PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & COURSE OUTLINE
MASTER OF EDUCATION IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP:
ETHICS & MULTICULTURAL LEADERSHIP

Program Description
Course Outline & Descriptions
Degree Requirements
Certification
Cost

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Educational Leadership Department: 770-423-6888

Interim Department Chair: Dr. Charles Bowen -- cbowen@kennesaw.edu

Program Coordinator: Dr. T.C. Chan -- tchan@kennesaw.edu

The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership is designed to prepare and develop educational leaders to direct school improvement toward higher levels of student learning and achievement. The program allows experienced educational professionals to earn an M.Ed. in six semesters while continuing their careers. Candidates complete six modules taught by full-time graduate faculty and experienced school personnel. The program will be delivered in cohorts offered at public schools and on campus. The program of study schedule is designed to coincide with public schools and university calendars and will be provided in advance so educational and personal commitments can be coordinated with program requirements.

The six-semester, highly individualized program will be offered through the use of modules, direct instruction, cohort planning, and individual projects based on personal development plans formulated by each student through the learning team composed of student, KSU faculty member, and on-site mentor. During the course of study, candidates will develop a personal, professional portfolio which will include all Board of Regents and Professional Standards Commission Standards. Field activities accompany the semester’s work to provide synthesis of the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary for today’s educational leader. At the conclusion of the program, candidates will possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to lead schools to higher levels of achievement for all students.

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COURSE OUTLINE

Total: 36 Credit Hours

SEMESTER I

EDL 7100 Leadership Theory and Practice (3)
This course is intended to be an introductory course to the M.Ed. Program in Educational Leadership. The course provides students with an introduction to leadership theory and practice, both generally and specifically in the context of educational administration. Course concepts include, but are not limited to, assessing and changing organizational culture, identifying and cultivating effective schools practices that have a positive impact on all students including those with learning disabilities and those who come from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds. Course concepts also include leading change in schools that will lead to the academic success of all P-12 students.

EDL 7105 Technology Leadership & Vision in Schools (3)
The course is designed to produce effective school leaders who can lead in the planning and implementation of educational technology initiatives within the school improvement plan, using technology to improve the academic success of all P-12 students. In this course, future educational leaders will explore the essential conditions—including a local vision for technology use—that teachers and students need to effectively integrate the National Education Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S) into the standards-based instruction. Students will complete a local assessment of these essential conditions in their own schools; identify local school technology needs; and form strategies to address those needs. Students will explore group processes for effectively engaging students, teachers, staff, parents and community in creating, disseminating, and sustaining a research-based vision for instructional technology.

SEMESTER II

EDL 7200 Leading Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment (3)
In this course, future educational leaders will develop the understanding and skills necessary to lead curriculum and instructional practices that will lead to the academic success of all P-12 students. Students will utilize theory and research related to how children and adolescents learn (Bransford, 2000) and study best instructional practices for all students including those with learning disabilities and those who come from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds. Models of curriculum development and design, and rationales/problems related to standards-based instruction will also be studied (Wiggins & McTighe, 2000, 2002). Students will plan, develop, and implement effective instructional programs; align instruction vertically and horizontally with state and district curriculum standards; monitor and evaluate the implementation of curriculum standards, both individually and systemically; and effectively improve curriculum and instruction practices.

EDL 7205 Leading Teaching & Learning in the 21st Century (3)
This course will focus primarily on the BOR performance strands of “curriculum,” “instruction,” and “assessment,” and PSC Standards for “school culture, instructional program, best practices, professional growth plans.” In this course, future educational leaders will apply current research and instructional design principles to design a 21st century learning experiences for all students. Educational leaders must be able to promote and support learning environments that best prepare all students for life and work in the 21st Century. The ultimate goal of this course is to prepare educational leaders to understand the needs of 21st Century learner, review teaching practices and tools best suited to meeting the needs of all 21st Century learners, and facilitate the design and delivery of 21st Century instruction. In this course, future educational leaders will learn to engage teachers in cooperative work to design, monitor and revise instruction to improve student achievement of all students including those with special needs and who are culturally and linguistically diverse; lead others in research-based learning strategies and processes; promote the use of technology to support student mastery of Georgia performance standards; and to design and implement assessments for student learning.

SEMESTER III

EDL 7300 Research in Educational Leadership (3)
Candidates will have an understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods and designs, focusing on interpretation and application relating to school improvement. Basic descriptive and inferential statistics will be explored to prepare candidates to be research consumers. Candidates will be involved in the development of a research proposal to meet the criteria that will lead to the academic success of all P-12 students including those with learning disabilities and those who come from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds.

EDL 7305 Data Analysis & School Improvement (3)
In this course, future educational leaders will learn to utilize data to identify school improvement needs and make informed decisions in effectuating change that will lead to the academic success of all P-12 students including those with learning disabilities and those who come from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds. The ultimate goal of this course is to produce educational leaders who effectively collect, analyze and use data to improve schools through successfully demonstrated change models. In this course, future leaders will learn to systemically collect and analyze multiple sources of data to identify improvement needs, determine an effective response, monitor and correct progress, and demonstrate success to stakeholders. Candidates will also examine the components of an effective school improvement plan. Additionally, students will learn to drive and sustain change in a collegial environment, culminating in students’ understanding of, and ability to use, a wide range of applicable leadership practices.

SEMESTER IV

EDL 7400 Leading Professional Learning & Change (3)
In this course, future educational leaders will learn how to use professional learning to develop their faculties and lead change in schools. Students will examine research findings on effective professional learning, demonstrate an understanding of the National Staff Development Council standards adopted by the state of Georgia, identify areas of strength and need related to the implementation of the professional development standards in their schools and develop strategies to provide and protect time for job-embedded professional learning, such as mentoring, coaching, feedback, study groups, peer observation and learning teams. The ultimate goal of this course is for students to develop a clear and compelling vision for professional learning that is standards-based, results-driven, and focused on the daily work of educators in order to improve learning of all students including those with special needs and those who come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

EDL 7405 Human Resources for School Leaders (3)
Candidates examine major areas of school personnel/human resources management. It provides a comprehensive overview of human resources administration as it relates to recruitment, selection of highly qualified applicants (including those who teach English Language Learners), orientation, motivation and work incentives, pertinent state and federal laws and school district policies, conflict resolution, evaluation, employee documentation, discipline and dismissal, and salary and fringe benefits. This course provides skills necessary for school level administrators to act professionally and ethically in carrying out their responsibilities in this area.

SEMESTER V

EDL 7500 Educational Law & Policy (3)
In this course, future educational leaders will learn how to be ethically and legally compliant in school operations that will lead to the academic success of all P-12 students, including those with learning disabilities and those from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds. The ultimate goal of the course is to produce future leaders who are cognizant of their ethical and legal obligations in managing schools, and who understand and appreciate the importance of legal and ethical compliance to daily administrative practice (Levine, 2005). In this course, future educational leaders will learn how to act with integrity by demonstrating ethical and equitable leadership behaviors; abide by Georgia and federal law and the Code of Ethics for Georgia Educators in professional practice; manage school operations consistently with requirements of Georgia and federal law; and observe student and faculty legal rights and privileges.

EDL 7505 Ethical Leadership (3)
This course is designed to provide leaders with an in-depth examination of the current and anticipated ethical issues and dilemmas facing leaders and the role of character education in our society. Addressing these ethical issues will lead to the academic success of all P-12 students including those with learning disabilities and those who come from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds.

SEMESTER VI

EDL 7600 School Operations & Community Relations (3)
This course is designed to provide candidates with knowledge of major areas of school business management in performing the duties of a school administrator. Candidates will be prepared to assume a leadership role in decision making of school business affairs. An effort is made to identify roles school administrators play in managing daily school business in relation to their counterparts at the district level. Candidates examine major areas of school business management, particularly as they relate to the funding of American public education. Georgia model of educational finance is introduced and discussed. Candidates will attain knowledge and skills in school business management in the following areas: educational facilities planning and management, school budgeting, school accounting and auditing, cash management, risk management, purchasing and central distribution, school food service, and student transportation. The course will also equip leaders to engage the community in understanding and supporting the educational process of all students including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and other underrepresented populations.

EDL 7605 School Leadership in Multicultural Contexts (3)
This graduate level course integrates multicultural concerns and international perspectives that focus on various aspects of culture and their connections to educational leadership and national, as well as state mandates to improve student achievement and informed global perspectives. The course presents critical elements that compose and relate to cultural values and diversity, and analyses of programs and procedures designed to address and meet the needs of diverse student populations, emphasizing research-based programs of sustained academic success. Candidates will examine the models to gain competencies in successfully addressing multiple forms and expressions of diversity in schools such that social cohesion is promoted within a context of general academic rigor that will lead to the academic success of all P-12 students including those with learning disabilities and those who come from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds.

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DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Non-Degree Candidates
Students classified as non-degree students are not permitted to enroll in the M.Ed.in Educational Leadership - Ethics & Multicultural Leadership. This program will not provide graduate level course work for certification renewal purposes.

Transfer Credit
Candidates enrolled in the M.Ed.for in Educational Leadership - Ethics & Multicultural Leadership will not be given credit for graduate courses taken at other institutions.

Grades in Graduate Courses
Expectations for satisfactory graduate level student performance are detailed in Academic Policies section of the current Graduate Catalog.

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CERTIFICATION

Due to changes to Educational Leadership programs state-wide,
please contact the Georgia Professional Standards Commission 404-232-2500
regarding certification inquiries.

For additional information on certification, please e-mail
Kellie Oxford koxford@kennesaw.edu,
Certification Officer in the Teacher Education Advisement Center at KSU.

For additional information on the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
Ethics & Multicultural Leadership,
please email
Alisha Bello abello1@kennesaw.edu
Graduate Coordinator in the Teacher Education Advisement Center at KSU.