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Become an Education Leader With Your Master’s in Education: Educational Leadership and Administration Degree

Prepare for leadership roles in schools and districts here in Indiana and beyond with the University of Southern Indiana’s online master’s in education leadership and administration degree.

Earning your master’s in education leadership and administration degree at USI will prepare you to focus your coursework to pursue the career path you desire. Graduating with your master in educational leadership and administration degree from USI can help you achieve your career goals, increase your earning power and establish you as a leader in education. Our principal licensure program provides you with the educational requirements you need to become a school principal.

Once you’ve completed the program and passed the required licensure test, you’ll have the teaching experience you need to take on more responsibility in your career — and you will be eligible to take the exam for the Indiana Building Level Administrator License, the state’s required principal license.

USI’s master in educational leadership and administration coursework

The MSE online degree program concentration in leadership and administration, our principal licensure program, is 30 credit hours, and is designed to enhance the graduate education of students seeking a principal position or other school leadership role.

USI’s master’s in education leadership and administration concentration includes courses in:

  • Issues in Educational Leadership
  • School Improvement Models and Processes
  • Curriculum and Learning for Educational Leaders
  • Management of Human Resources in the Principalship
  • Finance and Facility Management for Principals
  • Internship for School Leaders
  • EDUC 604 - Equity Education
  • EDUC 681 - Foundations of Community-Based Education 
  • EDUC 683 - School Improvement Models and Processes
  • EDUC 684 - Ethical and Legal Issues in Education
  • EDUC 685 - Curriculum and Learning for Educational Leaders 
  • EDUC 686 - Management of Human Resources in the Principalship 
  • EDUC 687 - Finance and Facility Management for Principals 
  • EDUC 680 - Internship for School Leaders (1 credit hour)
    • EDUC 680 is taken three (3) times for three (3) consecutive semesters (summer, fall, spring).

All courses listed are three (3) credit hours unless designated otherwise.

All MSE students must complete the research sequence requirement – 6 hours. (Note these courses must be taken at USI. Transfer courses will not be accepted for the research sequence.)

  • EDUC 601 - Research in Education (3 credit hours)
  • EDUC 699 - Supervised Research (3 credit hours)

"USI has helped me in all areas of my professional aspirations. I started my journey at USI, and I was given many hands-on and real-life experiences as a teacher to prepare me for a classroom of my own. I was equipped with all the tools I needed to be a successful classroom teacher. Now, 14 years later, I’m back at USI obtaining a master’s degree in education. I cannot say enough amazing things about the master’s program. Every professor is helpful, easy to reach and supportive, and the pacing of the program — while actively teaching — has not felt overwhelming. It’s been terrific!”"

- Hilary Hester, USI MSE Program Student
Teacher, Joshua Academy Charter School

What Can You Do With a Master’s in Education Leadership Degree?

Schools across the country — public, private, charter and virtual — are scrambling to hire well-educated, effective school leaders. There is a growing need for leaders who are prepared to guide diverse student populations to meet high standards of academic achievement. If you’re an aspiring school leader, the USI master in educational leadership and administration online degree can help you achieve your educational career goals.

Earning your master’s in education leadership online with USI prepares you to take on the role of school principal or other school leader. With our master in educational leadership and administration program, you’ll develop the leadership skills you need to help students improve their achievement and outcomes. You’ll focus on how students learn and the most effective educational methods while also exploring new trends and innovations in school leadership.

Graduating from USI’s master’s in education leadership and administration program opens doors to various educational leadership career paths.

Benefit from a more focused master’s in education leadership degree

Students in USI’s online master in educational leadership and administration concentration enjoy a deeper dive into education theory and social elements that affect education leadership. Through our principal licensure program, you’ll develop valuable insights and advanced knowledge in areas such as:

  • Understanding the relationship between schools and their surrounding community to ensure equitable and respectful treatment of all stakeholders
  • Gaining the skills to collaboratively develop a school’s mission and vision
  • Employing data literacy, data analysis and technology to improve professional practice, school organizations and program effectiveness
  • Understanding ethical and legal considerations and practices surrounding curricular, instructional and operational decision-making
  • Applying theories and best practices relating to curricula, instruction and assessment in teaching