Overview

Spread Your Love of Faith Through Christian Education Administration

For those with a teaching heart who enjoy helping others develop a deeper understanding of the Bible and the principles of Christian faith, the Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Administration with an Emphasis in Christian Education may be a good fit for you.

This master’s degree from Grand Canyon University is a licensure program designed for teachers or administrators interested in careers as Christian educational leaders in the pre-K–12 setting.

If you enjoy teaching others to embrace the life-changing power of God’s Word and seeing how the life of Christ can transform lives, we invite you to explore this program further.

Master of Education in Educational Administration with an Emphasis in Christian Education

Offered By

College of Education

Class Settings

Online

Tuition Rate

Online: $615 per credit [More Info]

Cost of Attendance

Course Information

Credits: 48

Online: 6 weeks

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Transfer Credits

Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)

Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements (Master's)

Undergraduate Degree*
2.8+ GPA

OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and

GMAT: 500
GRE: 300 combined**

Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).

Why GCU

Earn Your Advanced Religious Education at GCU

Further your Christian teacher training with our advanced programs that are tailored to deepen your understanding of theological principles and enhance your capacity for meaningful engagement within faith-based communities and contexts.

The principles of this Christian education leadership program are designed to instill the essential skills and knowledge needed to emerge as a transformative leader in your community and church, fostering human flourishing within educational environments. Furthermore, this program can lay a foundation for pursuing licensure in education-related fields.

All Educational Administration Emphases

School Business and Finance

Coursework

Focus Your MEd Studies in Christian Administration

This program aims to help prepare you to serve as an educator in Christian schools and various educational contexts, emphasizing the harmonization of faith and learning throughout your teaching practice. You will be taught strategies to integrate faith seamlessly into your educational environment.

Geared toward Christian teacher training, this master’s program provides a solid foundation in the following skills:

Curriculum theory and development

Assessment data analysis

Crisis and change

School law

Finance

Management

Character development

What To Expect During the Program

You can expect a rigorous academic experience that emphasizes the combination of faith and learning. By offering this online master’s degree in educational administration, you can complete the majority of your coursework on a more flexible learning schedule while maintaining your current responsibilities.

In addition, you will complete three clinical internships for a minimum of 300 hours in an approved pre-K–12 school setting. This is designed to help prepare you for Christian education administration in multiple school settings, including Christian schools that require state licensure or certification.

Our faith-integrated curriculum courses focus on handling ethical concepts ranging from legal requirements that are specific to the Christian school-to-school governance and court decisions that govern Christian schools.

Emphasis is placed on:

Advocacy
Character education
Current education and Christian education trends
Legislative processes
Best practices in Christian school organizational structures

Education Focus Areas

Knowledgeable faculty will teach you the educational administration skills necessary to apply appropriate and critical inquiry strategies, such as inductive and deductive reasoning, analysis, evaluation and synthesis, and how they align with our Christian worldview.

Foundations of Christian Educational Administration

Education and Christian School Finance

Educational administration with a focus on Christian school finance is a vital component of this master’s degree, contributing to schools and institutions in helping to ensure they have the resources for effective education delivery.

This master’s degree covers education and Christian school finance topics, such as:

Financial aspects of school improvements while managing change
Pre-K–12 education issues and practices that affect the school’s operation
Funding and budgeting of Christian schools
Ethical and professional behaviors

Education Law and Legal Considerations in Christian Education

Explore ethics, best practices and legal requirements unique to Christian education administration in this master's degree. Emphasis is focused on ethical decision-making.

Upon completing the MEd in educational administration, you can expect to engage in evaluating relevant laws and court decisions affecting Christian schools, along with opportunities for personal spiritual growth and character development, including the following:

School law
Student and family rights in public schools
Religious expression in public schools
Public schools and students with disabilities
School safety and tort liability
Advocacy
Legislative processes

Sustaining Educational Environments and Communities

This program will teach you how to embrace your critical role in creating and sustaining a positive school culture and shared vision in Christian education leadership positions. While being presented with diverse settings, contexts and leadership situations, you have the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to manage and cultivate positive relationships with students, families and the community that promote success.

Promoting Effective Learning and Inclusive Leadership

Experienced faculty will guide you toward achieving equitable, respectful and responsive leadership styles that can help prepare you to meet the needs of all individuals, regardless of their background or differences. Through cultural competency training, differentiated instruction strategies and creating a supportive learning environment, you can work toward becoming a leader who creates a welcoming and inclusive environment where all individuals feel valued, respected and are given an equal opportunity to succeed.

Careers

MEd in Educational Administration: Christian Education Emphasis Careers

This master’s degree program empowers teachers and administrators to deepen their knowledge and refine their leadership skills in Christian pre-K–12 education.

You will be presented with the chance to graduate prepared for a variety of careers, including one in education and childcare or school administrators (preschool, daycare, K-12 and postsecondary levels).

Graduates of this program may also go on to pursue careers that involve:

Designing curriculum

Leading churches

Guiding congregations in their spiritual lives

Fostering youth faith foundations

Accreditation

Study Christian Education From an Accredited University

This degree can lead future educators into Christ-centered educational experiences and careers that consider the principles of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). This degree can help you work toward ACSI accreditation if this is a goal.

Additionally, the College of Education at GCU is a member in good standing with the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). GCU has also been institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1968. Visit our university accreditation page for information about the HLC and how it can serve you.

FAQ

Master’s in Educational Administration: Christian Education Emphasis FAQs

Deciding which master’s degree to pursue is a big decision and commitment. To help make your decision easier, GCU has provided answers to your most frequently asked questions.

What are Christian education emphasis courses like at GCU?

Courses in advanced Christian education are typically designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of Christian education, as well as the skills and knowledge necessary in the field. For instance, this MEd is designed to help you reflect on personal spiritual formations and character development, analyze best practices for the structure of Christian schools, and articulate ethical and professional behavior when dealing with the funds, governance and structure of a school’s environment.

How do I start a Christian education program myself?

Starting a Christian education program can be a fulfilling way to share your faith with others and make a positive impact in your community. By focusing your MEd studies on Christian education, this can be a pathway to educating others with faith-integrated curriculum. Once you have your degree, you’ll want to define your mission and goals, choose a curriculum, gain necessary approvals (i.e., location) and start planning for your career journey. With the right planning and dedication, sharing your faith and helping others grow in their spiritual journey can provide several benefits.

What are the benefits of Christian education in schools?

Is an MEd in Educational Administration: Christian Education emphasis the same as an MA in Christian Leadership?

Although both programs may share some common elements, they are distinct in their focus and the type of knowledge and skills they emphasize. This Master of Educational Administration with an emphasis on Christian education focuses on the administration of educational institutions, particularly those with a Christian mission and philosophy. It includes courses on:

Curriculum theory
Development, policy
Assessment data and analysis
Crisis and change
School law
Finance
Management
Character development

In addition, our MA degree in Christian leadership focuses specifically on leadership within a Christian context, including ministerial ethics, practical theology and leading through conflict. This degree program typically includes courses in leadership theory, management philosophies and biblical hermeneutics and does not lead to licensure.

Courses

Program Curriculum

Credit Summary

Major48 credits

Degree Requirements48 credits

Core Courses

EAD-507

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course begins by acquainting candidates with the learning management system while preparing them to be successful graduate-level students and future educational leaders. With a programmatic focus on developing leaders, this course examines school missions and visions that promote the values of equity, diversity, and community, with an emphasis on a leader’s character development, modeling and advocating for ethical behavior, and leadership.

EAD-517

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course introduces candidates to the laws and policies governing and relating to PK-12 education in the United States. A broad range of topics will be examined including the values of democracy, individual freedom, and responsibility, as well as equity, social justice, community, and diversity within the educational community. Focus is on the principal’s role in ethical decision-making and implementing laws, rights, policies, and regulations to improve outcomes for all students.

CEA-517

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course focuses on legal requirements unique to the Christian school. Emphasis is placed on school governance and the rights and issues associated with employees and students as well as pertinent laws and court decisions that govern Christian schools. Emphasis is also placed on advocacy, trends, the legislative process, and analyzing best practices for various organizational structures of Christian schools.

EAD-527

3 Total Credits

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 financial aspects of school improvement while managing change.

CEA-527

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course focuses on the funding and budgeting of Christian schools. Topics include funding sources, including tuition, capital campaigns, and public funds. Emphasis is placed on ethical and professional behavior in the areas of funding and financial governance in Christian schools. Best practices and sound fiscal approaches to starting, developing, and operating Christian schools are also addressed. Prerequisite: CEA-517.

EAD-537

3 Total Credits

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 to manage and cultivate productive relationships with students, families, and the educational community that promote student development and success. Emphasis is placed on effective communication with community stakeholders in a variety of contexts.

CEA-537

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course focuses on the foundations of creating and maintaining a Christian school environment through best practices for various organizational structures of Christian schools. Topics include spiritual practices, managing internal and external stakeholders, conflict resolution, and relational leadership. Emphasis is placed on personal spiritual formation and character development, as well as the creation and promotion of a philosophy of Christian education that is solidly based on biblical principles.

EAD-547

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course explores critical organizational and management issues faced by school principals. Topics explored include recruiting, selecting, and hiring, to build a quality work force to support school improvement. Focus also includes managing and allocating resources, including technology that supports equity and digital literacy to all learners. Candidates also explore promoting a school mission and vision to support school community safety and learning.

EAD-557

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course prepares candidates to become effective instructional leaders in the evaluation of school-wide curricular programs to promote continuous school improvement. Focus is placed on evaluating academic and non-academic practices, services, and curricula to ensure cultural responsiveness, character education and development, equity, and accessibility based on data-driven analysis.

CEA-557

3 Total Credits

EAD-567

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course prepares candidates to develop and promote best practices in emerging trends and initiatives in support of teacher self-efficacy and retention. Topics will explore coaching and mentoring in alignment to the teacher coaching cycle of observation, evaluation, and providing actionable feedback for teacher improvement. Emphasis is placed on creating a collaborative professional culture that promotes equity, cultural responsiveness, and the success and well-being of all stakeholders.

EAD-577

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course prepares candidates to promote effective and safe learning environments to support school improvement initiatives. Research-based best practices in establishing a consistent, organized, and respectful learning environment will be explored. Emphasis is placed on equitable, inclusive, and culturally responsive practices. Character education is addressed to support the social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of all school community stakeholders, and to sustain a positive learning environment.

EAD-587

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course prepares candidates to become effective building-level instructional leaders who are able to supervise, support and evaluate school staff in a manner that promotes character education, character development, reflection and self-awareness, equity, cultural responsiveness, and distributed leadership. Emphasis is placed on promoting professional dispositions and norms that support equity, inclusion, and educational success.

EAD-570

3 Total Credits

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. Practicum/field experience hours: 100. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisites: EAD-507, EAD-517, and EAD-527.

EAD-580

3 Total Credits

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. Practicum/field experience hours: 100. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: EAD-570.

EAD-590

3 Total Credits

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. Practicum/field experience hours: 100. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in POS and content area; a 3.0 GPA and approval and placement by College of Education Office of Field Experience.

GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
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

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Admission

Lead with Faith in Christian Education

Deepen your knowledge, refine your leadership skills and make a lasting difference in Christian pre-K–12 schools.

Apply Now

If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the "Accreditation and Compliance/State Disclosures” link for the specific program of interest’s website for your location and/or employment state’s licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c).

This degree, offered by the College of Education, is a regionally 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).

Cornerstone Christian School. (2019, Aug. 29). The (Priceless) Benefits of a Christian Education. Retrieved May 23, 2023.

Online Master’s in Educational Administration: Christian Education Emphasis

Spread Your Love of Faith Through Christian Education Administration

Earn Your Advanced Religious Education at GCU