Educational Leadership, M.S. Program
Notice To Students re: Professional Licensure and Certification. See Graduate Requirements page for more information.
Program Description
The mission of the Department of Educational Leadership is to prepare bold, socially responsible leaders who will transform the world of schooling. Students examine social, cultural and linguistic issues linked to larger equity and social justice challenges. Our central role is to help build the leadership capacity needed to create vital, democratic, professional learning communities for equitable learning and teaching. The department offers the onsite/hybrid program and University Extension offers the fully online program.
Career Opportunities
Completion of the administrative credential and educational leadership master’s program enable graduates to obtain a credential that allows them to assume administrative positions at all levels of the K-12 public education system. Various positions include those in school site administration (e.g., principal and vice principal), and district level administration (e.g., curriculum coordinator, staff development coordinator, special programs coordinator, human resources, assistant superintendent, superintendent, etc.). In addition, graduates also obtain many positions at the county and state level offices.
Admission Requirements
A candidate must be admitted to the University, consistent with requirements and procedures explained in this catalog. Candidates apply for admission to the Department and to the University at the same time. Candidates are admitted to the master’s degree program and have the option of completing the requirements for the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential by the end of their first year of enrollment. Applications for admission to the department are online at the departmental website. All admissions materials should be sent to the Credential Student Service Center (CSSC), AE 235, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward, CA 94542.
Additional requirements for admission to the M.S. in Educational Leadership and/or the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential include the following:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- 3.0 GPA or equivalent on all post-baccalaureate work
- A current, valid teaching credential or services credential, such as Pupil Personnel Services, Adult Education, Librarianship, Health Services School Nurse, or Clinical Rehabilitative Services.
- A minimum of three years full-time teaching or service experience as documented by district verification (form available on department website)
- Internship candidates must verify administrative position (form available on department website)
- A current resume showing evidence of leadership experience
- Three recommendations (form available on department website)
- A one-page statement of professional goals
- University application, including two sets of transcripts.
Requirements for the Administrative Services Credential Clear Induction Program include:
- Current Preliminary Administrative Services Credential.
- Verification of position as a school administrator (form available on the department website).
- A current resume showing evidence of leadership experience.
Program Learning Outcomes
The program learning outcomes for the MS in Educational Leadership are the California Administrator Performance Expectations (CAPE) that are aligned to the California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (CPSEL). The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing adopted revised standards on June 30th, 2016:
- Development and Implementation of a Shared Vision. Educational leaders facilitate the development and implementation of a shared vision of learning and growth of all students.
- Instructional Leadership. Educational leaders shape a collaborative culture of teaching and learning informed by professional standards and focused on student and professional growth.
- Management and Learning Environment. Educational leaders manage the organization to cultivate a safe and productive learning and working environment.
- Family and Community Engagement. Educational leaders collaborate with families and other stakeholders to address diverse student and community interests and mobilize community resources.
- Ethics and Integrity. Educational leaders make decisions, model, and behave in ways that demonstrate professionalism, ethics, integrity, justice, and equity and hold staff to the same standard.
- External Context and Policy. Educational leaders influence political, social, economic, legal and cultural contexts affecting education to improve education policies and practices.
Advancement to Candidacy
“Classified Graduate” Students are eligible for Advancement to Candidacy based on the following criteria:
- Maintenance of a 3.0 grade point average in all graduate work completed.
- Submission to the graduate coordinator of an approved program of study developed in conjunction with the appropriate faculty.
Cause for Dismissal
A graduate student may be placed on academic probation for not achieving a 3.0 GPA in any semester. A student may be academically disqualified for failing to achieve a 3.0 in all units taken after admission to a graduate program, by not meeting the academic criteria of the department or behaving contrary to professional standards.
A graduate student may be declassified (or dropped) from a graduate degree for unprofessional conduct, behavior that interferes with others’ learning, failure to make progress toward the degree, failure to meet grade requirements, and/or the department faculty determine that the student cannot complete degree requirements at the graduate level even if the GPA is above a 3.0. Please see University website for more detail.
Educational Leadership Degree Requirements (30 units)
Core Requirements
Candidates must complete 18 units of core courses.
Elective Courses
All students must consult your graduate advisor to choose the appropriate 8 units of electives. Select from the following courses:
Capstone Requirement
The following 4-unit capstone is required:
