Applicants must follow the School-wide application requirements for NYU Steinhardt master's degree programs. In doing so, applicants should:
- Specify professional experiences and service, including volunteer work with non-profit organizations, service learning projects, community organizing activities, or any other leadership activities in schools, the community, and/or other relevant or related experiences on their resume;
- Address an interest in and potential for educational leadership and advocacy related work in their statement of purpose.
- Provide two letters of recommendation, written by people who have been responsible for evaluating academic or professional work such as professors and workplace supervisors.
Selection Criteria
Program admission requires that applicants demonstrate potential for leadership, academic talent, and commitment to education and educational improvement. The Admissions Committee, comprised of program faculty, is interested in assuring that candidates have a solid foundation in educational practice including understanding of child/adolescent growth and development, pedagogy, and curriculum.
The Committee is also interested in candidates who have engaged in the kind of leadership activities in schools, the community, and/or other agencies that demonstrate their professional engagement, sense of self-efficacy and optimism, commitment to equitable practice as well as their understanding of the characteristics of effective leaders. These criteria are the basis for rubrics developed by the faculty for reviewing application materials.
Master of Arts
For the Master of Arts program, evidence that the applicant meets these criteria includes but is not limited to:
- Transcripts that document completion of a BA/BS or MA/MS in education both of which show evidence of a solid academic performance;
- Certificate in classroom teaching or pupil personnel service or the potential for instructional leadership based on prior school-based experiences;
- Resume that specifies professional experiences and service, including experience as a teacher, administrator, or pupil personnel service provider;
- Personal essay in which the candidate discusses (1) their potential for leadership and understanding of the characteristics of effective leaders, including creating and defining a vision; collaborating; supporting and nurturing staff; and creating productive learning environments where all children learn and grow, and (2) their reasons for pursuing a master's degree at this time at NYU.
Special Requirements for the Politics, and Advocacy, M.A.
Certificate of Advanced Study
For the Certificate of Advanced Study, evidence that the applicant meets these criteria includes but is not limited to:
- Transcripts that document completion of a BA/BS demonstrating a solid academic performance;
- MA/MS in education demonstrating a solid academic performance;
- Certificate in classroom teaching or pupil personnel service or equivalent professional credentials (e.g., teaching in independent or private schools);
- Certificate or eligibility for certificate in school building leadership or its equivalent;
- Resume that specifies professional experiences and service, including experience as a teacher, administrator, or pupil personnel service provider;
- Personal essay in which the candidate discusses (1) their potential for leadership and understanding of the characteristics of effective leaders, including creating and defining a vision; collaborating; supporting and nurturing staff; and creating productive learning environments where all children learn and grow, and (2) their reasons for pursuing a post-masters advanced certificate at this time at NYU.
EdD and PhD Program
For the Doctoral Programs, the Admissions Committee uses three criteria in assessing application materials, each of which has multiple measures: evidence of academic talent; suitability of the professional portfolio; and fit with the purposes and capabilities of our program and our faculty.
Evidence that the applicant meets these criteria includes but is not limited to:
- a completed admission application,
- official transcripts for a MA/MS in education or a related field demonstrating solid academic performance,
- official scores from the Graduate Record Examination,
- a resume that specifies professional experiences and service, personal essay.