Master of Arts (M.A.)
Executive Leadership Studies
Program Highlights & Benefits
Provides a foundation in the principles and procedures of educational administration
No state exam required for NC students, an electronic portfolio is submitted to NCDPI for licensure
Affordable tuition
No special computer skills required, user friendly format
What You Learn
This program is for current teachers or administrators who wish to enhance their skills and knowledge in educational leadership while working towards North Carolina state licensure as a School Administrator.
The M.A. in Executive Leadership Studies focuses on preparing experienced teachers to serve as educational leaders; it is designed to relate to the needs of educators in both theory and practice. The program is designed to meet the following program goals for prospective school administrators:
- provide a foundation in the principles and procedures of educational administration, curriculum development, and instructional improvement;
- promote the development of the ability to implement and evaluate models of instruction and methods of supervision in the classroom and other school settings;
- foster the development of the ability to evaluate classroom teachers within an academic environment;
- develop the capacity to interpret and implement educational research in the total school program; and
- provide preparation for service as instructional and educational leaders.
How You Learn
A five-semester Executive Leadership Program with an integrated curriculum will be offered. Each semester students will take one module, consisting of six integrated semester hours with one 2-semester hour internship during the first, third, and fifth semesters.
Fully Online: You will log into Blackboard to complete assignments, participate in online discussions, and complete group activities. While there are no face-to-face meetings, some of the activities may include chats, discussion boards, recorded and/or live webinars, and various web links for viewing. While your classes will operate in Blackboard, your final project will be stored as an electronic portfolio using TaskStream. The electronic portfolio is required for North Carolina licensure. Upon full acceptance to the online program you will be required to complete online certification to verify your proficiency in an online environment.
Career Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, students will have earned a Master of Arts in Executive Leadership Studies and will be subject to state licensure requirements in order to receive North Carolina state licensure as a School Administrator. Students who have already earned a master’s degree have the option to take a subset of the coursework outlined below to earn add-on licensure as a School Administrator.
Prerequisites
Students in the M.A. in Executive Leadership Studies program must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 2.50 grade point average for all coursework beyond high school. A minimum of 3 years of NCDPI-recognized teaching experience is required by the time the student completes the program.
Degree Requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
| First Semester | ||
MELS 601 | Executive Leadership in a 21st Century Change Environment | 6 |
MELS 697 | Executive Leadership Internship | 2 |
| Second Semester | ||
MELS 602 | Research and Assessment for 21st Century Executive Leaders | 6 |
| Third Semester | ||
MELS 603 | Resource Management for 21st Century Executive Leaders | 6 |
MELS 697 | Executive Leadership Internship | 2 |
| Fourth Semester | ||
MELS 604 | 21st Century Curriculum & Instructional Development | 6 |
MELS 697 | Executive Leadership Internship | 1 |
| Fifth Semester | ||
MELS 605 | 21st Century School Leadership | 6 |
MELS 697 | Executive Leadership Internship | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36 | |
Please Note:
This is not an official schedule and your cohort may take these courses in a different order.
