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Teaching Excellence - Principal Leadership - MS

Program Codes: MSQTEPRINLDR
Master of Science

Availability: online

The mission of Mercyhurst's Principal Certification concentration is to provide a selective, practical, and evidence-based principal preparation program for aspiring school leaders currently serving as teachers, counselors, instructional coaches, or chairs of their departments. The program functions to prepare selected candidates for PDE principal certification through PDE aligned coursework and engagement in a one-year mentored, career-embedded residency experience with their mentor principal and leadership supervisor. Through this program, candidates will develop into collaborative, data-informed, reflective practitioners who focus on equity and increasing achievement for all students.

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of the requirements for the master of science degree in Teaching Excellence - Principal Leadership, the graduate will possess knowledge, skills and abilities in the following competencies:

  • Think and plan strategically, creating an organizational vision around personalized student success
  • Understand standard-based systems, theory and design and use that knowledge to employ standards-based reform in the school
  • Access and use appropriate data to inform decision making at all levels of the system
  • Create a culture of teaching and learning with an emphasis on learning
  • Manage resources for effective results
  • Collaborate, communicate, engage and empower others inside and outside of the organization to pursue excellence in learning
  • Operate in a fair and equitable manner with personal and professional integrity
  • Advocate for children and public education in the larger political, social economics, legal and cultural context
  • Support professional growth of self and others through practice and inquiry
FOUNDATIONS OF PEDAGOGY & PRACTICE
Course Code:
EDSE 500
Active Term:
Summer
/ All
Course Description:
This course will introduce students to the role of teaching as science, art, and social justice in urban middle and high schools. Topics include theory and application of critical pedagogy, the role of teacher as educational leader, the interconnectedness of school and community, and the application of inquiry-based learning leading to pedagogy of risk-taking.
Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Lecture
Total hours: 45
x
EDSE 500
FOUNDATIONS OF PEDAGOGY & PRACTICE
3
THESIS: SECONDARY EDUCATION
Course Code:
EDSE 676
Active Term:
Spring
/ All
Course Description:
This capstone course provides an opportunity for students to engage in scholarly research to develop a research project that establishes a strong qualitative or quantitative project that may be theoretical or applied in nature. A strong literature review, detailed analysis, scholarly insights and defense of conclusions is required. Prerequisites: EDSP 502: Educational Research must be approved by the program director prior to initiating the research. Any Institutional Review Board applications must also be initiated through the program director.
Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Project
Total hours: 45
x
EDSE 676
THESIS: SECONDARY EDUCATION
3
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH: SINGLE CASE
Course Code:
EDSP 502
Active Term:
Fall/Spring
/ All
Course Description:

This graduate course will examine educational research, with emphasis placed on understanding, conceptualizing, and critically analyzing single case experimental design. Special emphasis will be placed on the application, analysis, strategies, tactics, of single case research (within, between, and combined series designs) related to educational and clinical practices, and social issues. In addition, students will learn to critically evaluate published single case research paying special attention to design, methods, visual analysis, and experimental control.

Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Lecture
Total hours: 45
x
EDSP 502
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH: SINGLE CASE
3
INTERNSHIP: SPECIAL NEEDS
Course Code:
EDSP 673
Active Term:
Fall/Spring
/ All
Course Description:

This 210-contact hour clinical internship is designed to establish, and ultimately solidify a link between research-application/scientist-practitioner within the field of special education, with the focus on student engagement. This internship requires graduate students to (a) plan, organize, and manage the educational environment, (b) present, teach, and engage students, (c) develop educational leadership capacity, and (d) develop a critical philosophy of learning. 

Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Field
Total hours: 22.5
x
EDSP 673
INTERNSHIP: SPECIAL NEEDS
3
CURR, INSTRCT & ASSESSMENT
Course Code:
EDUC 600
Active Term:
Randomly
/ Randomly
Course Description:
CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION & ASSESSMENT
Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Lecture
Total hours: 45
x
EDUC 600
CURR, INSTRCT & ASSESSMENT
3
SCHOOL LAW, FINANCE & COMMUNICATION
Course Code:
EDUC 601
Active Term:
Randomly
/ Randomly
Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Lecture
Total hours: 45
x
EDUC 601
SCHOOL LAW, FINANCE & COMMUNICATION
3
PRINCIPAL INTERNSHIP
Course Code:
EDUC 675
Active Term:
Randomly
/ Randomly
Course Description:
This 180 contact hour clinical intrnship is designed to give principal candidates experience across multiple educational levels. This internship required principal candidates to apply knowledge gained through coursework, integrate skills and dispositions of leaders, and involve themselves in innovative projects, routine management functions, and problem based activities of school leadership.
Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Lecture
Total hours: 45
x
EDUC 675
PRINCIPAL INTERNSHIP
3
LEADERSHIP THEORY & PRACTICE
Course Code:
OL 500
Course Group(s):
EDUCATION ELECTIVES
Active Term:
Fall/Spring
/ All
Course Description:
This foundation course focuses on theories and models of leadership in a variety of organizational settings. Case studies illuminate the behavior dynamics of effective leaders. This integrative course examines present and future leadership issues while helping leaders develop strategies for making a positive difference in their organization and their community.
Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Lecture
Total hours: 45
x
OL 500
LEADERSHIP THEORY & PRACTICE
3
LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
Course Code:
OL 502
Course Group(s):
EDUCATION ELECTIVES
Active Term:
Fall/Spring
/ All
Course Description:

Successful leadership is a process that takes time, experience, learning and a behavioral disposition toward working with others. This course examines the field of organizational behavior and leadership by studying theoretical models, practical examples, and experiential exercises.

Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Lecture
Total hours: 45
x
OL 502
LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
3
CULTURALLY&LINGUISTICALLY DIVRS LRNR
Course Code:
WL 501
Course Group(s):
EDUCATION ELECTIVES
Active Term:
Fall/Spring
/ All
Course Description:
This course provides the knowledge, skills and dispositions that enable K-12 teachers to facilitate learning among students from various linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Specifically, the course will (1) explore variations in personality, educational background, social class, ethnicity, national origin, language, and culture; (2) analyze the issues of race, racism, and culture in historical and contemporary perspectives, (3) explore strategies for teaching multicultural and multilingual English language learners in K-12 settings, and (4) identify obstacles to participation in the educational process by diverse cultural and ethnic groups.
Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Lecture
Total hours: 45
x
WL 501
CULTURALLY&LINGUISTICALLY DIVRS LRNR
3
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