Educational Leadership and Administration
Program: Master's degree in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Administration
Coordinator: Dr. James L. Gentilucci
Master's Degree in Education: Educational Leadership and Administration
Overview: While designed primarily for K-12 leaders, the master's degree in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Administration is beneficial for leaders from other fields, including sports administration, teacher leadership, higher education, and nonprofit leadership. The program emphasizes applied theories of educational leadership, mastery of practical skills required for effective leadership and administration, and competence in research methods necessary for understanding and assessing learning organizations. Qualified candidates who meet standards established by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing can earn the California Preliminary Administrative Services Credential with the master's degree.
Delivery Format
Coursework for the master's degree is delivered in "fast track" format, designed to meet the needs of adult learners. The Fast-Track program allows students to complete the master's degree in just 15 weekends (Friday evenings and all day Saturdays) and one summer session during an 11-month period. Although accelerated, this is a rigorous, practical program that requires serious academic commitment on the part of interested applicants.
Coursework for the Master's Degree in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Administration:
- Fall Quarter - Organizational Leadership
- EDUC 512 Organizational Theory (4 units)
- EDUC 513 Planning and Decision Making (4 units)
- EDUC 518 Supervised Fieldwork (3 units*)
- EDUC 586 Introduction to Inquiry in Education (4 units)
- Winter Quarter - Instructional Leadership
- EDUC 515 Curriculum and Program Evaluation (4 units)
- EDUC 516 Personnel Supervision and Evaluation (4 units)
- EDUC 518 Supervised Fieldwork (3 units*)
- EDUC 589 Research Methods (4 units)
- Spring Quarter - Managerial Leadership
- EDUC 510 Finance and Resource Allocation (4 units)
- EDUC 511 Law and Governance (4 units)
- EDUC 514 School Site Administration (4 units)
- EDUC 518 Supervised Fieldwork (3 units*)
- Summer Session - Community Leadership
- EDUC 587 Foundations and Policy (4 units)
- EDUC 588 Education, Culture and Learning (4 units)
- EDUC 590 Research Applications in Education (4 units)
- Total Units Required for MA ONLY (48 units)
- Total Units Required for MA + Credential (57 units)
*Required only if candidates pursue BOTH the master's degree AND the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential concomitantly.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the master's degree program in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Administration is competitive and requires the following:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university
- 3.0 GPA in last 90 quarter units of university work
- Three letters of recommendation
- Current resume
- Complete questionnaire
How to Apply?
Students are admitted once each year in the fall, and they progress through the program as a cohort. The application deadline is MARCH 1. To apply to Cal Poly, go to www.csumentor.edu. To apply to the master's degree program, follow the instructions in the M.A. document links on this page.
Application Documents and Instructions
- Application Instructions
- Questionnaire
- Letter of Recommendation Form
- Program Handbook
- Fieldwork Manual
Questions? Contact the Department of Graduate Studies in Education office at (805) 756-7194 or email jgentilu@calpoly.edu.