Educational Leadership (Principalship), MEd
Program description
The MEd program in educational leadership with a concentration in principalship is designed for educators who believe in the power of education to transform children's lives and who aspire to school leadership positions as administrators or in other leadership roles in K–12 settings.
All courses are offered remotely, and students select one of two modalities:
- ASU Sync — An accelerated, 14-month program in which students attend all classes via Zoom at scheduled times, offering a live learning experience with faculty and peers. While all classes are taught remotely, students must apply and be admitted to the ASU West or ASU Polytechnic campuses.
- ASU Online — A two-year program for students admitted to the online location. In this format, coursework is delivered asynchronously and can be accessed on students' own schedules.
Both options prepare students to meet Arizona requirements for principal certification and national standards for educational leadership. Students interested in certification in a state other than Arizona should contact their state department of education to determine the principal certification requirements prior to applying to the program.
Students in this program gain the skills to facilitate school-level and systemic change; create and sustain a culture of innovation, collaboration and collective excellence; successfully interpret and research school-based data to support student success; provide effective feedback in the interest of students; effectively support teachers; build a community network for all students and families; and lead schools in the pursuit of equitable and excellent educational opportunities.
Students must be employed in a school-based position or have access to an approved school placement that serves as their laboratory of practice. During the school year, students complete a two-semester, school-based internship with a certified principal who serves as a mentor for all field experiences. As part of the internship, students will plan, research, implement and evaluate an action research project designed to solve a problem of practice in their placement school.
At a glance: locations and start dates
*Students completing their program through ASU Sync must still apply and be admitted through an ASU campus. Select ASU Sync — Polytechnic or ASU Sync — West when requesting information.
Next steps to attend ASU
Career outlook
Graduates of this rigorous, standards-based leadership preparation program have the expertise to become transformative administrators or teacher leaders. They have decision-making skills rooted in professional self-awareness, effective collaboration and critical reasoning.
Career examples include:
- assistant principal
- principal
- school administrator
- team lead (K-12 school)
Program contact information
If you have questions related to admission, please fill out the request information form above and an admission specialist will contact you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.
Cost and aid
Admission requirements
You must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College.
You must also have earned a bachelor's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Minimum GPA: 3.0 (in the last 60 hours of your first bachelor's program). If you don't meet the GPA requirement, you may be eligible for provisional admittance or a non-degree pathway.