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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.