Master of School Administration Online

Elevate your positive impact on future generations as a school principal or assistant principal.

Next Apply Date: 12/30/24
Next Start class Date: 1/13/25
Apply Now

Program Overview

Discover UNCP’s online Master of School Administration program

Develop your practical knowledge as an influential educational leader and prepare for success in principalship by earning your Master of School Administration online from UNC Pembroke. Designed for experienced teachers and administrators, this online graduate education program enhances your abilities to strategically realize the vision, mission and goals to meet the 21st-century needs of every classroom.

Led by experienced faculty, our 100% online Master of School Administration coursework is aligned with the North Carolina Standards for School Executives. Engaging and interactive hands-on learning effectively builds on your educational foundation to help you enrich your professional learning community as an influential school executive. Plus, the UNCP School of Education has partnered with 14 school districts.

This online master’s degree in school administration fulfills the requirement for school administration licensure in North Carolina.

Graduate from this Master of School Administration online program prepared for various educational leadership roles, such as:

  • School Principal
  • Assistant Principal
  • School Principal
  • Assistant Principal

Also available online:

UNC Pembroke offers value in a variety of education programs. Check out our other graduate and postgraduate education programs.

Total Tuition (In-State) $11,073*
Duration As few as 14-24 months**
Credit Hours 36

Accreditation

Council for the Accredidication of Educator Preparation logo

All educator preparation programs at The University of North Carolina Pembroke are approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Also available online:

UNC Pembroke offers value in a variety of education programs. Check out our other graduate and postgraduate education programs.

Need More Information?

Call 844-302-7886

Call 844-302-7886

Tuition

Pay for your online program by the course

Tuition for our affordable online Master of School Administration is priced with the working student in mind—plus, you can pay by the course. Financial aid may be available for students who qualify.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour (In-State) $237.78
Total Tuition (In-State) $11,073*

Calendar

Know the important dates for our students

For the convenience of our Master of School Administration online students, the School of Education offers multiple start dates each year. View the full calendar for upcoming deadlines, including when to turn in all required documents, register for classes and pay tuition for your desired program start date.

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Fall II10/21/2410/7/2410/14/2410/16/2410/17/2412/6/24
Spring I1/13/2512/30/241/6/251/8/251/9/252/28/25
Spring II3/17/253/3/253/10/253/12/253/13/255/2/25

Now enrolling

Next Apply Date 12/30/24
Start Date 1/13/25

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?

Take the next step toward earning your degree online from UNC Pembroke.

Admissions

Gather these materials before applying to the Master of School Administration program

The School of Education admission process is the first step toward earning your Master of School Administration online. Find out the requirements for the program and what additional materials are needed.

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • 3.0 cumulative GPA on undergraduate coursework
  • 3 years teaching experience prior to beginning first course

To be eligible for consideration for full or provisional admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Submit a completed online application
  • Pay a $55 non-refundable application fee ($60 for international applicants and waived for military members)
  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
  • 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA
  • Continuing Professional License
  • Resume to verify three years of teaching experience
  • Names of three people who will provide professional recommendations to include:
    • The current principal
    • A colleague familiar with the applicant’s leadership skills
    • An individual knowledgeable of the applicant’s potential to engage in graduate-level coursework, and/or to assume a school leadership position (e.g., current or former professor or a district-level administrator)
  • Statement of purpose answering the following questions:
    • Why do you want to become a school administrator (principal)?
    • In a school leadership role, what communication approaches would be most effective?
    • How would you delegate responsibilities to others?
    • How would this administrative position be most rewarding to you?
    • What do you consider to be your major strengths as an administrator?
  • No GRE or GMAT required

The electronic and physical information for submitting transcripts:

UNC Pembroke The Graduate School

PO Box 1510
One University Drive
Pembroke, NC 28372

UNCP will accept transcripts electronically - [email protected]

Courses

View the degree plan for our online Master of School Administration program

To earn the Master of School Administration online, students must complete 11 core courses, including an embedded internship, and one elective course for a total of 36 credit hours.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasis is on understanding research designs and methods in education including an introduction to elementary statistics, interpreting and critiquing professional research literature, using research findings to validate and modify decisions about teaching and learning, and conducting action research in the classroom, school, and community. Graduate candidates will begin and may finish the research project in this course. Corequisite: EDN 5460: Field Experience required.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will combine the latest research in partnership building with practical approaches for identifying and structuring community support. Throughout the semester, the candidate will spend considerable time developing strategies for improved community support of schools. Course projects and assignments will be field-based, collaborative, and reflective best practices in constructivist teaching and learning.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides students with opportunities to critically analyze current educational issues from a variety of perspectives and disciplines including education, history, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, law, and political science.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines educational leadership through an analysis of the relationship of personal values and the core values of society to education. There is emphasis on understanding of and sensitivity to the societal dimension of educational decision making.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The candidate will develop effective management strategies for school operations, understand management complexities that impact decisions related to the use of instructional time, evaluating instruction, fiscal responsibility, and resource management, internal and external communication, and public school law mandates.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
In this course, candidates focus on developing an understanding of the essential elements of developmental supervision, quality instruction, and effective learning. Particular attention is focused on knowledge and application of effective leadership models and styles for implementing quality instruction. Candidates develop supervisory skills they can use to strengthen the instructional program in schools by facilitating and supporting the professional development of teachers in order to improve student learning.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Constitutional, statutory, and case law bases of educational administration; a study of legal provisions and principles relating to education at all levels. Includes research and analysis of laws dealing with pertinent educational topics.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to introduce prospective school executives to the role of curriculum leadership and “best practices” in managing a standards-based curriculum, including local and state assessments. The candidates will demonstrate their understanding of the North Carolina School Executive Standards by creating critical evidences that align activities with specific leadership standards. Strategies for improving curricular delivery and student assessment will be explored throughout the course.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces the candidate to the school improvement process with attention to implementing change in the operations, policies, and governance of the school. The candidates will apply their understanding of key concepts that pertain to stakeholder involvement, teacher empowerment, and strategic planning for increased student achievement.
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
These two courses are composed of a two-semester internship in a public school setting in order to give the candidates the opportunity to apply, practice and refine the knowledge and skills acquired from course work. During this experience the candidates will play an active role in identifying and solving a school-related problem and will also engage in the assigned duties of administering the school. The candidate will be required to develop an educational leadership internship portfolio in accordance with the specifications provided. The candidate’s internship participation will be supervised jointly by school-based administrators and university personnel and will include a reflective evaluation and an oral comprehensive exam. Prerequisite: Completion of 15 hours of graduate work and permission of program director.
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
These two courses are composed of a two-semester internship in a public school setting in order to give the candidates the opportunity to apply, practice and refine the knowledge and skills acquired from course work. During this experience the candidates will play an active role in identifying and solving a school-related problem and will also engage in the assigned duties of administering the school. The candidate will be required to develop an educational leadership internship portfolio in accordance with the specifications provided. The candidate’s internship participation will be supervised jointly by school-based administrators and university personnel and will include a reflective evaluation and an oral comprehensive exam. Prerequisite: Completion of 15 hours of graduate work and permission of program director.
Students must complete one 3-hour guided elective. Electives are recommended by an advisor in consultation with the student and approved by the Master of School Administration program director.
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*Tuition rate (in-state: $237.78 /credit hour plus $36.75 flat fee; out-of-state: $963.28 /credit hour plus $36.75 flat fee) is based on a cadence of 6-9 credit hours per semester. Students planning to take more than 9 credit hours per semester should consult with their advisor for more information about the graduate tuition policy.

**Time to completion may vary depending on your start date. Speak with your Enrollment Specialist for more details.

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