Master’s Degree & Certification

K–12 Educational Leadership (MEd)

Our K–12 educational leadership/principalship master’s program puts you on the fast track to a school administration and leadership career through online coursework that’s ideal for busy professionals.

Program Overview

Our K–12 educational leadership master of education program puts you on the fast track to a career in educational administration and leadership. We offer a flexible program that is ideal for working professionals. Build your professional reputation and skills while earning your degree at your own pace through online coursework that balances your professional and personal lifestyle with your educational goals.

While pursuing your degree, you can also earn certification to fill the roles of principal, supervisor, or director.

Program Options

View the academic catalog for Loading...

Our courses are flexible and hybrid—perfect for you as a busy professional. You can complete the master’s program full or part-time, enabling you to earn your degree on your own timetable.

If your career goal is to become a principal, supervisor, or director, our master’s program can provide the appropriate professional certification with or without the degree.

  1. Earning the Loading... enables you to be hired for numerous school leadership positions because the administrative nature of this certification extends beyond principalship.
  2. If you are new to educational leadership, the Loading... may be a pathway for you to strengthen your professional knowledge and skills to work with other teachers in a peer coaching framework for PreK-12 classrooms. This program is recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. 

Through our partnership with American Community Schools of Athens, you can earn an MEd in K-12 Educational Leadership with a focus on International and Independent Schools Leadership.

In year one, you’ll travel to Athens for a 3-week summer residency. In year two, you’ll travel to the United States for a 3-week summer residency that includes educational experiences in Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, D.C.

During the school year, you’ll complete your coursework online.

Interested in bringing your children and family to your residency in Athens? A discounted summer camp program will enable them to experience one of the world’s most historic cities while you work toward your master’s degree.

The Center for Education offers certified reading specialists a Pre-K-12 Instructional Coach endorsement certificate through a peer coaching framework in Pre-K–12 classrooms. You can also opt to become an Instructional Coach, or choose to specialize in Literacy (Instructional Coaching-Literacy Emphasis Endorsement).

The Instructional Coaching Endorsement is available for reading specialists who desire to further strengthen their professional knowledge and skills in instructional coaching. Widener University’s Instructional Coaching Program will be based on current Pennsylvania Standards Aligned Curriculum and address the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Instructional Coach Endorsement Competencies as well as The International Literacy Association’s (ILA) Standards for Reading Professionals—Revised 2010.

The 12-credit Instructional Coaching Endorsement Program will consist of a sequence of four graduate courses with a minimum of 45 hours of field experiences. It will be possible for candidates to meet this requirement within one year.

This program is recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

View the academic catalog for curriculum and coursework requirements.

Each state/jurisdiction has requirements that candidates must meet in order to obtain licensure and/or certification to teach. It is the student’s responsibility to seek appropriate guidance before beginning any academic program. If you intend to seek certification outside of Pennsylvania, the University recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing agency to obtain specific licensure/certification requirements per state and the most up-to-date information.
 
To view Widener’s licensure eligibility by state/jurisdiction, please visit the Center for Education: Program Licensure page.

Admissions Information

  • Complete the application form.
  • Submit a copy of your resume.
  • Have an official transcript sent from all previous graduate and undergraduate programs.
  • Submit two letters of recommendation from colleagues, supervisors, or college professors.
  • Submit a personal statement addressing the following prompt: Please describe your experiences in education and how they have informed your current understanding of leadership. 

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis.

Program Highlights

Our master’s program will build your reputation and leadership skills and enable you to take charge of K–12 schools and districts as a principal, superintendent, or director.

You Set the Pace

Our flexible program lets you set your pace to work around your busy lifestyle. Most students choose to take two courses per semester and finish in 1 to 2 years.

Expert Faculty

All of our full- and part-time faculty members have earned doctoral degrees and have extensive administrative, leadership, and teaching experience in education. These engaging instructors build vibrant professional learning communities so you can learn and contribute to the knowledge of your fellow students who are also working professionals.

Faculty

Our professors' leadership and research are shaping the education field.

Your Inside Track to Success

Your Inside Track to Success

With a degree in K–12 educational leadership, you will have the inside track to a rewarding career at the helm of school districts and educational institutions. You will lead the way for the education and growth of future generations.

Outlook & Outcomes

Recent Employers

  • School districts
  • Charter schools
  • Private schools
  • State and federal education agencies
  • Universities and colleges

Student Stories

Jose-Luis Vasquez stands on platform in front of high school graduates in caps and gowns

"What I’ve learned through the MEd program is the skills to succeed, whether it is organizational administration, coaching and developing leaders, or even the vernacular to know what is going on in the world of higher education."

Jose-Luis Vasquez

Class of 2021

Take the Next Steps

Apply

We’re glad you made the decision to apply. All applications and supplemental materials are submitted through the online application system. There is a $35 application fee to apply to Widener.