Master of Arts in Educational Leadership

“Every activity I participated in during the program helped me to grow as a leader and develop a leadership philosophy. I feel very well prepared as I start this new chapter in my career as a highly effective school leader.”

– Marla Guerity ’23, Assistant Principal, Rocky River Elementary

Meet Our Program: Empowering, Fast-paced, Fully Online

How do exceptional educators become exceptional leaders in today’s K-12 landscape? It starts here, with our Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MEL) program, designed to empower future leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to inspire meaningful growth among today’s students. Our competitive tuition means you’ll get an outstanding education at an incredible value.

Fully Online & Asynchronous. Built to accommodate busy teaching schedules, our program allows you to complete your degree on your own time and at your own pace, whether it takes 12 months or 20.

Experienced Faculty. Our faculty members have decades of real-world experience and have served as both educators and leaders within K-12 institutions, which includes experience supervising principals.

A Focus on Empowerment. You will emerge from our program with the skills, knowledge, and requirements necessary to take on a variety of roles, including principalships, administrative leadership positions, department chairs, and more.

Real-world Simulations. These simulation exercises – found in each course you take – will allow you to practice your skills in a unique hands-on way. Queens is the only school in North Carolina providing this type of simulation.

Licensure Alignment. Our program is designed to align with all North Carolina licensure requirements. When you graduate, you will be ready to change the future for our children right here in the Tar Heel State.

Program Highlights

• Number of credits: 33 credit hours
• Number of courses needed to graduate: 11
• Average completion time: 12-20 months
• Cost per credit: $550
• Total tuition: $16,500
• Flexible Program: Online and asynchronous
• No GRE required
• N.C. licensure alignment
• Certificate option available: Contact us to learn more about our new Educational Leadership Graduate Certificate that’s available to those who already have a master’s degree in education.

Your Degree in Action

This program meets the requirements for the Professional Educator’s Continuing License, which is required for the following careers: 

• A Principalship in North Carolina
• An Assistant Principalship in North Carolina.
• Administrative leadership positions that advance the field of education, such as district leadership in Curriculum and Instruction, Human Resources, and other various fields.
• Instructional Coordinator
• Dean of Students
• Dean of Faculty
• Department Chair

Selected Courses

Supervision to Improve Instruction (EDU 631): This course provides a deep dive into the school executive’s role in supervising and improving instruction, with topics like teacher coaching, professional development, and shared leadership.

Leading in a Global Society (EDU 642): This course introduces candidates to the critical role of school leaders, including learning focused on the history of the principalship, leadership theories, systemic thinking, planning and management, and challenges that face leaders who act as change agents within their schools and communities. Plus, you’ll engage in the first component of your culminating capstone action plan for continuous improvement.

Education Law and Ethics (EDU 667): Examine both the ethical and legal dimensions of school leadership, with an exploration of topics such as due process, search and seizure, staff evaluation, sexual discrimination and harassment, bilingual education, and exceptional children education.

Improving Instruction Using Data (EDU 676): Explore the critical role of the school leader in creating processes for the collection and use of student assessment data. You’ll learn the knowledge and skills necessary to address this important responsibility culminating in the production of a digital product for use in sharing analyses, conclusions, and recommendations with school faculty.

Student Highlights

“As I reflect on [my capstone project, I saw the growth in my academic knowledge and real-world experiences. Rereading early reflections allowed me to see how far I have come in applying content knowledge and data to support decision-making and goal-setting. I believe I am becoming a school leader who is capable and ready to lead a school to success through a deep commitment to instructional and cultural leadership.”

– Debbie Watkins ’23, Assistant Principal, Charles E. Boger Elementary

Program Contacts

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