Educational Leadership
Director of Education: Erin Churchill, 914-654-5330, Chidwick 103


Master of Science Degree in School District Leader leading to Professional Certification as a School District Leader – 30 credits

            This Master of Science degree program focuses on assisting students to obtain knowledge of current theory, best practices, and issues involved in district level leadership.  The 30 credits required for the degree includes 3-6 credits of internship depending on the student’s choice of full-time or part-time internship.  The program leads to New York State professional certification as a School District Leader.  In order to receive professional certification as School District Leader, students must have successfully completed three (3) years of classroom teaching service and/or educational leadership service and/or pupil personnel service experience in public or non-public schools grades PK-12.

Required Courses for the Master of Science Degree in School District Leader leading to Professional Certification as a School District Leader – 30 credits
                                                                                                                                                         
EDL 609         Superintendency:  Systems Management, Decision Making, & Ethics
EDL 701         Educational Leadership: Theory & Practice
EDL 703         School Law 
EDL 705         Financial & Facility Management for School Leaders 
EDL 708         Human Resource Management
EDL 710         Research, Assessment, & Data Analysis
EDL 802         Building Effective School Board & Community Relationships
EDL 806         Leader as Change Agent
EDL 607         Application of Technology for Instructional Leaders (for students        taking the full-time internship) 


Internship:

Students have a choice of completing the 400 hour internship on a part-time basis over two semesters (6 credits) or on a full-time basis in one semester (3 credits).

EDL 963         Internship in School District Leadership       
                        (Full-time internship)
EDL 964         Internship I in School District Leadership
                        (Part-time internship)
EDL 965         Internship II in School District Leadership
                        (Part-time internship)


Admission for Matriculated Status

General admission requirements are the same as those for the Graduate School and
are as follows:

  1. A completed application form;
  2. Application fee;
  3. Evidence of a bachelor’s degree;
  4. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning previously attended. Student copies are not acceptable.
  5. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or graduate GPA of 3.0 is required.
    Two letters of recommendation;
  6. A personal interview with the Assistant Dean;
  7. A writing sample done at The College of New Rochelle;
  8. Immunization records if applicant was born after January 1, 1957;

In addition, students applying for admission to the program with a matriculated
status must also provide the following:

  1. A resume from the candidate;
  2. A master’s degree in teacher education, educational leadership, or pupil personnel services Or successful completion of a minimum of thirty (30) graduate credits in teacher education, educational leadership, or pupil personnel services from an accredited college or university;
  3. A copy of a New York State professional or permanent teaching certificate or in the process of applying for and obtaining a New York State professional or permanent certificate;
  4. Evidence of a minimum of three years’ full-time, paid, approved teaching service and/or educational leadership service and/or pupil personnel service experience serving pupils within grades PK-12;
  5. The two required letters of recommendation must be submitted by school   administrators, college professors or other persons who have direct knowledge of   the student’s potential as a school leader and for success in the program.  One  recommendation must be from a school supervisor or administrator.

Those individuals with a provisional or initial Teaching Certificate seeking permanent or professional teacher certification as a result of having completed this degree should know that the New York State Department of Education will evaluate their eligibility on an individual basis and that they may not necessarily be granted a permanent or professional teaching certificate.

When the College has received all application materials, an appointment to provide a writing sample will be arranged. This sample will identify those who might benefit from assistance from The College of New Rochelle’s Learning Support Services, available at no cost to students admitted to the program. 

All applicants must arrange for an interview with the Assistant Dean before formal acceptance.

Please note: Only matriculated students are permitted to enroll in Internship courses, and only matriculated students who complete a master’s degree program, an advanced certificate program or advanced diploma program will be eligible for recommendation by the College of New Rochelle for certification. 

Admission to Candidacy

Students will be evaluated for admission to candidacy upon completion of twelve credits toward the master’s degree.  Grades and suitability for work in school building and district leadership will be the basis for this evaluation. Students not admitted to candidacy will be withdrawn from the program.

The College may request a New York State Education Department internship certificate signed by the school district, authorizing college-supervised and district-mentored employment as a school building leader, provided that such candidates completed at least 50 percent of the program, have been accepted into candidacy.

Graduation Requirements

  1. Completion of the specified 30 credits of coursework including internship;
  2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B);
  3. Admittance to candidacy;
  4. Demonstration of professional suitability for the field;
  5. Completion of all requirements within five years from the date of matriculation;
  6. Successful completion of the written and performance components of the New York State examination in School District Leadership;
  7. Candidates for graduation who have not previously done so will need to take two 2-hour workshops in “School Violence Prevention and Intervention” and also in “Child Abuse Identification and Reporting.”
  8. Although not required for graduation, fingerprinting will be required for New York State certification.


NYSED Examination in School District Leadership

Effective September 1, 2007 all applicants for certification as a School District Leader will be required to take and pass an examination required by the New York State Education Department.  Further details will be made available on the NYSED website at www.nysed.gov/tcert/TEACH.  Successful completion of the New York State Education Department’s examination in School District Leadership is a requirement for this Master’s degree in School District Leader.