Educational Administration MS
Major: Educational Administration
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 45.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 13.0401
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-9032
About the Program
The MS in Educational Administration online program (EDAM) is a dynamic and forward-thinking educational journey designed to empower current and emerging leaders in the field. This program equips aspiring school administrators with the adaptive and transformational leadership skills needed to navigate the complex landscape of education.
Key Program Features:
Leadership for the 21st Century:
The Educational Administration (EDAM) program is built for the future. In a world shaped by rapid technological innovation and growing cultural diversity, EDAM prepares aspiring assistant principals and school leaders to navigate complexity with agility, resilience, and creativity. Students explore cutting-edge topics including artificial intelligence in education, systems thinking for school improvement, and curriculum design for innovative schools. Through this dynamic learning experience, future leaders learn to shape inclusive, future-ready schools that meet the needs of every learner.Standards-Driven, Practice-Based Preparation:
The EDAM curriculum is carefully aligned with national, state, and international leadership standards, ensuring students develop the practical leadership skills, deep theoretical knowledge, and hands-on experiences necessary to drive transformation. Coursework emphasizes leading effective teams, building high-performing cultures, improving instruction through the strategic use of data, and designing systems that integrate special education seamlessly into the broader school community. A rigorous internship experience further prepares students to take on the multifaceted responsibilities of assistant principalship and principalship with confidence and vision.
A Collaborative Community for Innovation:
At the heart of EDAM is a thriving community of passionate school leaders. In a true spirit of collaboration, students and faculty engage in a “research of practice” approach—an ongoing inquiry into real-world educational challenges and innovative solutions that enhance learning outcomes for all students. Whether designing inclusive learning environments, leveraging AI to personalize instruction, or reimagining leadership for a rapidly evolving world, EDAM students graduate ready to lead with vision, heart, and a deep commitment to equity and excellence.
Experiential Learning:
The heart of EDAM lies in experiential learning. Here’s how we bring theory to life:
- Online, Hybrid, and Traditional Environments: EDAM students explore teaching and learning across diverse contexts. Whether in a virtual classroom, a blended learning environment, or a brick-and-mortar school, students will apply their knowledge directly to real-life challenges.
- Collaboration with Stakeholders: Engage with families, communities, and experts in related fields. Learn how to build partnerships that drive positive change in education.
- Principal Certification Pathway: If you hold a teaching or counseling certificate, EDAM provides a clear pathway to school administration. Become a transformative leader in your school community.
The program is designed as a part-time cohort model, and can be completed in two years. View the degree requirements for more detailed information about the courses.
Educational Administration Program Options
MS in Educational Administration Concentrations
- School Principal Certificate*
- Special Education Leadership & Principal (K-12) Certificate**
*Requires a state-issued teacher certificate. A School Principal Certificate can be earned without the Master's by completing the School Principal Certificate program.
**Requires a state-issued special education teacher certificate
Program Objectives
Graduates of the MS in Educational Administration program emerge as visionary leaders, equipped with the knowledge and skills to transform educational institutions. Here’s how our program prepares you for success:
1. Certification Excellence: Our graduates meet Pennsylvania certification standards, ensuring they are well-prepared to lead schools and districts effectively.
2. Crafting a Shared Vision: As educational stewards, our alumni facilitate the development, articulation, and implementation of a compelling vision of learning. This vision resonates with the entire school community, fostering a sense of purpose and unity.
3. Cultivating School Culture: Graduates advocate for a positive and inclusive school culture that nurtures both student learning and professional growth among staff. They create environments where everyone thrives.
4. Resourceful Management: Effective educational leaders ensure the smooth management of organizational operations and resources. From safety protocols to efficient processes, our graduates maintain an environment conducive to learning.
5. Community Engagement: Collaboration with families and community members is paramount. Our alumni respond to diverse community interests, mobilize resources, and build strong partnerships that benefit students and schools.
6. Ethical Leadership: Acting with integrity and fairness is non-negotiable. Our graduates uphold ethical standards, modeling principled behavior for their educational communities.
7. Navigating the Context: Understanding the broader context is essential. Our alumni respond to political, social, economic, legal, and cultural factors, influencing positive change within their schools.
8. Accountability and Assessment: Graduates adeptly monitor and evaluate student achievements and programs against rigorous standards. They strive for excellence in both external and internal assessments.
9. Teacher Leadership Development: Our program emphasizes building teacher leadership capacity. Graduates mentor principal interns and empower fellow educators to take on leadership roles.
10. Action Research for Impact: Our alumni engage in action research, documenting sustainable practices that meet school accountability goals. Their findings have immediate and practical applications for educators across the field.
Additional Information
For more information, visit the School of Education's MS in Educational Administration webpage or the Drexel University Online website.
For application details and program information, visit the EDAM program website.
Admission Requirements
Acceptance for graduate study in Drexel University's School of Education requires:
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (graduate degree GPAs will be considered along with the undergraduate GPA).
- Complete graduate school application.
- Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended. Instead of hard copy transcripts, you may supply official electronic transcripts issued by a post-secondary institution directly to Drexel University (use our email address, enroll@drexel.edu).
- You must supply transcripts regardless of the number of credits earned or the type of school you attended. If you do not list all post-secondary institutions on your application and these are listed on transcripts received from other institutions, processing of your application will be delayed until you have submitted the remaining transcripts. Use the Transcript Lookup Tool to assist you in contacting your previous institutions. If a college or university that you attended offers the option to send transcripts in a secure, password-protected electronic format, you may have the transcript sent to enroll@drexel.edu.
- Two letters of recommendation, either professional or academic.
- One letter of recommendation must come from the principal of the school where the applicant has worked. (Recommendation must include applicant's presentation skills and experiences in a leadership role as well as the skills observed that would have a strong bearing on the applicant's success as a school leader and administrator.)
- Drexel University accepts electronic letters of recommendation. Please use the online letter of recommendation service. If a recommender prefers to submit an original, hard copy letter of recommendation, please remind the recommender that it must be signed and submitted in a sealed envelope signed across the flap by the recommender.
- An essay describing why the applicant is interested in pursuing graduate study in this field.
- Applicant must include a minimum of two paragraphs briefly describing their educational philosophy and explaining how principals shape learning in K-12 schools.
- State-issued instructional certification
- Email a copy to enroll@drexel.edu for inclusion in your application file
- International students: must submit a TOEFL score of 550 or higher. Students with transcripts from non-US institutions should have such transcripts evaluated by World Education Service (WES). The TOEFL examination is required for some non-citizens.
Degree Requirements
| Core Courses | ||
| EDAM 705 | School Law and Politics | 3.0 |
| EDAM 710 | School Finance and Facilities | 3.0 |
| EDAM 712 | School and Community Partnerships and Relations | 3.0 |
| EDAM 714 | Instructional and Curriculum Leadership | 3.0 |
| EDAM 719 | Leading Effective Teams * | 3.0 |
| or EDAM 713 | Conflict Resolution for School Leaders | |
| EDAM 720 | Systems Thinking for School Principals | 3.0 |
| EDAM 721 | Curriculum Design for School Leaders | 3.0 |
| EDAM 723 | Innovative Schools | 3.0 |
| EDAM 727 | The Assistant Principal | 3.0 |
| EDAM 729 | Technology and AI for School Leadership | 3.0 |
| EDAM 730 | Using Data to Improve Instruction | 3.0 |
| EDEX 712 | Instructional & Curriculum Leadership in Special Education | 3.0 |
| EDEX 716 | Organization & Administration of Special Education | 3.0 |
| Principal Internship Courses | ||
| EDAM 715 | School Principal Internship: Technology | 1.5 |
| EDAM 716 | School Principal Internship: Finance | 1.5 |
| EDAM 717 | School Principal Internship: Leadership | 1.5 |
| EDAM 718 | School Principal Internship: Relations | 1.5 |
| Total Credits | 45.0 | |
- *
Exact course subject to availability. Please consult your academic advisor to identify available course offerings.
Performances
The performances for meeting Pennsylvania leadership standards and National Leadership Standards include a Leadership Portfolio. The Leadership Portfolio includes:
- Four Log Reflections: Explaining growth in log reflection over each term
- Evidence of 600 hours across four terms logged in the Internship
- Logs over 48 weeks
- Four term Goal Statements and Reflections on accomplishments
- Two to three artifacts on each of the ELCC standards totaling 14 to 21 or more artifacts
- An explanation of how each artifact shows applications of skill on each identified standard
- Four evaluations on the ELCC Standards and Drexel Competencies completed by the school site supervising principal
In addition, students must meet the current state minimum score on the appropriate PRAXIS Exam.
Sample Plan of Study
MS degree with Principal Certification
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| EDAM 720 | 3.0 | EDAM 712 | 3.0 | EDAM 714 | 3.0 | EDAM 721 | 3.0 |
| EDEX 712 | 3.0 | EDAM 723 | 3.0 | EDAM 719 or 713 | 3.0 | EDEX 716 | 3.0 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| EDAM 710 | 3.0 | EDAM 718 | 1.5 | EDAM 717 | 1.5 | EDAM 705 | 3.0 |
| EDAM 716 | 1.5 | EDAM 730 | 3.0 | EDAM 727 | 3.0 | EDAM 715 | 1.5 |
| EDAM 729 | 3.0 | ||||||
| 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 7.5 | ||||
| Total Credits 45 | |||||||
Special Education Leadership Concentration Program Requirements
The Special Education Leadership concentration within the MS in Educational Administration leads to the Supervisor of Special Education Certification. The concentration is designed to produce educators who are equipped with the advanced skills, knowledge and competencies they will need to collaboratively lead programs that meet the needs of students at risk and with disabilities in multiple settings. The 46.0 credit program fulfills the requirements for the Pennsylvania Department of Education approved certification and a master's degree in Educational Leadership.
Candidates are required to complete 300 internship hours for the Supervisor of Special Education Certification. Eligibility for PA Special Education Leadership certificate requires verification that the candidate has completed five years of satisfactory professional school experience on a state-issued certificate appropriate for the assignment. All courses must be completed with a B or better.
| Core Courses | ||
| EDAM 700 | Leading in Urban, Rural and Suburban Settings | 3.0 |
| EDAM 701 | Resource Management, Allocation and Entrepreneurship | 3.0 |
| EDAM 722 | Evaluation & Assessment Competencies | 3.0 |
| EDAM 724 | Mentoring and Collaborative Leadership | 3.0 |
| Core Certification Courses | ||
| EDAM 708 | Integration of Technology with School Instruction and Management | 3.0 |
| EDAM 710 | School Finance and Facilities | 3.0 |
| EDEX 710 | School Law & Policy in Special Education | 3.0 |
| EDEX 712 | Instructional & Curriculum Leadership in Special Education | 3.0 |
| EDEX 714 | Development, Supervision, & Support: Special Education Leadership | 3.0 |
| EDEX 716 | Organization & Administration of Special Education | 3.0 |
| EDEX 721 | Supervisor of Special Education Internship: Special Education Leadership | 1.0 |
| EDEX 722 | Supervisor of Special Education Internship: Instructional Leadership | 1.0 |
| EDEX 723 | Supervisor of Special Education Internship: Collaboration & Personnel | 1.0 |
| EDEX 724 | Supervisor of Special Education Internship: Finance & Management | 1.0 |
| Elective Course | 3.0 | |
| Capstone Courses | 9.0 | |
| Capstone Research | ||
| Students have the option to select one of the following capstone tracks | ||
Practitioner | ||
| Practitioner Capstone Course I | ||
| Practitioner Capstone Course II | ||
Thesis | ||
| Thesis Capstone Course I | ||
| Thesis Capstone Course II | ||
| Total Credits | 46.0 | |
- *
To satisfy the elective portion of the MS in Educational Administration with Special Education Leadership option, it is suggested that the candidate enroll in a course from the School of Education’s Educational Policy or the Special Education Law and Process certificate programs. The following would be appropriate although any graduate course that the candidate has interest and is eligible to enroll may be considered with approval of the candidate’s academic advisor:
- EDEX 600: Family, School and Community Engagement in Special Education
- EDEX 601: Special Education Advocacy
- EDEX 602: Special Education Dispute Resolution and Skills Training
- EDPO 620: Education Policy: Concepts, Issues and Applications
- EDPO 624: The Shaping of American Education Policy: Global Forces, Interest Groups and Politics
School Principal Certificate & Special Education Leadership Concentration
Program Requirements
The School Principal Certificate and Special Education Leadership concentration within the MS in Educational Administration leads to the Supervisor of Special Education Certification and Principal Certification. The concentration is designed to prepare future leaders with the tools and knowledge to collaboratively address special education programs and issues within a school setting. The 52.0 credit dual certification program fulfills the requirements for both Pennsylvania Department of Education approved certifications and a master’s degree.
Candidates are required to complete 300 internship hours for the Supervisor of Education Certification and 400 internship hours for Principal Certification.
Eligibility for PA Special Education Leadership certificate requires verification that the candidate has completed five years of satisfactory professional school experience on a state-issued certificate appropriate for the assignment.
Eligibility for the PA Principal certificate requires verification that the candidate has completed three years of satisfactory professional school experience on a state-issued certificate appropriate for the assignment and appropriate Praxis exam. All courses must be completed with a B or better.
| Core Courses | ||
| EDAM 720 | Systems Thinking for School Principals | 3.0 |
| EDAM 721 | Curriculum Design for School Leaders | 3.0 |
| EDAM 727 | The Assistant Principal | 3.0 |
| EDAM 729 | Technology and AI for School Leadership | 3.0 |
| EDAM 730 | Using Data to Improve Instruction | 3.0 |
| Principal Certification Courses | ||
| EDAM 705 | School Law and Politics | 3.0 |
| EDAM 710 | School Finance and Facilities | 3.0 |
| EDAM 712 | School and Community Partnerships and Relations | 3.0 |
| EDAM 714 | Instructional and Curriculum Leadership | 3.0 |
| EDAM 715 | School Principal Internship: Technology | 1.5 |
| EDAM 716 | School Principal Internship: Finance | 1.5 |
| EDAM 717 | School Principal Internship: Leadership | 1.5 |
| EDAM 718 | School Principal Internship: Relations | 1.5 |
| Special Education Leadership Certification Courses | ||
| EDEX 710 | School Law & Policy in Special Education | 3.0 |
| EDEX 712 | Instructional & Curriculum Leadership in Special Education | 3.0 |
| EDEX 714 | Development, Supervision, & Support: Special Education Leadership | 3.0 |
| EDEX 716 | Organization & Administration of Special Education | 3.0 |
| EDEX 721 | Supervisor of Special Education Internship: Special Education Leadership | 1.0 |
| EDEX 722 | Supervisor of Special Education Internship: Instructional Leadership | 1.0 |
| EDEX 723 | Supervisor of Special Education Internship: Collaboration & Personnel | 1.0 |
| EDEX 724 | Supervisor of Special Education Internship: Finance & Management | 1.0 |
| Total Credits | 49.0 | |
School Principal Certificate & Special Education Leadership Concentration Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| EDAM 720 | 3.0 | EDAM 712 | 3.0 | EDAM 714 | 3.0 | EDAM 721 | 3.0 |
| EDEX 712 | 3.0 | EDEX 714 | 3.0 | EDEX 710 | 3.0 | EDEX 716 | 3.0 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| EDAM 710 | 3.0 | EDAM 718 | 1.5 | EDAM 717 | 1.5 | EDAM 705 | 3.0 |
| EDAM 716 | 1.5 | EDAM 730 | 3.0 | EDAM 727 | 3.0 | EDAM 715 | 1.5 |
| EDEX 722 | 1.0 | EDEX 723 | 1.0 | EDEX 721 | 1.0 | EDAM 729 | 3.0 |
| EDEX 724 | 1.0 | ||||||
| 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 8.5 | ||||
| Total Credits 49 | |||||||
Program Level Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:
- Lead schools collaboratively to solve complex problems in a framework of national and state leadership standards
- Mentor and coach teachers in effective instructional and assessment decision-making
- Model shared leadership and decision-making strategies
- Promote restorative and social justice practices
- Understand, respond to, and influence the larger political, financial, technological, and legal context
- Reflect on practice to new action and change