Education Leadership - MS

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MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE (MS) in EDUCATION LEADERSHIP (33 S.H.)

The MS degree provides a course of study that prepares the student for the role of leader in a variety of non-profit and public organizations. Eleven courses, or 33 graduate credits, are needed to complete the degree. A core of five Education Leadership courses is required of all degree candidates; a variety of options are permitted for the remaining 18 credits. The options are packaged as emphases. The five emphases are:

Organizational Leadership - The focus of the WSU-Organizational Leadership emphasis is leadership, continuous improvement, organizational change, and communication. Excellence in professional practice, scholarly writing, technical applications, global awareness, and diversity are themes emphasized throughout the program. This emphasis will prepare new graduates for promotion or enhanced employment opportunities in their professional fields.
Professional Leadership Studies - This emphasis is for future leaders in non-profit organizations, higher education, and public agencies who prefer to create their own course-pathway to the Master’s of Science degree. Both the very directed and the unsure candidate have the opportunity to explore options and create specific experiences related to their needs and interests. Candidates will have a better understanding of how organizations work and the tools that leaders use to guide groups of people to accomplish their goals. This specialization permits the student, in cooperation with their academic advisor, to select courses and experiences that they believe best prepare them for the leadership role they foresee themselves having.
Teacher and School Leadership - The Teacher and School Leadership program is designed for teachers and professional staff in birth-12 schools who want to develop their leadership capacities as productive change agents and supporters in schools through the promotion of continuous improvement strategies and effective administrative practices.
OE/ABL – Outdoor Education/Adventure Based Leadership - in cooperation with the Recreation, Tourism and Therapeutic Recreation (RTTR) Department, their graduate certificate in Outdoor Education/Adventure Based Leadership can be combined with the five core courses in Education Leadership for the Master’s Degree. Graduates work in K-12 schools, adventure tourism, and team building in organizations.
Sports Management – In cooperation with the Physical Education and Sport Science (PESS) Department, their graduate certificate in Sport Management can be combined with the five core courses in Education Leadership for the Master’s Degree. This path is taken by students looking for collegiate coaching positions, sport’s team organizations, and the high school athletic directors.

Major Field / Core Courses (15 S.H.)

A core of five Education Leadership courses is required of all degree candidates; a variety of options are permitted for the remaining 18 credits.

EMPHASES (REQUIRED - CHOOSE ONE) 18 credits each

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

EL 642 - Education Lean: Methods and Practicum 4 S.H.
EL 644 - Managing Change, Innovation and Transition 3 S.H.
EL 646 - Leadership and Technology 3 S.H.
EL 648 - Project Management 1 S.H.
EL 649 - Appreciative Coaching: Theory and Practice 1 S.H.

Electives: 6 S.H.

PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP STUDIES

EL 660 - EL Masters Internship 3 S.H.
EL 705 - Partnership Formation 3 S.H.

Electives: 15 S.H.

TEACHER AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

EL 652 - Teacher Leadership 3 S.H.
EL 654 - Context of School Leadership 3 S.H.
EL 660 - EL Masters Internship 3 S.H.
EL 704 - Supervision and Curriculum Development: An Action Research Approach 3 S.H.

Electives: 6 S.H.

A certificate in Recreation, Tourism, and Therapeutic Recreation is available through the RTTR Department.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION/ADVENTURE BASED LEADERSHIP

Choose two from: 6 S.H.

CE 595 - Workshop: Counseling Specialties .5-4 S.H. (total of 3 S.H.)
CE 615 - Group Theory and Practice 3 S.H.
CE 620 - Tests & Measurements 3 S.H.
EL 600 - Workshops in Educational Leadership 1-4 S.H. (1 S.H. required)
EL 660 - EL Masters Internship 3 S.H.
EL 699 - Master’s Thesis (Thesis Advisement Credits) 3 S.H.
RTTR 514 - Recreational Leadership 3 S.H.
RTTR 517 - Special Topics in Recreation, Tourism and Therapeutic Recreation 1-3 S.H. (3 S.H. required)
RTTR 613 - Independent Study in Recreation, Tourism and Therapeutic Recreation 1-3 S.H. (3 S.H. required)

Note:

A certificate in Sport Management is available through the Physical Education and Sport Science Department.

SPORT MANAGEMENT

PESS 626 - Planning of Facilities in Physical Education or Sport 3 S.H.
PESS 629 - Sport Marketing Management 3 S.H.
PESS 636 - Sport Law & Ethics 3 S.H.
PESS 642 - Sport Leadership/Internship 3 S.H.
PESS 645 - Sport Sales Management 3 S.H.

Choose one from:

Elective Courses (Variable Credits)

Graduate level courses (500 or above) taken as necessary to meet the needs and interests of students, and minimum credit requirements for the degree. To be assured of their acceptance, elective courses must be approved by your academic advisor in advance.

Capstone Writing Requirements

Candidates must write a significant research paper or master’s thesis to show proficiency in research and writing at the graduate level. The topic and proposal for this paper is initiated in EL 618 - Scholarship and brought to completion under the guidance of a capstone/thesis advisor. Guides for form and style are available from the Department of Education Leadership.

Non-Thesis Option – student completes EL 618 - Scholarship and writes the paper under the guidance of their capstone advisor.

Thesis Option – student completes EL 618 - Scholarship , takes EL 699 - Master’s Thesis (Thesis Advisement Credits) , writes the paper under the guidance of their thesis advisor and defends their research to a faculty panel.

Examinations

Each candidate must pass a written comprehensive examination on required course work.