Educational Leadership Program, M.S.

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

Hood College’s Educational Leadership program prepares experienced educators to become effective school and district-level leaders. Aligned with Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) standards, the program fulfills all requirements for the MSDE Administrator certification, enabling graduates to pursue roles such as assistant principal, principal, or central office administrator.

The program offers three flexible pathways:

A master’s degree (12-course track)
A Certificate-only option (6-course track for those with a prior master’s degree)
A non-degree option for those who only need specific courses to meet MSDE requirements

Courses are delivered in a fully online, synchronous format, allowing students to interact in real time with faculty and peers. Most students complete the certificate in two years or the master’s degree in three years, with the flexibility to pause or adjust their pace as needed.

Faculty are current or retired educational leaders who bring real-world expertise and mentorship to each class.

The program is ideal for:

Certified teachers and school system central office staff 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 and school system central office staff who want a graduate degree with a broad background in the fields of administration and supervision
Teachers and school system central office staff who have a master’s degree and who seek certification in administration and supervision

Program Highlights:

MSDE-approved Administrator certification pathway
Three flexible options: Master’s, Certificate, or Non-Degree
Fully online, synchronous classes for real-time interaction and collaboration
Complete in 2–3 years with flexible pacing and seven-year candidacy window
Courses taught by experienced school leaders
Support services through the Graduate School for academic success

Application Requirements

As part of completing the online application, applicants must submit an official transcript reflecting the highest degree conferred, a copy of their State of Maryland Educator Certificate and a letter of recommendation from their principal/supervisor. Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview during which time program expectations and requirements are explained. An applicant for the master's program may request that up to six credits from another program be transferred into the Hood program in accordance with graduate transfer course policy.

All Educational Leadership graduate students are required to have regular access to a U.S. P-12 classroom throughout the program 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 a school setting with the approval of the school principal. 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.

All 12 Courses for the Master's Degree; Final 6 Courses for the Certificate

View Educational Leadership certificate requirements here.

Course Sequence

EDUC 502	AI and Education: Innovation, Impact and Integrity	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 Contemporary Society	3.0
EDUC 514	Administration of Student Services	3.0
EDUC 578	Educational Leadership and Group Dynamics	3.0
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
EDUC 589	School Business & Personnel Administration	3.0
EDUC 587A	Administrative Internship	1.5
EDUC 587B	Administrative Internship	1.5

Vanguard teachers enrolled in the program may take EDUC 599V1 in lieu of EDUC 502.

Students who complete 3-6 credits of National Board Certification Coursework may apply those credits to fulfill EDUC 581 and/or EDUC 583.

The last two courses should be taken after all other courses. The internship course must be in the last year of the program. Our year-long, Fall to Spring, internship has been approved by the Maryland State Department of Education. We do not have an internship that can be shortened, modified, or waived in any fashion.

The internship courses are year-long, split across two courses and terms; EDUC 587A in the Fall and EDUC 587B in the Spring. Each course is 1.5 credits each, for a total of 3 credits of internship.

During the internship year, candidates must have two (2) successful evaluations from the mentor.

Program Completion

Interns in both programs are required to pass their courses to earn the MSDE Administrator I license. Hood College will accept official SLLA score results up to one year post program completion for notation on transcripts.

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.