Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership

Prepare for Building, District and Agency Level Leadership

The Educational Leadership program at John Carroll University prepares teachers and other educational professionals for career opportunities in leadership roles in schools, districts, and other educational agencies. In addition to receiving a master’s degree in education (M.Ed.), the unique program also allows students to earn a Certificate of Assessment and Accountability, as well as Principal Licensure.

Day-to-day administration of a school/district/central office presents unique challenges in organizational management and curriculum supervision. As a teacher or administrator with leadership as a career goal, you will get the skills you need to meet these challenges through the combination of coursework, preparation for certification, and hands-on field experience.

School Leadership Program Design

The Educational Leadership program at John Carroll University permits you to earn three credentials:

Master of Education Degree (M.Ed.)
Certificate of Assessment and Accountability
Principal Licensure

Alternatively, individuals with a master’s degree may take only the necessary courses to additionally gain the certificate and principal licensure components of the program.

Educators who are interested in applying for a professional principal license must meet the qualifications outlined in Ohio administrative rule:

Earn a master’s degree from an accredited university
Complete an approved principal preparation program
Receive a recommendation from the dean or head of teacher education at the institution where the candidate completed the principal preparation program
Complete the Ohio Assessment for Educators licensure exam #015, Educational Leadership, prescribed by the State Board of Education and
Have two years of successful teaching experience under a standard or professional teaching license (or work experience under a professional pupil services license) for the ages and grade levels for which the principal license is sought.

Organizations such as the Ohio Department of Education, the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators and the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators have made Ohio a leader among states in defining standards at all levels of education practice — including Principals and Superintendents.

For more information on Ohio Standards for Principals, click here.
For more information on Ohio Standards for Superintendents, click here.

John Carroll University’s education program is CAEP accredited and was named one of 13 recipients of the 2020 Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement, alongside national institutions such as Duke University, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Boston College. According to CAEP, this comes as a result of providing “evidence and data trends to achieve accreditation with no stipulations or areas for improvement.”

$75K

is the estimated administrative cost that a school district pays each time it replaces a principal.

56%

of America’s public school students nationwide will be students of color by 2024

22%

of public school principals are individuals of color, including 11 percent who identify as black and 8 percent who identify as Hispanic.

This degree is designed to fit the schedules of working Pre-K - 12 teachers and administrators. The flexible hybrid and online format allows for degree completion in two years, while working full time.

A total of 40 credit hours is required to complete the Master of Education.
Students can take up to 3 courses each semester. In year one, students will take a combination of either one or two seven week hybrid classes and one or two online courses.
Courses in the program are sequenced and offered alternating years. The second year of study requires a six-month, site-based internship.
Access course materials and assignments via Canvas, JCU's online platform.
Complete online modules and outside readings, view videos, and complete assignments related to their educational site.
Complete a supervised site-based internship.
Complete a Practice Assessment for School Leaders for the M.Ed. degree.

Free Online Application
Official Transcript(s)
Statement of purpose
Two (2) letters of recommendation
Copy of Teaching License
Resume

You will benefit from our emphasis on clinical experience and routinely translate class learnings into practice within your own school setting. You will continually sharpen your managerial and leadership skills, and receive one-on-one coaching and immediate feedback from professors who engage you in joint evaluations of video recorded professional development and teacher evaluations.

The educational leadership program curriculum helps students gain knowledge and aptitude for assessing program effectiveness. By analyzing test scores and other factual information, students learn to measure the success of programs through data-based decision making. These tools and approaches support the building of a culture of continuous improvement in education. You will learn how to develop surveys, create assessments, and review outcomes. Upon completion, students will have a clear understanding of education measurement and the use of assessment information to evaluate learning and achievement, improve programs and initiatives, and determine resource allocations.

Notable Alumni

"JCU was a great fit because my Educational Leadership program met me where I was at. As a full time teacher, this hybrid program worked around my schedule and was incredibly supportive of my responsibilities as a teacher. Additionally, the cohort model allowed me to form strong connections and relationships with peers and faculty alike that I carry with me to this day."

-Kyle Cohen, M.Ed. Educational Leadership, '21

Curriculum Highlights

ED 5120 MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION

Builds the personal and professional development of education and counseling practitioners through studying sociological, historical, and philosophical scholarship on the cultures, races, and ethnic groups that constitute the diverse student body of American schools.

ED 5810 RESEARCH METHODS

Introduces methods in both quantitative and qualitative educational research.

ED 5330 LEARNING-TEACHING

Contemporary teaching, learning, cognitive, and motivational theories as they apply to education and other professional settings.