2024-2025 Catalog

 

MS - School Administration Major (Indiana)

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree with a major in School Administration is designed for practicing classroom teachers seeking an advanced degree in education. Candidates will complete a 33-credit hour program. The 18-credit hour concentration in School Administration identifies outcomes and expectations based on current school leadership principles and practices and enables interns to engage in inquiry, research, dialogue, team learning, reflection, problem-based learning, collaboration, and standards-based assessment from a comprehensive P–12 perspective. It aligns to the National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) standards and the Indiana Department of Education’s (IDOE’s) School Leader -- Building Level standards. The school administration major satisfies Indiana’s required program of study for a building level administrator’s license. The 15 credit hours of courses in Education are designed to provide participants with methods and materials to deepen their teaching ability and help their own students learn, including culturally responsive teaching, ethics and faith, and research and technology tools. It aligns to the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation's advanced-level program standards. Course instruction is designed to model best practices and procedures in the classroom.

Candidates who have completed this program should be able to:

  • Understand and be able to apply Christ-like leadership principles that build the spiritual foundation critical to the success of a world-changer.
  • Demonstrate competency in the following School of Integrated Learning and Development's dispositional domains: Communication, Critical Thinking, Human Interaction, Leadership, and Professionalism.
  • Demonstrate the ability to facilitate collaborative vision, mission, values, goals, and a culture of continuous improvement in the buildings they will lead to change the world.
  • Demonstrate instructional leadership by understanding and promoting best practices in teaching, with an acute focus on student learning and academic success.
  • Demonstrate the ability to leverage school operations, manage resources, and provide a safe learning environment to ensure the success of all students.
  • Demonstrate the ability to build diverse relationships that engage parents and the community in the learning process and share resources for student success and for the benefit of all stakeholders.
  • Model personal integrity, fairness, accountability, cultural responsiveness, and ethical/legal decision-making, and expect the same from staff and students.
  • Candidates will demonstrate the ability to use research with an understanding of qualitative, quantitative and/or mixed methods research methodologies. 
  • Candidates will demonstrate ethical, Christ-like attitudes, values, and Biblical worldview that encompass professional dispositions, laws and policies, codes of ethics and professional standards appropriate to classroom teaching in their professional behaviors. 
  • Candidates will apply advanced knowledge of student learning suitable for any student. 
  • Candidates will apply data literacy to develop or sustain supportive school environments. 
  • Candidates will apply self-reflection and data analysis to improve their own teaching. 
  • Candidates will demonstrate the ability to lead and participate in collaborative activities with others, such as peers, colleagues, teachers, administrators, community organizations, and parents. 
  • Candidates will apply technology appropriate for their field of specialization. 
  • Candidates will demonstrate cultural knowledge and culturally responsive teaching that promotes student and school success. 
  • Candidates will apply content knowledge and skills that the courses and other experiences of this advanced preparation emphasize. 
  • Candidates will integrate global philosophies into their own educational practices.

    Admission Requirements

    The admission requirements for the M.S. program with a major in School Administration are as follows:

    • A baccalaureate or graduate degree from a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) verified on original transcripts sent by the institution directly to Indiana Wesleyan University. Transcripts from foreign institutions may need to be sent to an outside agency for evaluation and determination of transferable credits, degrees, and GPA. If this outside review is necessary, students are responsible for the initiation of this evaluation and for any fees incurred during the process.
    • A GPA of 2.75 or above from the degree granting institution at which at least of minimum of 30 hours was completed
    • Be currently employed in or have access to a P-12 public or non-public school in which the principal is willing to serve as a mentor for the internship phase of the program. Submission of a completed internship agreement with a building principal will be required prior to the start of the internship phase.
    • Hold an initial, standard, provisional, proficient, or accomplished practitioner Instructional or School Counselor license. (Non-licensure candidates may have a private, state, international, ACSI, or charter school license).
    • Have two years of full-time teaching experience on one of the licenses listed above in an approved and accredited public, private, or parochial elementary, secondary, or postsecondary school in the United States or abroad.

      *Please note that in keeping with Indiana Department of Education licensure policy, experience gained by a teacher holding only an Emergency Permit, Provisional Permit, Transition to Teaching Permit, Career Specialist Permit, Charter School License, Substitute Permit, or Workplace Specialist II license is not acceptable as licenses of these types do not meet the prerequisite license requirements.

    • Obtain recommendations from two school leaders (superintendent, principal, or assistant principal) who are qualified to judge the applicant’s knowledge, skills, and dispositions in relation to pursuing the MS degree program and/or a Building Level Administrator’s license. (Non-licensure candidates may acquire letters from school, church, or mission leaders.)
    • Submit a signed School of Integrated Learning and Development FERPA release form.

    Clinical Experience Requirements

    • All candidates must complete two Internship courses (three credit hours each over a 7-8 month period).
    • All candidates must secure a Principal-Mentor at the school in which they are currently teaching.
    • The Principal-Mentor will work with the candidates throughout the course of the Internships.

    Graduation Requirements

    To graduate from the M.S. program, candidates must meet the following:

    • Successfully complete the M.S. curriculum.
    • Possess a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above in all graduate work and a minimum grade of "B-" in each course.
    • Satisfy admission, mid-program review, and program completion gateways.
    • Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.

    Indiana Candidates -- Successful completion of the M.S. – School Administration program meets the academic requirements for recommendation for licensure. Additionally, candidates must complete other requirements of the Indiana Department of Education before a principal’s license will be issued, including receiving a passing score on the related state assessment test, evidence of at least two years teaching or work experience as a teacher or school counselor on one of the following license types: initial, standard, provisional, proficient, or accomplished practitioner instructional or School Counselor license.

    Other Candidates – Applicants who seek administrative licensure in states other than Indiana bear the responsibility to determine whether completion of the IWU M.S. – School Administration program will meet the academic and assessment requirements of the state in which licensure is sought.

    MS - School Administration (Indiana) - Program of Study

    Core Courses

    Field experiences will be required in some courses.
    EDL-657Collaborative Vision and Instructional Leadership

    3

    EDL-616Organizational, Operational, and Resource Management

    3

    EDL-618Professional, Legal, and Ethical Leadership

    3

    EDL-610Community, Cultural, and Relational Leadership

    3

    EDL-612Principal Internship I: Clinical Application of Leadership Principles

    3

    EDL-625Principal Internship II: Clinical Application of Leadership Principles

    3

    EDUC-510How We Learn

    3

    EDUC-520The Faithful Teacher

    3

    EDUC-530The Craft of Teaching

    3

    EDUC-600Classroom Action Research Tools

    3

    EDUC-630Research in My School

    3

    Total Credit Hours:33

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