The Master of School Administration (MSA) Program and Post Master’s Certificate (PMC-PSL) (Add-on) require candidates to explore and collect data on the diversity of their communities and stresses the importance of diversity issues in school community relations. Candidates explore the needs of diverse learners and the implications of those needs for instructional leadership.

Admission
Both the MSA and PMC-PSL programs have a two-stage admission process. The first stage requires meeting minimum criteria for acceptance into the program and the Graduate School. The second stage requires demonstration of competencies on the program standards and is required continuation in the program.

Meetings
While Western Carolina University is a regional comprehensive university; courses take place over the Internet in both synchronous and asynchronous online environments.

Face-to-Face Meetings
New cohorts are admitted each Fall and Spring semester. Courses are offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Candidates should plan on meeting regionally once per semester while enrolled in internship. Our goal is to build regions in which no individual must travel over 1 ½ hours, although there may be exceptions. Candidates further away than 1 ½ hours may be placed into a virtual region, if faculty resources allow.

Financial Aid
Financial aid is only available to MSA degree candidates. PMC-PSL participants are NOT eligible for financial aid.