Master’s in Educational Administration Degree
What Is Education Administration?
The Master of Education in Educational Administration degree program at Grand Canyon University (GCU) can prepare principal candidates to pursue a position in school administration. This online master’s in education administration degree is ideal for candidates who are interested in working in P-12 administration in public, private or charter schools. Students can have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills through a combination of coursework and practical applications, including an internship, a practicum and field experiences.
This degree, offered by the College of Education, is an institutionally accredited program approved by the State of Arizona. It aligns with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL, 2015) led by the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA, 2018).
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What Can I Expect From an Online Master’s in Education Administration Degree?
GCU provides flexible learning experiences for working professionals who wish to further their credentials. The master’s in educational administration degree can be completed through online or on-campus evening classes. Online learners can benefit from the convenience of studying anytime and anywhere, while still learning from knowledgeable instructors in this field. Online classes for this program are six weeks in length. The online master's in education administration degree requires a total of 36 credits for completion.
During your studies, you will be taught to broaden your knowledge of the modern education system and institutions, while enhancing your leadership skills with hands-on experiences. Some of the topic areas you will explore may include:
- Moral and legal decisions as an administrator
- Promoting the school mission and vision
- Establishing continuous professional learning
- Conducting a program’s budgetary needs assessment and defending a budget as an administrator
- Strengthening school-wide curricular programs
- Developing teachers who incorporate state and district academic standards
- Developing teachers who share and improve teaching methods
- Developing teachers who improve instruction with technology
- Supervising and coaching proficient teachers, special education teachers and beginning teachers
- Conducting formal observations
- Identifying and empowering instructional leaders
- Empowering leaders to evaluate assessment data and provide meaningful feedback
- Empowering leaders to give feedback on peer-teacher performance
- Recruiting and selecting staff
- Instructing beginning teachers
- Leading on-site safety and emergency situations
Prepare for a Career in Educational Administration or Leadership
School principals fulfill an impactful role in the education of tomorrow’s generation of leaders and innovators. An effective principal must be equal parts visionary, manager, communicator, instructional leader, community builder, disciplinarian and mediator. School administrators are required to work well with not only the teachers, but also the support staff, students, parents and key community stakeholders.
GCU’s Master of Education in Educational Administration can prepare you to pursue a meaningful career in a leadership position, in which you can be positioned to positively influence educational culture and achievements. Some of the specific topics you will study may include:
- Educational administration foundations for leaders
- Education law and finance
- Shaping school culture
- Enhancing educational programs to foster ongoing school improvements
- Building skills and expertise in the professional community
- Improving teacher performance and self-efficacy
- Nurturing, developing and empowering instructional leaders
- Strategic direction and administration in principalship
- Clinical Internships that focus on learner-centered leadership
This education administration degree includes 90 hours of field experience embedded in the core competencies and three internship experiences, which will include an additional 270 hours. Principal candidates can apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills to practical situations with the goal of improving student outcomes.
The Master of Education in Educational Administration is an advanced program for principal licensure. All applicants must provide documentation that verifies a minimum of two years of teaching experience. Principal candidates must obtain any necessary certifications or licenses as required by the state in which they wish to work. To learn more about licensing requirements for your state, visit our state disclosures page.
If seeking licensure or certification, applicants to the program are responsible for contacting their state department of education for licensure requirements and program approval. In addition, fingerprint/background clearance is required.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course begins by acquainting candidates with the GCU learning management system, while preparing them to be successful graduate-level students and future educational leaders. With an intense programmatic focus on developing people into leaders, this course examines the essential value of Leading with Purpose, a principal cornerstone of the College of Education's mission statement and Conceptual Framework. Major leadership styles, philosophies and the characteristic leadership behaviors will be a fundamental focus while candidates begin to understand and develop their own leadership style and philosophy. This development will occur in context as candidates are exposed to the leadership foundations provided through the professional standards and code of ethics for educational leaders. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance not required.
Course Description
This course will introduce candidates to the laws and policies governing and relating to PreK-12 education in the United States. Through case studies, a broad range of topics will be examined including, due process, discipline, freedom of speech, school safety, discrimination, religion in schools, and rights of students with disabilities. These and other topics will be framed in context to inform the future principal’s role in improving outcomes for all students. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance not required. Prerequisite: EAD-501.
Course Description
This course examines PK-12 education finance with a fundamental focus on issues and practices that directly affect the operation of the school and local education agency (LEA). Candidates will be exposed to the regulations encompassed in the Uniform System of Financial Records (USFR) and the implications of these regulations at the school site level. School finance topics related to education at the federal, state, and local levels will be examined. Candidates will explore school budget and accounting principles, fiscal responsibility, resource allocation, basic administrative theories, processes, and techniques, as well as discuss the major challenges facing them in the daily operation of local schools. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance not required. Prerequisite: EAD-501.
Course Description
The Internship experience and course content bridge program knowledge and skills with a focus on observing, participating, and leading. Principal candidates will apply building-level leadership skills in a clinical practice designed to facilitate the candidate's ultimate success in improving the outcomes for all students as a school leader. The timeliness of the Internship promotes the authentic learning application of Block 1 tasks at a level of competence needed to ensure effective school leadership. Practicum/field experience hours: 90. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisites: EAD-501, EAD-505, and EAD-510.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the critical role of the leader in creating and sustaining a positive school culture and shared vision. Given diverse settings, contexts and leadership situations, candidates will explore how various leadership styles, philosophies and behaviors can promote or hinder the development of a quality learning culture and positive workplace conditions. Additionally, candidates will examine supervisory processes and strategies by which educational leaders can empower teacher self-efficacy and promote instructional improvement that enriches the outcomes for all students. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required.
Course Description
This course prepares candidates to become effective instructional leaders in the evaluation of school-wide curricular programs to promote continuous school improvement. Candidates will explore processes in planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs and curriculum, while ensuring that curricular design, instructional strategies, and learning environments integrate appropriate technologies that maximize learning and teaching. Data-driven analysis is emphasized throughout. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required.
Course Description
This course prepares candidates to become effective building-level instructional leaders in the development of professional capacity. Candidates will investigate various school professional development program practices including Professional Learning Communities, Collaborative Learning Communities, beginning teacher induction, and mentor program models. Additionally, candidates will analyze theoretical models, research, and best practices for improving teaching as well as learning outcomes for all students, with a strong emphasis on data-driven, learner-centered decision-making. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required.
Course Description
The Internship experience and course content bridge program knowledge and skills with a focus on observing, participating, and leading. Principal candidates will apply building-level leadership skills in a clinical practice designed to facilitate the candidate's ultimate success in improving the outcomes for all students as a school leader. The timeliness of the Internship promotes the authentic learning application of Block 2 tasks at a level of competence needed to ensure effective school leadership. Practicum/field experience hours: 90. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisites: EAD-519, EAD-513, EAD-520, and EAD-523.
Course Description
This course prepares candidates to become effective building-level instructional leaders who are able to positively enrich teaching and learning experiences/outcomes through leadership practices that improve teacher performance, self-efficacy, and morale. Course topics promote the learning of strategies including coaching; collaborative learning and decision-making; creating a safe and supportive professional learning culture; and reflective practice. Candidates will examine current policy and practice in the areas of teacher observation, evaluation, and teacher performance ratings. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required.
Course Description
This course prepares candidates to become effective building-level instructional leaders who are able to positively enrich teaching and learning experiences/outcomes through leadership practices that improve teacher performance, self-efficacy, and morale. Course topics promote the learning of strategies including cognitive coaching; collaborative learning/decision-making; creating a safe/supportive professional learning culture; and reflective practice. Candidates will examine current policy and practice in the areas of teacher observation, evaluation, value-added student growth models, and teacher performance ratings. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: EAD-501.
Course Description
This course will explore critical issues facing school principals, including the challenge of attracting and retaining a quality work force, managing and allocating resources, innovative instructional leadership, creating community partnerships, and meeting the myriad of district, state and federal policies and laws. With a focus on all six Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) standards, candidates will holistically analyze a school’s Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) and focused action plans in various contexts. This analysis will inform the candidate's understanding of the important implications of managing school resources in order to meet operational needs and improve outcomes for all students. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required.
Course Description
The Internship experience and course content bridge program knowledge and skills with a focus on observing, participating, and leading. Principal candidates will apply building-level leadership skills in a clinical practice designed to facilitate the candidate's ultimate success in improving the outcomes for all students as a school leader. The timeliness of the Internship promotes the authentic learning application of Block 3 tasks at a level of competence needed to ensure effective school leadership. Practicum/field experience hours: 90. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisites: EAD-529, EAD-530, EAD-533, and EAD-536.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.