The decrease in education spending in most states as well as the need to adjust curriculum to state standards and to balance the availability of classes with available funding means that educational leaders are vital to school districts. New York State is a promising location for programs in Educational Leadership. The state is home to some of the largest cities and institutions of higher learning in the country. Additionally, with such a dense population, and diversity in populations, the state needs teachers and administrators. New York has some of the highest pay and incentive programs for educators, and it also has a good base of funding for teacher education. That is vital because people interested in educational leadership must hold teaching credentials. Here is a listing of Educational Leadership programs in New York.
Saint Bonaventure University
School of Graduate Studies
This university was founded in 1858 and is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. There are 1,627 undergraduates registered at the school and the student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1. All students take core general education courses through Clare College. Many programs at St. Bonaventure are offered in a hybrid format with actual class time limited to a few classes per semester. This university has been listed in the Top 25 Teacher’s Education programs by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. The School of Graduate Studies offers 15 master’s programs, two post-bachelor’s and three post-master’s programs.
Saint Bonaventure University has three foundational values: Discovery, Community and Individual Worth. The school offers several ministry opportunities in the Franciscan tradition. In addition to community involvement with children and the elderly, Saint Bonaventure runs The Warming House, a soup kitchen for the poor. There are liturgical opportunities and a retreat center as well as a Franciscan Center for Social Concern.
MSED in Educational Leadership
Students admitted to this program must have a master’s degree and hold teacher certification. Applicants must also have three years of experience in the K-12 school system. There are 30 credits in the degree program, of which all but six are presented in a hybrid format that requires students to attend three-to-four Saturday classes per semester. The program has no electives. Required courses are: Research Methods, Technology for Educators and Counselors, Leadership for the Principalship, School and Community Relations, School Law, School Finance, Evaluation and Supervision of Instructional and Other Staff, Using Data for School Improvement and Leading Effective Inclusive Schools. There are two requisite competency-based field experiences. The first is a practicum at either the elementary or secondary level. The second experience is a 400-clock-hour internship in whichever level was not addressed by the first experience. Graduates of the program will be able to conduct research and analyze the results. They will also have greater knowledge of leadership at the district level.
School Building Leader Advanced Certificate
The School Building Leader Advanced Certificate is for students who have a master’s degree and teaching certification. The 24-credit-hour program gives students knowledge and competency at the local school-building level, but not at the district level. It is presented in a hybrid format with students attending three-to-four class sessions per semester with the remaining coursework completed online. Courses in the program are Leadership for Principals, School and Community Relations, School Law, School Finance, Evaluation and Supervision of Instructional and Other Staff, Designing Curriculum for Standards-Based Education and Special Education or School Administrators. The certificate program requires a field experience in either an alimentary school or a secondary school and a 400-clock-hour internship at whichever level the field experience did not address.
School District Leader Advanced Certificate
This twelve-credit program gives students expertise in leadership practices at the district level. Applicants must have a master’s degree and hold teaching credentials as well as having three years of experience in K-12 education. As the other programs, it is presented in a hybrid format. Courses in the certificate program are Negotiations, Superintendency and Central Office Leadership. There is also a 90-clock-hour practicum and a 90-clock-hour internship which cannot be completed during the same semester. A digital competency portfolio is required at the culmination of the program.
Accreditations
• The Midwest Association of Colleges and Schools of the Higher Education Commission
• The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
School of Graduate Studies
Saint Bonaventure University
3261 West State Road,
St. Bonaventure, New York, 14788
716-375-2394
lbuenave@sbu.edu
https://www.sbu.edu/academics/msed-in-educational-leadership
St. John Fisher College
The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. School of Education
St. John Fisher is a private liberal arts college that was founded in 1948 by the Basilian Fathers of the Roman Catholic Church. It is classified as a doctoral research university. There are five schools at St. John Fisher including the School of Arts and Sciences, The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. School of Education, The School of Business, the Wegmans School of Pharmacy and The Wegmans School of Nursing.
The school emphasizes traditional liberal arts studies but also focuses on “career-oriented fields.” In addition to general liberal arts studies, all students choose a major area of proficiency. The school offers career-driven programs in accounting and management, communication and other fields of study.
The college is the home of the summer camp of the Buffalo Bills NFL team. It has an undergraduate student body of about 2,759 students. Most classes have between 20 and 49 students, and the student-to-faculty to is 12:1. The US News and World Report ranks the college as #152 of National Universities. It has an impressive 63 percent four-year-graduation rate. The School of Education features undergraduate teaching degrees, master’s degrees for those wanting to become teachers, master’s programs for current teachers and an educational doctorate in educational leadership.
M.S. in Educational Leadership
This degree may be earned on two tracks: The School Building Leader or the School Building and School District Leader. The curriculum for both tracks combines “theory, authentic case studies, class discussions and candidates’ experiences” along with several internships and field experiences. Both tracks have 32 credit-hours. The School Building Track includes courses such as Academic Standards of Excellence, Improving Instruction and Learning and Accountability, Assessment and Performance. Sample courses in the School Building and School District Track include those classes as well as courses like Developing Effective Partnerships and Effective Communication. In addition to the four internships, students are required to complete a capstone project comprised of a professional portfolio and an oral presentation.
Education Doctorate in Educational Leadership
This program contains 60 credit-hours or 20 courses. Coursework is in areas such as finance, resource development, public relations, governance, diversity and other topics. Additionally, there are requisite field experiences and applied research.
The cohort-model program is structured for working professionals. Classes meet Friday evenings and every other Saturday. Students typically earn the degree in 28 months of full-time study. That time period includes writing and defending a dissertation.
Accreditation
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission
• The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. School of Education
St. John Fisher College
3690 East Avenue,
Rochester, New York 14618
585-385-7257
dreed@sjfc.edu
https://www.sjfc.edu/graduate-programs/ms-in-educational-leadership/program-requirements/
State University of New York College at Brockport
Department of Educational Administration
This school, a part of the SUNY ( State Universities of New York), is often called SUNY Brockport. It is one of the system’s most selective schools, admitting only 53 percent of applicants. The school, founded in 1835, became Brockport College Institute in 1841. As most education in that era ended at the sixth grade, the goal of the school was to offer an opportunity for further education. In 1867 it became a normal school, meaning that its purpose was teacher education.
Today, the school offers 42 undergraduate programs, 29 graduate programs and certificates. There are 18 areas of teacher certification alone. The US News and World Report ranks SUNY Brockport as #90 of Regional Universities. The student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1. The school’s Department of Educational Administration presents programs in a cohort model and focuses on multiple internships.
School Building Leader/School District Leader (CAS)
The Certificate of Advanced Study in School Building Leader/ School District Leader is a 36 credit-hour program that gives students a foundational knowledge in educational leadership, supervision and management and in the legal issues of education. Students work with a mentor, and courses are offered in a hybrid format; half face-to-face and half online. On-campus sessions are held on Saturdays.
Applicants to the program must have a master’s degree and one year of teaching experience. The program includes three internships: a practicum in Educational Leadership, an internship in Administrative Leadership and an internship in Central Office Leadership.
School District Business Leader (CAS)
The Certificate of Advanced Studies, School Business Leader is a 66 credit-hour program. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree. Applicants who hold master’s degrees may apply 24 credits to the required courses and then take additional prescribed coursework.
The program is offered only as a cohort model which means that students may only start at certain times. Students without a master’s degree may complete the MS.Ed. degree program concurrently with the CAS program.
School District Business Leader (MSED)
This degree is especially for students enrolled in the School District Business Leader concentration of the CAS in Educational Administration who do not have a master’s degree. It does not meet the New York requirements for teacher certification. The program is generally completed concurrently with the CAS program. Applicants to the 30 credit-hour program must have a bachelor’s degree. Required courses are Principles and Practices of Budgeting, Data Management and Presentation, School Finance and Revenue Management and Public School Accounting. In addition, students must select a research elective, a curriculum course, one graduate course outside Education and two other graduate electives.
Accreditation
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools of the Higher Learning Commission
• National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
Department of Educational Administration
State University of New York College at Brockport
350 New Campus Drive
Brockport, New York 1442
585-395-5804
jlinn@brockport.edu
SUNY at Oswego
Education Administration Department
This university is one of thirteen SUNY schools. It was founded in 1861 as the Oswego Primary Teachers Training School. It became the State Teachers College in 1942, and one of the charter SUNY members in 1948.
The school has almost 8,000 students, 7,000 of which are undergraduates. There are more than 110 undergraduate and graduate programs at the school. The US News and World Report ranks SUNY-Oswego as # 48 of Regional Universities-North. The student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1. Students at SUNY-Oswego are encouraged to participate in the university’s innovative study-abroad programs. Additionally, as a culturally-diverse institution the school focuses on social justice, equity and equality, cultural competence and civil discourse.
The Educational Administration Department began in 1967. Students in the department’s programs work in teams on all coursework. Service-learning is emphasized through community involvement as well as through the internships and partnerships of the school.
Educational Leadership, Certificate of Advanced Study
The CAS in Educational Leadership is a 33-to-42 credit-hour program. It includes 24 credit hours of requisites. These are: Fundamentals of Administration, School Principalship, Supervision and Improvement of Instruction for Building and District Leaders, Internship for Building and District Leaders and a DASA training.
After completing the required core courses, students choose three electives in specialization areas. They may choose to complete both the Building Leadership and District Leadership certifications concurrently. Additionally, they may include advanced electives by completing the courses in superintendent electives.
Accreditations
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission
• National Council for Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
Education Administration Department
SUNY-Oswego
7060 State Route 104
Oswego, New York 13126-3599
315-312-2264
edadmin@oswego.edu
http://catalog.oswego.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=39&poid=4785&returnto=4258
SUNY Buffalo State
Department of Elementary Education
This university is the flagship institution of the SUNY system. It is the largest university by enrollment ( with a student body of nearly 31,000) and has the largest state-operated medical school as well as the largest schools of dentistry, education, engineering, business and pharmacy. Additionally, SUNY-Buffalo is home to New York’s only law school.
This university was founded in 1846 as a private medical school and became part of the SUNY system in 1962. It is classified as a research institution, which means that a significant amount of the school endowments is dedicated to research as are many of the doctoral programs. It is the home of the Roswell Park Graduate Division, partnered with the Roswell Park Cancer Institute to engage in cancer research.
SUNY Buffalo State is comprised of 13 colleges that offer more than 100 undergraduate programs of study, 205 master’s degrees, 84 doctorates and 10 professional areas of study. The US News and World Report ranks the school as # 89 of National Universities and #38 of Public Universities.
Elementary Education, Literacy, and Educational Leadership
-Educational Leadership, C.A.S.
Applicants to this program must have teaching certification in the state of New York. Additionally, they must have a master’s degree and three years of teaching experience.
The program contains 33 credit hours. Twenty-seven of these are in required courses. These are: School-Community Relations, Public School Law, Site-Based Leadership, School Business Management and Finance, Curriculum Leadership, Supervision of Teaching, an Educational Leadership Field Experience and an internship as well as a Seminar in Educational Change.
In addition, there are six required elective credits.
Expedited School District Business Leader Advanced Certificate
This program is for professionals who already have a School Building Leader or School District Leader Certification and want to become certified as a School District Business Leader. The program is presented entirely online. There are five courses, presented one at a time over five semesters, and a supervised internship. After completing three of the requisite courses, students may take the internship course as an independent study. The program contains 15 credit-hours and can be completed in two years.
One of the advantages of the department is that credit is given for prior learning. Students may also pursue an optional Advanced Study Certificate in School Business and Human Resource Administration which, when paired with a 300-hour clinical experience, leads to certification as a School District Business Leader.
Accreditation
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
Department of Elementary Education
University at Buffalo
1300 Elmwood Ave.
Buffalo, New York 14222
716-878-5617
friedles@buffalostate.edu
https://elementaryeducation.buffalostate.edu/
Related Resource: Top 20 Best Master’s in Educational Leadership Online
As the focus on STEM subjects increases and schools scramble to meet standards, there is a greater need for school administrators who can make informed decisions. Additionally, the changing cultural focus on diversity and on inclusiveness, with the resulting governmental mandates necessitates school districts to have professionals who are knowledgeable and up-to-date in their understanding of laws and values. For this and other reasons, educators and administrators are seeking to add certifications to their licenses. This list of Educational Leadership programs in New York should prove a valuable tool for professionals seeking these additional endorsements.
