Educational Leadership Program, M.S.

Program Director: Daniel Shea, shea@hood.edu; 301-696-3766

The Educational Leadership program provides students with a comprehensive foundation in the principles and practices of school administration and supervision. The program offers two options: a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership and an 18-credit Educational Leadership Certificate for those who hold a master’s degree in a related field. This program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) for both Administrator I and Administrator II certification. Students must pass the SLLA exam to complete the program at Hood College. Hood College does not offer an option for program completion for just Administrator I certification. Students who complete either option of the program will receive their certification through MSDE and not Hood College. The program is designed for:

Certified teachers who wish to have a master’s degree and be certified in administration and supervision.
Persons holding a bachelor’s degree in education who seek a graduate degree to enhance their opportunity to work in the fields of administration and supervision.
Teachers who want a graduate degree with a broad background in the fields of administration and supervision
Teachers who have a master’s degree and who seek certification in administration and supervision

Program Requirements:

The Educational Leadership Program allows graduate students to complete their Administrator I and II certifications by selecting one of the following two options:

M.S. in Educational Leadership Degree Program

Students enrolled in this track must complete 36 credit hours of required courses and pass a comprehensive examination from the Educational Testing Service (ETS), The School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA).
Educational Leadership Certificate Program

Students enrolled in this track must have a master’s degree in a related education field and must complete 18 credit hours in six required courses and successfully pass the SLLA. Students enrolled in this program are not eligible to transfer in any credits.

As a prerequisite requirement to Administrator I certification in Maryland, the student must qualify for a Maryland State Advanced Professional Certificate in addition to the Educational Leadership program. Both the M.S. in Educational Leadership and the Educational Leadership Certificate program lead to the Administrator I and Administrator II Certificate endorsement.

Unit Assessment Organization

Nationally accredited by National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and in compliance with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) requirements, both programs are organized into three phases for the purpose of uniform performance data collection for Unit Assessment and the eventual improvement of both programs.

Application Requirements

After completing the online application, applicants must submit an official transcript reflecting the highest degree conferred together with a letter of recommendation from their principal. Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview during which time program expectations and requirements are explained. At the interview, the applicant will be asked to provide a writing sample by responding to a writing prompt relating to school leadership.

All Educational Leadership graduate students are required to have regular access to a U.S. P-12 classroom throughout the program in order to successfully complete assignments, including various course assessments and the capstone action research project. Applicants to the program who are not current classroom teachers must submit evidence that they will have regular access to observe and volunteer in a classroom in the form of an approval letter from the school principal. Such approval letters must be submitted annually to the student’s advisor. Applicants are responsible for meeting all requirements for school volunteers, as determined by the individual school and/or district. Applicants also are responsible for meeting any school and/or district requirements for conducting research in the school setting.

For additional admission information, see Graduate Admission.

Phase I - Advancement to Full Candidacy

1. Maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in the following first four required courses:

EDUC 502	Technology for Literacy,Leadership & Learning	3.0
EDUC 577	Introduction to Educational Research	3.0
EDUC 581	Research-Based Teaching,Learning & Assessment	3.0
EDUC 582	Educational Philosophy in a Diverse Society	3.0

2. Submit acceptable performance activities at a proficient or advanced level in all Phase I courses.

Based on the successful completion of the above requirements, candidates in the M.S. in Educational Leadership degree program are advanced to full candidacy and may continue to Phase II after receiving the following decisions: advance to candidacy; or advance to candidacy on a conditional basis pending Alert Forms review, if applicable, and an overall review by the Educational Leadership Advisory Council. Candidates not meeting Phase I requirements are denied advancement to candidacy based on review by the Educational Leadership Advisory Council and program director.

Candidates enrolled in the Educational Leadership Certification program are exempted from this phase based on the possession of their earned master’s degree in a related education field.

Phase II - Midpoint Transition

Candidates enrolled in the M.S. in Educational Leadership degree program will be advanced to Phase III (Intensive Clinical Practice) based on the successful completion of the following Phase II requirements:

1. Maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on the following six courses in this midpoint transition phase:

EDUC 513	School Law	3.0
EDUC 514	Administration of Student Services	3.0
EDUC 578	Educational Leadership and Group Dynamics	3.0
EDUC 583	Principles of Curriculum Development & Appraisal	3.0
EDUC 584	Systemic Change Processes for School Improvement	3.0
EDUC 586	Principles of Educational Supervision	3.0

EDUC 586: must be the final course in Phase II

2. Submit acceptable performance activities at a proficient or advanced level for all courses in Phase II.

Requirements to advance to Phase III:

Candidates enrolled in the Educational Leadership Certification program will be advanced to Phase III (Intensive Clinical Practice) based on the successful completion of the following Phase II requirements:

1. Maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on the following four courses:

EDUC 513	School Law	3.0
EDUC 583	Principles of Curriculum Development & Appraisal	3.0
EDUC 584	Systemic Change Processes for School Improvement	3.0
EDUC 586	Principles of Educational Supervision	3.0

2. Members of the Educational Leadership Advisory Council will periodically review the above requirements.

They will also review all requirements in Phase II and any Alert Forms and advance the candidate to Phase III with one of the following decisions: Advancement to Phase III, Conditional Advancement to Phase III or Denial of Advancement to Phase III.

Phase III - Intensive Clinical Practice

Interns in both programs in Phase III must successfully meet the following requirements:

1. Maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in the internship course:

EDUC 589	School Business & Personnel Administration	3.0
EDUC 587	Elementary School Administrative Internship	3.0
	or
EDUC 588	Secondary School Administrative Internship	3.0

EDUC 589: (the candidate’s professional development plan is completed in this course).

EDUC 587, EDUC 588: The Registrar's office will re-register students for the course in the spring as “IP” (In Progress) until a final grade is submitted.

2. Submit acceptable performance activities at a proficient or advanced level in the internship and in:

EDUC 589

School Business & Personnel Administration

3.0

3. Successful evaluation (at a proficient or advanced level) from the mentor.

4. Successful evaluation (at a proficient or advanced level) from the College supervisor.

Program Completion

Interns in both programs are required to pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) in order to complete the requirements for the M.S. in Educational Leadership degree program or the Educational Leadership Certification program.

Program Follow Up

Program completers in both programs will complete the following activities:

Assessment of Dispositions and Program Exit Survey at the end of the yearlong internship
Program survey one year after program completion.

Candidates enrolled in the Educational Leadership Certification program are exempted from the surveys based on the possession of their earned master’s degree in a related education field.