Penn State World Campus
The degree will give teachers additional credentials they need to take on wider responsibilities as school leaders.
Univeristy Park, PA (PRWEB) September 16, 2014
A Penn State online master’s degree in education now offers teachers two emphasis areas for advancing their careers into leadership positions.
Penn State World Campus and the College of Education have launched the the new school leader emphasis area in the online master of education in educational leadership, which will prepare teachers for roles such as principal, curriculum director and other administrative positions. The other, the teacher leader emphasis area, has been part of the online master’s degree since its launching in 2011.
Faculty members from the College of Education teach the courses, and World Campus delivers them online.
“Our program is designed for working professionals who are interested in developing their leadership goals and experiences to become effective educational leaders,” said Ron Musoleno, professor of educational leadership and the lead faculty member of the master’s degree. “The degree will give teachers additional credentials they need to take on wider responsibilities as school leaders.”
Penn State is accepting applications to the 30-credit master’s degree for enrollment in spring 2015.
The school leader emphasis area also meets the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s requirements for principal certification.
Residents from outside Pennsylvania are encouraged to consult with their state’s department of education to determine if the program will satisfy that state’s requirements.
The principal certificate consists of 15 credits in coursework on topics such as school law, school improvement, financial management, instructional supervision, among others.
Pennsylvania residents are required to take a three-credit internship of 360 hours over a full year.
“Our program is very hands-on and very practical,” Musoleno said. “The activities and assignments move them into decision-making experiences that mirror those of a school principal in a real-life setting.”
The teacher leader emphasis area is designed for educators who want to take on leadership roles in their school building, such as the head of the subject area, such as English or math, or the team leader for a grade level.
For more information, visit the degree’s website.