Master of Science in Applied School Leadership (In Partnership with Santa Clara County Office of Education [SCCOE])

Lead Faculty: Dr. Jo Birdsell

This program is designed for students who are committed to improving education and who are interested in advancing their careers by becoming school site or district administrators. This program is offered in collaboration with the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) “Leaders in Educational Administration Program” (L.E.A.P), which is comprised of six courses leading to the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential. Students accepted into the program receive full National University graduate credit for the six SCCOE Tier I courses. In addition, students are required to enroll in two additional National University Tier I core courses, not including EDA 620B (Fieldwork in Educational Administration). The EDA 620B National University requirement is met through the completion of 75 hours of on-site administrative fieldwork embedded in the six SCCOE courses. Students must also take an additional four required National University Master of Science in Educational Administration courses for the completion of the Masters of Science in Applied Leadership Degree. Students must also pass the National University Exit Examination required of all candidates pursuing the Preliminary Administration Services Credential/Certificate and/or Master of Science (MS) in Educational Administration degree.

The student is strongly encouraged to meet with a Credential Advisor within 30 days of enrollment to discuss CTC mandated requirements pertaining to their program of study.

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, candidates are expected to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of political, societal, economic, legal and cultural influences on schools; and understand, respond to and influence the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural context of schools and leadership.
• Apply landmark court cases, legislation, federal and state regulations governing student rights, due process, delivery of instruction, and general operation of school districts
• Understand, evaluate, and apply school district procedures for curriculum implementation and instructional improvement, based on assessment and appropriateness of multi-cultural classroom environments
• Understand, evaluate, and apply financial policies and practices used in schools and districts, which emphasize federal, state, and local revenue sources as well as district and school budgeting and financial management procedures
• Examine the total operation of personnel and school management functions and staff development, which includes personnel management and administration, personnel relations, personnel laws, and collective bargaining
• Make better decisions regarding the management of information technology within the organization, and how information and educational technology can be used to improve instructional programs and drive professional development of the staff
• Build consensus among stake-holders, evaluate, analyze and develop new school programs and paradigms
• Apply his or her acquired understanding and knowledge to a field experience in practical and real-world school settings, which is documented in a portfolio and supervised by a mentor in partnership with the University.

Requirements

Degree Requirements (12 courses; 54 quarter units)
To receive a Master of Science in Applied School Leadership in partnership with the Santa Clara County Office of Education, students must complete at least 54 quarter units of graduate work. A total of 13.5 quarter units of graduate credit may be granted for equivalent graduate work completed at another institution, as it applies to this degree and if the units were not used in earning another advanced degree. The student must also pass the National University Educational Administration Tier I Exit Examination required of all candidates pursuing the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential and/or the Master of Science (MS) in Educational Administration.

Core Requirements (12 courses; 54 quarter units)
*EDA 631 - Shared Vision of Learning**
*EDA 632 - Teaching and Learning Culture **
*EDA 633 - Management for Teaching/Learning**
*EDA 634 - Diverse Families/Communities **
*EDA 635 - Personal Ethics for Leadership**
*EDA 636 - Political and Social Influences**
EDA 617 - Philosophy and Leadership
EDA 650 - Ethics and School Leadership
ILD 625 - Research in Education
EDA 694 - Thesis
(Prerequisite: ILD 625 and an undergraduate or graduate statistics course. Students must have written permission of lead faculty to enroll in the course.)
or
EDA 637 Action Research (Prerequisite: ILD 625)

Plus choose two additional National University core courses from the following list:
EDA 623 - Curriculum and Assessment
EDA 624 - Supervision of Instruction
EDA 625 - Technology and Data Analysis
EDA 614 - Educational Leadership Today
EDA 626 - Human Resources and Diversity
EDA 618 - School Law and Ethics
EDA 619 - Financial Leadership
EDA 628 - Summative Leadership Seminar
(Choices to be jointly determined by the student and National University faculty advisor)

* Required for the Preliminary Administrative Services Certificate/Credential. This credential is required for most administrative positions in California such as school principals, assistant principals, educational directors and assistant superintendents.

**SCCOE Courses

Fieldwork is required and the requirement is met through the completion of 75 hours of supervised on-site administrative fieldwork embedded in the six SCCOE courses)

Program Information

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Program Locations

• San Jose Campus