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards, collaboration, communication, decision-making, and conflict management. Current educational trends will be addressed to promote the establishment of effective educational climates for teaching and learning. |
ED5025-8 | Education for Social Change | This course focuses on the dynamic relationships between education and a variety of social, institutional, economic, and cultural change processes. Students will evaluate how broader events and trends affect the structure and purpose of educational systems. They will also argue the positive and negative recent changes in systems of the schooling experience and predict future changes within the educational enterprise. |
ED5031-8 | Policy and Politics in the Administration of Education | This course brings the latest in research in the politics and policies in education. Special emphasis is placed on governance, curriculum and standards, accountability, finance and school choice. |
ED5033-8 | School-Based Leadership | In this course, students are provided the leadership concepts and skills needed to be dynamic, innovative, and adaptive school leaders. One of the major roles of school leaders is to cultivate the development of a culture that promotes student-centered schools. In a student-centered school, there is a shared responsibility of leadership among the entire school staff that fosters the creation of authentic learning communities. This course offers students the opportunity to explore the authentic learning communities from a shared – school based leadership perspective. |
ED5034-8 | School Community Relations | This course introduces educators to essential competencies and considerations needed to build and sustain positive, productive relationships with members of school communities and the external communities in which schools reside. Emphasis is placed on the development of effective communication policies and practices to instill public confidence in community schools, improve school quality, and improve student learning. |
ED5035-8 | Supervision of Curriculum | This course provides students with the skills and knowledge required to design and manage curricula resources and delivery to ensure congruence among the written, taught, and tested curricula. The course also provides students with the skills and knowledge required to examine, review, evaluate and select consistent and equitable instructional programs, materials, and products that support student achievement and institutional goals. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
ED6002 / ED6002-8 | Action Research Capstone | This graduate course emphasizes practical research skills utilized by education practitioners. Students will develop an action research project based on the scientific method and concepts presented in ED6001. The culminating product will reflect critical thinking, graduate level writing skills, and correct APA format. This course is open only to students pursuing the Master of Education. |
At Northcentral University, we pride ourselves in being completely transparent when it comes to tuition and fees. We have adopted an all-inclusive tuition model that gives you the cost of your Master of Education tuition and fees in one flat program rate*. The only additional cost above your MEd program rate is books. Learn more about the NCU’s MEd costs below:
- Per credit cost: $544
- Per 3 credit course cost: $1,631
- Program cost: $16,310
- Average book cost per course: $150
- Application Fee: $0
- Technology Fee: $0
- Registration Fee: $0
Click here to learn more about payment and financing options.
*Program rates are subject to change and generally increase at the start of each calendar year.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about our students, it’s that they are motivated and ambitious—but they are also busy! At Northcentral University, we’ve designed our education experience to work with you, not against you, so you can achieve your academic goals without sacrificing the quality, flexibility and support you need to be successful.
- Regionally Accredited
- No Physical Residency Requirements
- One-to-One Teaching
- 100% Doctoral Faculty
- Flexibility of Online Learning
- University Resources
To learn more, request information or call 1-866-776-0331 or start a live chat to speak with an enrollment advisor today. We offer new courses every Monday of the year so you can get started when it’s best for you.
