Master of Science in Educational Leadership

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Educational Leadership program is designed for educators who want to expand their leadership knowledge and skills to serve in formal or informal leadership roles in schools.

The master's degree leads to Wisconsin certification as principal (#51) and director of instruction (#10). Educators not interested in formal administrative positions, but who are interested in expanding their leadership capacity for roles such as site council member, grade level coordinator, or department chair, will also benefit from the program.

The format of the M.S. in Educational Leadership program is an accelerated cohort model with courses typically lasting six to eight weeks. The program is offered year-round in a face-to-face format at locations throughout Wisconsin, as well as online. The course content emphasizes the knowledge, skills and dispositions that are compatible with effective school leadership in the 21st century, as defined in the Wisconsin Principal and Director of Instruction Content Standards.

During the 31 credit program, students accrue practicum hours that are aligned with the Wisconsin Administrator Standards. The practicum contributes to the development of the School Improvement Plan that is completed by each student under the supervision of the school-based supervisor and the University supervisor. Students also complete a leadership portfolio as part of administrator licensure requirements.

Courses

• EDU 571 - Introduction to Leadership
• EDU 573 - Leading Complex Systems
• EDU 575 - Leading Beyond Organizational Improvement
• EDU 576 - Leadership in Planning, Facilitating and Assessing Learning
• EDU 580 - Developing, Supervising and Evaluating Staff
• EDU 583 - Legal and Financial Leadership in Adaptive Change
• EDU 586 - Analysis of System Leadership
• EDU 588 - Leading in a Culture of Continuous Improvement
• EDU 606 - Research Strand I
• EDU 607 - Research Strand II
• EDU 608 - Research Strand III

Cardinal Stritch University was founded by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi in 1937 and was chartered by the State of Wisconsin as a fully-accredited, degree granting institution. Today, Stritch is one of the largest Franciscan institutions of higher education in North America. We offer more than 60 exceptional undergraduate and graduate degree programs that help students develop new skills, gain career-related experience and build professional networks. These academic programs prepare students of all ages, faiths, races and socio-economic backgrounds to succeed in the communities where they live, work, serve and lead.

Stritch is known as an excellent choice for studying business, education, liberal arts, leadership, nursing and the sciences. Students with diverse faith and cultural backgrounds embrace and live our core Franciscan values of creating a caring community, showing compassion, reverencing creation and making peace.