The program concentrates on the teacher as a leader within the classroom, school, and district.

With an explicit focus on cultural responsiveness and equity-oriented practices for the diverse classrooms of Texas, teachers completing the M.A. in educational leadership with a concentration in instructional leadership program will enhance their own teaching within the classroom, develop skills for assisting other teachers and learn how to become part of collaborative efforts aimed at school/district-wide instructional improvement.

Recognized by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) for preparing equity-oriented leaders, the M.Ed. in educational leadership with principal certification program focuses on situating school-based leaders within societal contexts and teaches students how to engage school and community assets as the foundation for improvement efforts.

Course Work

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Educational Leadership with a concentration in instructional leadership is a 36-credit-hour program with 24 core hours (including courses focused on instructional leadership in practice) and 12 hours in a minor. Designed for teachers who want to develop leadership skills and become involved in school leadership activities, courses focus on instructional supervision, instructional design, curriculum development, leadership, and action research. Individually selected cognate courses are available in a wide range of content areas including bilingual education, STEM, literacy development, science, mathematics, and technology, allowing students to personalize the program to their interests and career goals.

The 30-hour Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership program is designed for educators who aspire to formal leadership and administrative roles in schools and districts. The course sequence includes topics on leadership, school improvement, instructional design and school law with an emphasis on action research. All students complete a year-long, field-based internship and will graduate with the principal certification.

Educators who have already earned a master’s degree in education and have a minimum of one year of teaching experience in K-12 schools can take the 24-credit-hour post-master principal certification program. This program can be completed in three semesters with summer admission. Classes for both programs are offered at the San Marcos and Round Rock campuses.

Program Details

Students can expect classes and course work that invite provocation and debate, collaborative work and individual reflection, as well as the grounding of activities in real-world setting.

The program encourages students to keep issues of equity and ethics at the forefront while developing and implementing collaborative action research strategies to effect systemic change at the campus level.

Program Mission

The education and community leadership program is committed to developing leaders who understand how to build and nurture healthy schools and communities. The program believes the practice of leadership must be ethically grounded, committed to equity, and informed by research. It also demonstrates a strong commitment to this philosophy through a broad-based rigorous curriculum, strong and relevant instruction, and meaningful feedback to students. Effective leadership development begins with an understanding of self and progresses outward toward a critical consciousness of the interconnected relationship among people, organizations, communities, policies, and practices.

Career Options

The master's degree in educational leadership with a concentration in instructional leadership prepares educators to lead instructional improvement efforts. Graduates of this program work in a variety of positions, including instructional coach, curriculum specialist, master teacher, professional developer, mentor teacher, school improvement facilitator, department chair, team leader, and instructional technology specialist.

A master’s degree in educational leadership with principal certification prepares educators for a variety of supervisory and leadership roles in schools and other educational organizations. Graduates of this program work in positions such as principal, assistant principal, academic dean, athletic director, instructional supervisor, curriculum specialist, special education director, director of student support services, and human resource specialist.