Master of Education (M.Ed.)
School Leadership
with PA School Principal Certificate K-12
Program Highlights & Benefits
Flexible, online format
1.5 year completion time, including holiday breaks
#1 Provider of Graduates for Principal Certification in Pennsylvania since 2019, according to PDE data
Reduced Credit Requirements: Streamlined curriculum from 36 credits down to 30 credits
For
Professional educators who wish to enter into a leadership position as a Principal or Assistant Principal in a K-12 school.
To be eligible for certification by the Pennsylvania Department of Education at the end of the program, candidates must have three years of professional experience in an educational setting that is related to the instructional process and pass the required Praxis exams.
What You Learn
The mission of Point Park University’s Master of Education in School Leadership program is to prepare professional educators for leadership positions as school administrators or principals. We will achieve this by advancing professional knowledge that supports the intellectual, social, and personal development of learners; integrating leadership and supervisory theories and skills with problem solving and decision making models; encouraging collaboration, communication, professional development, and responsible management of educational programs and resources; and conducting educational research that enhances organizational effectiveness.
How You Learn
Online Format: This is an online cohort program. No face-to-face class meetings are required, but students will be engaged in an active and engaging online classroom environment that includes assignments, materials, discussion threads, assessments and/or group activities done electronically. Two 3-credit practicum courses are included in your course schedule, where you will be responsible for completing the mandated number of observation hours required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education prior to certification. These hours will need to be completed in a K-12 environment with a certified administrator. You will finish one 3-credit course every 8 weeks. Following this schedule, you will complete the program in approximately 2 years.
Career Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, students will have earned an M.Ed. in School Leadership and be eligible for certification as a K-12 School Principal in the state of Pennsylvania.
Degree Requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
| EDUC 542 | Issues in Law and Education | 3 |
| EDUC 547 | Actionable Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC | Elective | 3 |
| EDUC | Elective | 3 |
| EDUC 538 | Educational Administration | 3 |
| EDUC 545 | The Principalship | 3 |
| EDUC 546 | Clinical Supervision and Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 549 | Applied Research Practicum I: School Administrator-School Principal K-12 | 3 |
| EDUC 550 | Applied Research Practicum II: School Administrator-School Principal K-12 | 3 |
| SPED 634 | Leadership for Differentiated Instructional Practices | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 30 |
Please Note:
Program and course requirements are subject to change to comply with university policy.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires candidates to apply for certification on the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) to:
- Provide a chief school administrator’s verification of the completion of a minimum of three years of public school professional experience in an instructional area
- TESTS FOR CERTIFICATION: Check PDE Test Requirements: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/educators/certification/certification-testing
- Be recommended for certification by the authorized certification officer or person who holds a comparable certificate from another state
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