North Carolina School Executive Leadership Program

Master of School Administration

WCU's MSA is a 36-semester hour cohort model program, designed for full-time educators with families and community responsibilities. As a distance-hybrid program, we are one of the most affordable pathways to principal licensure in NC. Our goal is to develop equity-centered leaders who can use Improvement Science to address problems for positive, sustainable change in schools and school systems. See our MSA Fact Sheet for additional information. Tuition information may be found at tuition.wcu.edu | distance learning tuition and fees. 

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Principal Fellows Program

WCU’s Principal Fellows Program (PFP) is a 39-semester- hour program aligned with our MSA. However, Principal Fellows are “tapped” as aspiring leaders by their school districts. The NC Principal Fellows Program is a competitive, merit‐based scholarship loan program funded by the North Carolina General Assembly. Students do not self-select for the PFP program; they need to be nominated by their districts. Talk with your principal and superintendent to discuss being nominated for our next cohort. See our Principal Fellows Fact Sheet for additional information.

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Admission Requirements

Application Deadline: May 1

* Official transcript with Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
* Three years of successful full-time teaching
* Hold or be eligible to hold a North Carolina Class A teaching license or a comparable license from another state
* Currently teaching in a NC school
* Three online recommendations including one from your current administrator
* Completed district verification form noting years of school level experience (you will need your personnel officer's email)
* Current resume highlighting leadership experience
* Short- and long-term leadership goals (in application system)
* Candidate Evaluation Rubric to be completed by applicant's principal or district leader
* The Graduate School has waived application fees for Fall 2023 applicants.

About the Program

This degree is earned through the completion of a four-semester graduate program with students taking twelve, three-credit courses, for a total of 36 credit-hours. Our cohort model is designed to build a strong network of professionals. The application deadline is May 1 for students being admitted each fall.

This hybrid program courses are primarily online with the exception of four face-to-face Saturdays per semester at WCU's Biltmore Park Instructional Site in Asheville. The remaining eight courses will be provided fully online. The schedule of classes will accommodate working students, including those who work full-time. See the table below for the program schedule.

All students are required to complete a competency-based internship over the course of two semesters providing authentic leadership experiences.

Program Schedule