1020 East Wendover Avenue
Suite 202
Greensboro NC 27411
E-mail: distance@ncat.edu
Toll Free: (888) 498-6752
Phone: (336) 256-0355
Fax: (336) 256-0357
MS - School Administration
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Career Opportunities
The Master of School Administration Degree Program is designed to prepare individuals to lead schools and other organizations in a diverse and technological society. Completion of this program leads to eligibility for licensure from the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction and may qualify the individual for administration certification in other states.
Graduates of this program may work in administrative positions at the school building level, and/or assume positions with local state and national organizations that focus on educational issues in professional development, curriculum, research or policy making.
Degree Requirements
All students enrolled in the Master of School Administration Degree Program must successfully complete 42 hours of study including 30 hours in the major and 12 hours in a field based internship and internship seminar. A maximum of 6 hours of graduate transfer credits with a grade of “B” or higher may be accepted toward completion of the degree. Transfer credits must be at the graduate level for a grade, within the last five years, and may not have been used to fulfill the requirements for another master’s degree.
Students admitted to the Master of School Administration Degree Program will be assigned to a cohort group through the registration process. There will be separate cohort groups for full-time and extended time students. Students may choose either a full-time or extended time program of study. Full-time students must complete the program within a two-year period, including the yearlong internship. Extended time students must complete the program within a three-year period including summers and the yearlong internships.
Admission Requirements
Submit a formal application to the School of Graduate Studies,
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
- Hold a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college or university in this country or the equivalent in an accredited institution outside the United States.
- Have an undergraduate grade point average of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.
- Present GRE or MAT (Miller Analogies Test) scores that are not more than five (5) years old.
- Have a minimum of four (4) years of successful teaching experience and hold a Performance based North Carolina Teaching Certificate.
- Provide three letters of academic recommendations.
- Participate in an interview to determine knowledge of relevant education issues, insight into problems of schooling, and level of oral communication skills.
- Present a portfolio of educational and professional artifacts.
- Provide a writing sample in response to a leadership case study problem.
The North Carolina Principal Fellows Program is a scholarship loan program funded by the North Carolina General Assembly and based upon academic merit (financial need is not a consideration) to assist individuals in earning the master’s degree in school administration in preparation for a career in school administration. Each scholarship loan will provide up to a two-year scholarship in the amount of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) per year to support students who enroll in and complete a full-time two-year master’s degree program in school administration at a participating institution.
You must be enrolled as a full-time graduate student (9 hours minimum) and serve as a full-time intern in a public school during the second year as a Principal Fellow. While serving as an intern, Principal Fellows receive a stipend, in addition to the scholarship loan, equal to the 0-4 steps on the state salary schedule for assistant principals (contingent on funding from the General Assembly).
Information may be obtained by contacting:
North Carolina Principal Fellows Program
P.O. Box 2688
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27515-2688
(919) 962-4575
Required Courses
and Sequences
| Year 1 - Semester 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course | Name | Credits |
| MSA 770 | Research and Inquiry | 3 |
| MSA 771 | Diversity Issues in Administration | 3 |
| MSA 772 | Administration, Management, and Supervision | 3 |
| MSA 773 | Issues in Educational Administration | 3 |
| Year 1 - Semester 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course | Name | Credits |
| MSA 774 | Curriculum and Instructional Leadership | 3 |
| MSA 775 | Advanced Technology for Administrators | 3 |
| MSA 776 | Law, Policy and Politics | 3 |
| MSA 777 | Ethical and Societal Aspects of Leadership | 3 |
| Year 2 - Semester 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course | Name | Credits |
| MSA 778 | The Principalship | 3 |
| MSA 780 | Internship Seminar I | 3 |
| MSA 781 | Internship Practicum I | 3 |
| Year 2 - Semester 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course | Name | Credits |
| MSA 779 | 3 | |
| MSA 782 | Internship Seminar II | 3 |
| MSA 783 | Internship Practicum II | 3 |
Successful completion of the comprehensive exam will be required prior to enrollment in the internship, which is to taken during the final semester of formal coursework. The exam will consist of both written and oral presentations to the faculty. Students will be presented with case studies and are expected to integrate and apply concepts and information from core courses and clinical experiences.
Intership Seminar
and Practicum
Seminar topics may include:
- Legal Issues
- Special Education
- Personnel Management
- Due process in student and staff relationships
- Strategies for building parent and community relationships
- Data collection and analysis
- Creating Safe and secure school environments
- Professional development for staff
- Selecting and managing instructional technology
Each candidate must develop a leadership portfolio that provides evidence of competence in each National, State, and Institutional Standard. The portfolio will document evidence of an intern’s reflection on individual growth with respect to knowledge, skills, and professional perspectives in each standard.
The School Leaders Licensure Assessment is required for North Carolina and must be taken in January of the Internship year prior to graduation.
Course Descriptions
MSA-770. Research and InquiryCredit 3 (3-0)
This course will examine the quantitative and qualitative research methodologies appropriate toschool settings and the evaluation of research, data analysis, and its application to schools.
MSA-771. Diversity Issues in AdministrationCredit 3 (3-0)
This course will focus on skills leaders need to successfully deliver programs for diverse student populations. Diverse learning in a pluralistic society and content appropriate strategies will be addressed.
MSA-772. Administration, Management and Supervision Credit 3 (3-0)
This course in administration of K-12 schools will focus on (1) formal and informal organizational structures, concepts, and practices, (2) the management process, (3) administrative and supervisory functions with particular reference to personnel, and (4) program and fiscal management.
MSA-773. Issues in Educational Administration Credit 3 (3-0)
This course will focus on current education issues and administrative organization of schools, federal-state-local contexts, accountability issues, school finance, role of technology as both an instructional and administrative tool, building consensus, communicating effectively, and developing collaborative skills will be included.
MSA-774. Curriculum and Instructional Leadership Credit 3 (3-0)
This course will focus on the application of current effective theories of learning and research on classroom instruction. Curriculum planning based on state and national standards, diversity issues, and use of instructional technology and assessment strategies will be addressed. Leadership styles and models to improve curriculum and instruction through classroom observation and assessment of teacher delivery will be included.
MSA -775. Advanced Technology for AdministratorsCredit 3 (3-0)
The use of technology for curriculum management, student management, fiscal management, decision-making, and other administrative applications will be covered in this course.
MSA -776. Law, Policy and Politics Credit 3 (3-0)
This course will cover the influence of the laws, educational policies, and power structures of communities on the goals and operations of schools. State statutes, administrative policies and regulations, court decisions regarding public school personnel, and appropriate application of legal principles will be discussed.
MSA -777. Ethical and Societal Aspects of LeadershipCredit 3 (3-0)
This course will provide an examination of the social, cultural, political, economical, and philosophical contexts from which the current issues that affect schools and schooling have evolved.
MSA-770. Research and InquiryCredit 3 (3-0)
This course will examine the quantitative and qualitative research methodologies appropriate toschool settings and the evaluation of research, data analysis, and its application to schools.
MSA-771. Diversity Issues in AdministrationCredit 3 (3-0)
This course will focus on skills leaders need to successfully deliver programs for diverse student populations. Diverse learning in a pluralistic society and content appropriate strategies will be addressed.
MSA-772. Administration, Management and Supervision Credit 3 (3-0)
This course in administration of K-12 schools will focus on (1) formal and informal organizational structures, concepts, and practices, (2) the management process, (3) administrative and supervisory functions with particular reference to personnel, and (4) program and fiscal management.
MSA-773. Issues in Educational Administration Credit 3 (3-0)
This course will focus on current education issues and administrative organization of schools, federal-state-local contexts, accountability issues, school finance, role of technology as both an instructional and administrative tool, building consensus, communicating effectively, and developing collaborative skills will be included.
MSA-774. Curriculum and Instructional Leadership Credit 3 (3-0)
This course will focus on the application of current effective theories of learning and research on classroom instruction. Curriculum planning based on state and national standards, diversity issues, and use of instructional technology and assessment strategies will be addressed. Leadership styles and models to improve curriculum and instruction through classroom observation and assessment of teacher delivery will be included.
MSA -775. Advanced Technology for AdministratorsCredit 3 (3-0)
The use of technology for curriculum management, student management, fiscal management, decision-making, and other administrative applications will be covered in this course.
MSA -776. Law, Policy and Politics Credit 3 (3-0)
This course will cover the influence of the laws, educational policies, and power structures of communities on the goals and operations of schools. State statutes, administrative policies and regulations, court decisions regarding public school personnel, and appropriate application of legal principles will be discussed.
MSA -777. Ethical and Societal Aspects of LeadershipCredit 3 (3-0)
This course will provide an examination of the social, cultural, political, economical, and philosophical contexts from which the current issues that affect schools and schooling have evolved.
MSA-770. Research and InquiryCredit 3 (3-0)
This course will examine the quantitative and qualitative research methodologies appropriate toschool settings and the evaluation of research, data analysis, and its application to schools.
MSA-771. Diversity Issues in AdministrationCredit 3 (3-0)
This course will focus on skills leaders need to successfully deliver programs for diverse student populations. Diverse learning in a pluralistic society and content appropriate strategies will be addressed.
MSA-772. Administration, Management and Supervision Credit 3 (3-0)
This course in administration of K-12 schools will focus on (1) formal and informal organizational structures, concepts, and practices, (2) the management process, (3) administrative and supervisory functions with particular reference to personnel, and (4) program and fiscal management.
MSA-773. Issues in Educational Administration Credit 3 (3-0)
This course will focus on current education issues and administrative organization of schools, federal-state-local contexts, accountability issues, school finance, role of technology as both an instructional and administrative tool, building consensus, communicating effectively, and developing collaborative skills will be included.
MSA-774. Curriculum and Instructional Leadership Credit 3 (3-0)
This course will focus on the application of current effective theories of learning and research on classroom instruction. Curriculum planning based on state and national standards, diversity issues, and use of instructional technology and assessment strategies will be addressed. Leadership styles and models to improve curriculum and instruction through classroom observation and assessment of teacher delivery will be included.
MSA -775. Advanced Technology for AdministratorsCredit 3 (3-0)
The use of technology for curriculum management, student management, fiscal management, decision-making, and other administrative applications will be covered in this course.
MSA -776. Law, Policy and Politics Credit 3 (3-0)
This course will cover the influence of the laws, educational policies, and power structures of communities on the goals and operations of schools. State statutes, administrative policies and regulations, court decisions regarding public school personnel, and appropriate application of legal principles will be discussed.
MSA -777. Ethical and Societal Aspects of LeadershipCredit 3 (3-0)
This course will provide an examination of the social, cultural, political, economical, and philosophical contexts from which the current issues that affect schools and schooling have evolved.
MSA-770. Research and InquiryCredit 3 (3-0)
This course will examine the quantitative and qualitative research methodologies appropriate toschool settings and the evaluation of research, data analysis, and its application to schools.
MSA-771. Diversity Issues in AdministrationCredit 3 (3-0)
This course will focus on skills leaders need to successfully deliver programs for diverse student populations. Diverse learning in a pluralistic society and content appropriate strategies will be addressed.
MSA-772. Administration, Management and Supervision Credit 3 (3-0)
This course in administration of K-12 schools will focus on (1) formal and informal organizational structures, concepts, and practices, (2) the management process, (3) administrative and supervisory functions with particular reference to personnel, and (4) program and fiscal management.
MSA-773. Issues in Educational Administration Credit 3 (3-0)
This course will focus on current education issues and administrative organization of schools, federal-state-local contexts, accountability issues, school finance, role of technology as both an instructional and administrative tool, building consensus, communicating effectively, and developing collaborative skills will be included.
MSA-774. Curriculum and Instructional Leadership Credit 3 (3-0)
This course will focus on the application of current effective theories of learning and research on classroom instruction. Curriculum planning based on state and national standards, diversity issues, and use of instructional technology and assessment strategies will be addressed. Leadership styles and models to improve curriculum and instruction through classroom observation and assessment of teacher delivery will be included.
MSA -775. Advanced Technology for AdministratorsCredit 3 (3-0)
The use of technology for curriculum management, student management, fiscal management, decision-making, and other administrative applications will be covered in this course.
MSA -776. Law, Policy and Politics Credit 3 (3-0)
This course will cover the influence of the laws, educational policies, and power structures of communities on the goals and operations of schools. State statutes, administrative policies and regulations, court decisions regarding public school personnel, and appropriate application of legal principles will be discussed.
MSA -777. Ethical and Societal Aspects of LeadershipCredit 3 (3-0)
This course will provide an examination of the social, cultural, political, economical, and philosophical contexts from which the current issues that affect schools and schooling have evolved.