Educational Leadership
Plan Your Educational Leadership Degree
Connect with an academic advisor to discuss program requirements, navigate certification alignment, explore leadership coursework, and map out your path toward graduation.
Coursework
The educational leadership program requires successful completion of graded coursework and a pass-fail comprehensive exam. Coursework is distributed across three core areas: foundations, research, and leadership.
A typical program of study includes the following courses:
- ED_PSYCH 505: Research Methods
- ED_AD 503: Values and Ethics in Education
- ED_AD 507: Social Foundations of Education
- ED_AD 509: Leading School Improvement*
- ED_AD 516: Instructional and Curricular Leadership*
- ED_AD 522: Race and Representation in Education
- ED_AD 580: School Organization and Administration
- ED_AD 583: Community and Communications*
- ED_AD 585: Financial Management in Education*
- ED_AD 588: The Law and Education*
- ED_AD 589: Leadership Development Seminar*
- ED_AD 702: Master’s Exam
*Indicates courses required for the Administrator Certificate
Master’s Exam (ED_AD 702)
This take-home examination is based on a comprehensive case study. Students are evaluated on their ability to synthesize their learning across coursework. The exam is completed over a four-week period and requires students to write a response demonstrating the multiple leadership lenses through which issues identified in the case study would be addressed. The evaluation of this exam is pass-fail.
Alignment with Certification Programs
The graduate program is closely aligned with the Administrator Certificate programs. All required graded courses for the certificate can be applied to the degree program of study. Combining the master’s degree with the Administrator Certificate increases the total required credits from 35 to 41. Course sequences are designed to permit students to complete both the degree and certificate in approximately three years.
Application and Admissions
Applications for the graduate program as well as the combined degree plus Administrator Certificate are revised and available annually. Please contact the Academic Coordinator at van.education@wsu.edu or via phone at 360-546-9075 to request an application.
Both the degree program and the combined certificate options admit students to begin in either the summer or fall terms. Priority application windows open early in the year, and late applications are accepted on a space-available basis leading up to the start of the term.