Educational Leadership (MSE)

The Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Educational Leadership program is offered in flex format and online with three available concentrations.

Learn On Campus or Online

With the same curriculum and faculty as our on-campus format, the online program upholds our Marianist tradition of educating the whole person and leading through service to others.

Our online learning platform enables you to seamlessly connect and collaborate with University of Dayton faculty and classmates, without having to commute to campus. The online MSE program features:

• Live weekly classes, bringing you face-to-face with professors and classmates to develop lasting relationships
• Interactive coursework that can be accessed 24/7, including video lectures and case studies
• Field experiences in your local community, so you can apply what you've learned to the real world.

Core Curriculum

The Educational Leadership program upholds UD's Marianist tradition of educating the whole person and leading through service to others.

Through a balanced instructional approach that integrates both learning and practical application, we prepare you to become a leader in your community by developing knowledge, skills, attitudes and values essential to helping others expand or refine their instructional effectiveness.

Over the course of the program, you'll develop the critical thinking skills needed to serve in public, private and parochial education; non-profit; or other learning organizations.

All students complete five foundational courses as part of the core curriculum:

• EDA 505 Educational Leadership
• EDA 551 Research
• EDA 511 Curriculum
• EDA 556 Diverse Communities
• EDA 507 Internship I

Visit the Catalog to view additional details about educational leadership, including degree requirements, course descriptions and a sample plan of study.

Skills You'll Learn

Skills you will learn in the MSE program at UD include:

• Instructional leadership and curriculum design
• Education law and school finance
• Supervision and professional development
• Research methods applied to real institutional problems
• Equity-centered community engagement

Each concentration then layers on specialized expertise, whether that is literacy assessment and reading intervention, student development theory and learning design, or organizational management for school administration.

Internship and Practicum

As a graduate student studying educational leadership participate in internships and practicums, you'll gain real-world experience tailored to your chosen concentration.

Our Partnership with 2U

The University of Dayton partners with 2U to support the delivery of this online program. The University of Dayton maintains control over the program, including all core academic functions. Learn more about 2U's roles and responsibilities.

You'll take five additional courses specific to your concentration. Available concentrations are higher education and student affairs, literacy and PK-12 leadership.

Higher Education and Student Affairs

The concentration in Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) prepares you for a variety of academic and student affairs positions in higher education or similar adult learning-focused organizations. Our graduates go on to a variety of roles in career and academic advising, training and development, and college student services. The concentration courses focus on integrating theory and practice as you learn about foundational perspectives of the profession, student development, environments and cultures and learning design.

Courses include:

• EDC 540: Perspectives in Higher Education
• EDC 550: Student Development's Role in Learning
• EDC 557: Learning in Community
• EDC 562: Learning Design
• EDC 658: Fieldwork in Higher Education and Student Affairs

Literacy

This concentration offers advanced study in literacy education. It prepares you as an educator to address the needs of diverse learners and improve literacy outcomes in various educational contexts. This concentration is ideal for those seeking to support literacy development.

Courses include:

• EDT 605 Advanced Study in Reading/Language Arts
• EDT 606 Assessment and Evaluation of Reading Difficulties
• EDT 607 Practicum in Reading Intervention Techniques
• EDT 608 The Writing Classroom
• EDT 609 Issues, Trends, and Research in Reading

This concentration includes all requirements needed for an Ohio-issued reading endorsement. Students will also have the option to add a graduate-level TESOL certificate (two additional courses) or a dyslexia certificate (two additional courses) to their degree coursework. All certificates are also available independent of the master's degree; please contact us at edadmin@udayton.edu for a transcript audit to determine how many courses you'd need for a standalone certificate (and which ones might be applied to the master's degree in literacy if you decide down the road to pursue it!).

PK-12 Leadership

This program is suited for students looking to advance their careers by serving in administrative roles and leadership positions in educational settings and amongst their peers. This particular program can be completed in a little over two years. Previous educational experience is preferred but not required.

Program Overview:

• 30 credits
• One 200-hour internship
• As little as 21 months (five semesters) when attending full-time

Students who want to pursue principal licensure are invited to add the certificate in principal preparation to their master's degree. The certificate adds 9 credits to the program and includes additional coursework to equip students for administrative roles such as principal or assistant principal. It can be completed in seven semesters.

Students must hold a valid teaching license. It is also required that you have taught for at least two years at the grade levels for which you are licensed. This coursework fulfills the academic eligibility requirements to sit for the principal licensure exam in Ohio. It does not guarantee licensure in other states, as requirements vary. Students are strongly encouraged to research the requirements in the state where they intend to practice.

Designed for current and aspiring educators and administrators in PK-12 settings, this concentration focuses on developing the skills needed for effective school leadership. Coursework emphasizes organizational management, educational policy and fostering equity and community engagement in schools. As a graduate, you'll be prepared to take on roles such as principals, assistant principals and instructional leaders.

Courses include:

• EDA 510 Instructional Leadership
• EDA 511 Curriculum
• EDA 515 School Law
• EDA 557 School Finance
• EDA 509 Supervision and Professional Development

The University of Dayton's Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Educational Leadership hybrid program, with an optional path to principal licensure, dyslexia certificate, reading endorsement and TESOL certificate offers class start dates three times per year: in January, May and September.

Early application is strongly recommended, and the sooner you apply, the earlier you will receive an admissions decision. If you apply by the priority deadline, you will receive an application fee waiver. Contact your admission counselor prior to submitting your application, to find out if you are eligible for an application fee waiver.

Application Requirements

If you are looking to grow as an educational leader, share ideas and experiences and learn from others, then we’re looking for you. Ideal candidates are committed to the field of education, literacy or higher education leadership and thrive in collaborative learning environments.

To be eligible to apply to the MSE in Educational Leadership online program, you must:

• Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Have a strong academic record.
• If applying to the PK-12 Educational Leadership concentration with the optional principal licensure, you must provide proof of a standard or professional teaching license or professional pupil personnel services license.
• No teaching license is required for the Literacy or Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) concentrations. A teaching license is required to add the Ohio K-12 Reading Endorsement upon completion of the coursework.

Application Submission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the MSE in Educational Leadership program, applicants must submit the following items:

• Online application.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae (CV).
• Two letters of recommendation (professional or academic).
• Personal statement.
• $50 application fee if applying after the priority deadline.
• Valid teaching license if applying to the optional principal licensure and reading endorsement programs.
• If applying to the optional principal licensure program, a Work Verification Form must be completed and returned by the school district superintendent, human resources director, or charter or private school administrator of the school or district. Form is sent to the applicant following submission of the application.
• Official academic records of all previously attended colleges or universities sent directly from the colleges or universities to the Office of Graduate Admission Processing.

International Students

Additional requirements apply for international students.

Application Link

Please apply online and contact us at edadmin@udayton.edu if you have questions.

Rooted in our Catholic, Marianist traditions, the University of Dayton is dedicated to being transparent and ensuring student success.

Financial aid may be available for degree-seeking graduate students, file the FAFSA to be considered. Once you have applied and been accepted to a graduate program, we will prepare your applicable aid for the upcoming year.

Additional Educational Administration Programs

• Educational Leadership (Ed.S.)
• Leadership for Organizations (Ed.D.)
• Applied Social Science Research Methods (Graduate Certificate)
• Principal Preparation (Graduate Certificate)
• Superintendent Preparation (Graduate Certificate)

Additional Graduate Certificate Programs

• Dyslexia
• Reading Preparation
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages