Master's in School Administration
WCU's Master of School Administration (MSA) is a hybrid program in partnership with
WRESA (Western Region Education Service Alliance) and prepares working teachers and
specialists in other education-related fields for work in leadership roles. It provides
a pathway to principal licensure to students who do not yet hold a master's degree.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadline: May 15
- Official transcript with Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Three years of successful full-time teaching (or in a related, certified position
within a school)
- Hold or be eligible to hold a North Carolina Class A teaching license or a comparable
license from another state
- Three online recommendations including one from your current administrator
- Completed district verification form noting years of school level experience
- 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
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 15 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. For
Fall 2020, the face-to-face dates are Aug. 22, Sept. 26, Oct. 24, and Nov. 14. 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
MSA FULL-TIME (STARTING Fall 2020)
MSA Schedule (Starting Fall 2020)
Full-time Principal Fellows and full-time released internship in year 2
Students must be enrolled a minimum of 9 credit hours in each semester of the academic
year; no summers)
4 semesters, 36 credit hours total. All courses are 3 credits.
* Indicates that this is a hybrid course, requiring face-to-face attendance for 4,
6-hour, Saturday sessions (9:00-4:00)
Fall 2020 Face-to-Face dates: August 22, September 26, October 24, November 14
Spring 2021 Face-to-Face dates: January 23, February 27, March 27, April 24
| Fall 2020 |
Spring 2021 |
Summer 2021 |
Fall 2021 |
Spring 2022 |
| EDL 602*: Shaping School Culture |
EDL 793*: Leadership for Social Justice |
|
EDL 721*: Current Topics in Public School Law |
EDL 612*: Curriculum Leadership /Special Topics |
| EDL 601: Ethical School Leadership |
EDL 617: History, Sociology & Philosophy of Education (also offered Summer 2021) |
|
EDL 603: Instructional Leadership |
EDL 621: Leading Adult Learning (also offered Summer 2021) |
| EDRS 709: Assessment for the Advancement of Student Learning |
EDRS 602: Research Methods |
|
EDL 686: Internship I |
EDL 687: Internship II |
MSA PART-TIME (STARTING FALL 2020)
MSA Part-time Schedule (Starting Fall 2020)
5 semesters, 36 credit hours total. All courses are 3 credits.
* Indicates that this is a hybrid course, requiring face-to-face attendance for 4,
6-hour, Saturday sessions (9:00-4:00).
Fall 2020 face-to-face dates: August 22, September 26, October 24, November 14
Spring 2021 face-to-face dates: January 23, February 27, March 27, April 24
Some summer course options provided
| Fall 2020 |
Spring 2021 |
Summer 2021 |
Fall 2021 |
Spring 2022 |
| EDL 602*: Shaping School Culture |
EDL 793*: Leadership for Social Justice |
EDL 617: History, Sociolgy & Philosophy of Education (also offered Spring 2021) |
EDL 721*: Current topics in Public School Law |
EDL 612: * Curriculum
Leadership/Special Topics
|
EDL 601: Ethical
School Leadership
|
|
EDL 621: Leading Adult Learning (also offered Spring 2022) |
EDL 603: Instructional Leadership |
|
|
EDRS 709: Assessment
for the Advancement
of Student Learning
|
EDRS 602: Research Methods |
|
EDL 686 Internship I |
EDL 687: Internship II |
MSA FULL-TIME (STARTING Fall 2019)
MSA Schedule (Starting Fall 2019)
Full-time Principal Fellows and full-time released internship in year 2
Students must be enrolled a minimum of 9 credit hours in each semester of the academic
year; no summers)
4 semesters, 36 credit hours total. All courses are 3 credits.
* Indicates that this is a hybrid course, requiring face-to-face attendance for 4,
6-hour, Saturday sessions (9:00-4:00)
| Fall 2019 |
Spring 2020 |
Summer 2020 |
Fall 2020 |
Spring 2021 |
| EDL 602*: Shaping School Culture |
EDL 793*: Leading Social Justice |
|
EDL 721*: School Law |
EDL 612*: Curriculum Leadership |
| EDL 601: Ethical School Leadership |
EDL 617: History, Sociology & Philosophy of Education |
|
EDL 603: Instructional Leadership |
EDL 621: Leading Adult Learning |
| EDRS 709: Assessment for the Advancement of Student Learning |
EDRS 602: Research Methods |
|
EDL 686: Internship I |
EDL 687: Internship II |
MSA PART-TIME (STARTING FALL 2019)
MSA Part-time Schedule (Starting Fall 2019)
5 semesters, 36 credit hours total. All courses are 3 credits.
* Indicates that this is a hybrid course, requiring face-to-face attendance for 4,
6-hour, Saturday sessions (9:00-4:00).
Some summer course options provided
| Fall 2019 |
Spring 2020 |
Summer 2020 |
Fall 2020 |
Spring 2021 |
| EDL 602*: Shaping School Culture |
EDL 793*: Leading Social Justice |
EDL 617: History, Sociolgy & Philosophy of Education (also offered Spring 2020) |
EDL 721*: School Law |
EDL 612: * Curriculum
Leadership
|
EDL 601: Ethical
School Leadership
|
|
EDL 621: Leading Adult Learning (also offered Spring 2021) |
EDL 603: Instructional Leadership |
|
|
EDRS 709: Assessment
for the Advancement
of Student Learning
|
EDRS 602: Research Methods |
|
EDL 686 Internship I |
EDL 687: Internship II |
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