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Master of Arts
Educational Leadership: School Building Leader

Not Accepting Applications

To best meet the needs of our students, we have decided to suspend enrollment in the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership: School Building Leader. We encourage you to explore Educational Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy (MA).

We prepare teachers for school leadership positions such as teacher leaders and principals and to work cross-sector with government, private, and nonprofit organizations. Strong candidates for this program must have experience in pre-K-12 education and two or more years of teaching or student services experience. Graduates are eligible for New York State certification as a school building leader.

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Degree Details

Official Degree Title

Master of Arts in Educational Leadership: School Building Leader

Licensure or Certification
Format
Full-time or Part-time
Credits
36

We prepare teachers for school leadership positions such as teacher leaders and principals and to work cross-sector with government, private, and nonprofit organizations. Strong candidates for this program must have experience in pre-K–12 education and two or more years of teaching or student services experience. Graduates are eligible for New York State certification as a school building leader.

This master's program is built on the belief that:

  • School is the critical unit for the delivery of educational programs.
  • Schools of high quality are places where all children learn and grow in an atmosphere that is engaging, affirming, responsible, and just.
  • Effective school leaders work collaboratively and inclusively with teachers, parents, students, community members, public agencies, and businesses to create productive learning environments for all children and youth.
  • Public elementary and secondary education is an essential dimension of a democratic society and is entitled to serious, continuous, and meaningful support from its post-secondary partners.

Graduates of this program work as teacher leaders and principals, and in a variety of other educational leadership positions in public and private schools.

Core Courses and Electives

This degree combines content courses with fieldwork and electives. In your core seminars, you'll study educational leadership, organization and leadership theory, educational change, politics of multicultural school communities, and data-driven decision making and leadership. You can pursue additional study relevant to school improvement, teaching and learning, and community engagement and collaboration. 

Each course examines multiple theoretical perspectives, themes of equity and social justice, a focus on the needs and experiences of low-income urban children and youth, and implications for leadership within and outside of educational settings.

Fieldwork and Internships

Our students complete a required internship, usually near the end of their programs of study. Participating schools include Facing History School, New Design High School, the School for Legal Studies, M.S. 131 Dr. Sun Yat Sen School, and P.S. 6 Lillie D. Blake Elementary School, as well in the NYC Department of Education Networks and Central Administration. If you work full time in a school while studying with us, you may complete the internship where you work. Learn more about internships.

Portfolio

You'll create a leadership portfolio that provides evidence of the competencies you've developed, reflections on your field experiences, and your plans for continuous learning, preparing for a career of working toward equitable and high-quality schools. 

Flexible Study

We offer a flexible curriculum that you and your advisor can tailor to fit your professional goals and interests. Full-time students can complete the degree in three semesters. 

CAEP Accreditation

The Educational Leadership program at New York University is awarded accreditation through TEAC Quality Principles by the Inquiry Brief Commission of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for a period of seven years, from 10/1/2015–10/1/2022. The accreditation does not include individual education courses that the EPP offers to P–12 educators for professional development, re-licensure, or other purposes.

Professional Licensure/Certification

Educational Leadership is an on-campus program that places students in supervised field experiences within New York State (NYS). NYU is authorized pursuant to the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) to enroll students in supervised field experiences in the SARA states and territories. For further details regarding NYU's SARA membership please visit the NYU State Authorization website. SARA requires universities to disclose to applicants and students whether programs that lead to professional licensure or certification meet licensure requirements in those states in which students are doing learning placements.