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Educational Leadership and Administration (MA)

2024-2025 GRADUATE STUDIES CATALOG

Effective 1 June 2024 through 31 May 2025

Please see the Graduate Catalog Archives for PDF versions of past catalogs.

Program Description
Vision
Mission
Learning Outcomes, Program Goals, Objectives

Program Requirements
Certification Requirements
Admission

This program is offered by the School of Education. It is available online and at the St. Louis main campus. These campuses are no longer accepting new student applications.

Program Description

The master of arts (MA) in educational leadership and administration prepares candidates to meet the requirements for School Leader K-12 certification as outlined by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Built on collaborative learning sessions in a cohort-based model, candidates learn to lead with an equity framework, seeking to eliminate marginalization based on race, disability, socioeconomics, language, gender and sexual identity, and religion.

The curriculum includes coursework, internships, and a capstone course. The capstone course includes a formal review of the student's portfolio of documented competencies in field experiences as well as other documented established competencies.

The MA in educational leadership and administration is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Vision

To make value-added contributions to international, national, state, district and school-level policy for purposeful inclusive leadership practices that lead to equitable learning for all.

Mission

To empower educational leaders to improve teaching and learning using practices, policies and systems that create high-quality and equitable learning environments.

Learning Outcomes, Program Goals, and Objectives

Candidates will be prepared to be principals and leaders who:

Acknowledge the Challenges of Leadership for Educational Equity
Identify Barriers to Equity
Build an Equity Action Plan to become a leader in their school and community
Are relentless about high quality instruction and support in the school and classroom
Have the courage to partner inside and outside of schools
Learn to stand up on behalf of each and every student

Program Requirements

The following coursework is required:

LEAD 5504 School Finance & Facilities (3 hours)
LEAD 5507 School Law (3 hours)
LEAD 5508 Educating for Equity and Cultural Competence (3 hours)
LEAD 5510 Talent Management for Recruitment, Development and Retention of Teachers and Personnel (2 hours)
EDIN 5190 Leadership and Innovation (3 hours)
EDTC 5460 Curriculum Design Technology Application (3 hours)
EDTC 5900 Technology, Ethics and Society (3 hours)
LEAD 5520 Internship I (2 hours)
LEAD 5530 Internship II (2 hours)
LEAD 5540 Internship III (2 hours)
LEAD 5550 Capstone (3 hours)

Total: 30 hours

Certification Requirements

Coursework is based upon the requirements as stated by the National Educational Leadership Preparation Program (NELP) Building Level Standards, the Missouri Leader Standards, and content requirements of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Webster University does not issue school leader certification but provides the coursework leading to certification. Candidates seeking certification in the state of Missouri must contact the Coordinator of Educator Certification upon entering the program to complete a certification evaluation.

Candidates for K-12 school leader in the state of Missouri must:

Hold a valid Missouri professional initial teaching certificate
Have a minimum of two years teaching experience
Successful completion of all coursework with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
Pass the appropriate Missouri Content Assessment
Pass the Missouri Performance Assessment (required for all students, regardless of state)

Note: In Missouri, school counselor certificates, speech-language certificates, etc, are not considered initial teacher certificates. Students pursuing special education administration will be able to work as administrators in these fields, but not as building principals unless the valid professional initial teaching certificate is also held, in addition to two years teaching experience. See the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for more information.

Candidates seeking school leader certification in any state other than Missouri should contact their state department of education to obtain information on certification requirements. Requirements vary from state to state.

Admission

See the Admission section of this catalog for general admission requirements. Students interested in applying must submit their application online at www.webster.edu/apply. Transcripts should be sent from your institution electronically to transcripts@webster.edu. If this service is not available, send transcripts to:

Office of Admission
Webster University
470 E. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119

Additional Requirements

Requirements for admission to the MA in equity centered leadership and administration program include:

Receipt of all official transcripts
Final degree conferred GPA of 2.5 or higher

Completed application files will be reviewed by the Graduate Department of Education.

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