School and Systems Educational Leadership (MSE)

Professional Administrator Certificate Pathway

Degree: Master of Science in Education (MSE)
Credits: 30
Start Term: Fall
Format: Online (with job-embedded fieldwork)

Designed for: Educators preparing for school and systems-level leadership in public, Catholic, and faith-based school settings

Application Deadlines: February 16th (Priority Deadline); June 1  (Final Deadline)

Overview

Fordham’s MSE in School and Systems Educational Leadership prepares educators to lead instructional improvement, strengthen organizational systems, and advance equity across schools, districts, networks, and faith-based educational settings.

Designed for working professionals, the 30-credit online program integrates coursework with job-embedded fieldwork. Candidates apply what they are learning directly to their current school or organizational context while developing the knowledge and skills needed for school and systems-level leadership.

The program prepares candidates to support teacher development, strengthen instructional systems, use data for improvement, navigate law and policy, build partnerships with families and communities, and lead change across schools, districts, networks, and faith-based systems.

The program includes two contextualized pathways:

Public Schools Leadership Pathway
For educators preparing to lead in public school settings, this pathway emphasizes instructional leadership, district governance, policy, accountability, supervision, community engagement, and systems-level improvement.

Faith-Based Schools Leadership Pathway
For educators serving in Catholic and other faith-based school systems, this pathway emphasizes mission-driven leadership, governance, sustainability, resource stewardship, community trust, and instructional improvement within faith-based educational communities.

All candidates complete a shared leadership curriculum and job-embedded internship. Assignments, fieldwork, and leadership projects are tailored to the candidate’s professional context.

Candidates Study:

  • Instructional leadership
  • Law, policy, and advocacy
  • Supervision, coaching, and professional learning
  • Organizational leadership and team development
  • Family and community engagement
  • Data use and research for educational change
  • Equity-centered school and systems improvement

What Makes This Program Distinct

Online and Practice-Integrated: Coursework is designed for working professionals and connects directly to candidates’ leadership responsibilities.

School and Systems Leadership Focus: Candidates prepare to lead not only within individual schools, but also across districts, networks, and educational systems.

Job-Embedded Internship: Fieldwork includes school-based and systems-level leadership experiences, culminating in a leadership project connected to the candidate’s context.

Equity as Leadership Practice: Candidates examine opportunity gaps, student outcomes, resource allocation, policy implementation, instructional practice, and organizational routines in order to lead more equitable schools and systems.

Contextualized for Public and Faith-Based Settings: Candidates apply a shared leadership curriculum to the governance, mission, accountability, and community contexts in which they serve.

Cohort-Based Learning: Students move through the program as part of a professional learning community, building relationships with peers across public, Catholic, and faith-based educational settings.

Leadership Outcomes

Graduates are prepared to:

  • Lead instructional improvement across classrooms, schools, and systems
  • Use data and inquiry to guide decision-making and continuous improvement
  • Design and implement policies and practices that promote equity and inclusion
  • Develop and support teachers, staff, and leadership teams through supervision, coaching, and professional learning
  • Build strong partnerships with families and communities
  • Manage organizational systems, resources, and change processes
  • Lead improvement efforts within public, Catholic, and faith-based educational setting

Career Pathways

Graduates may pursue leadership roles such as:

  • Principal or Assistant Principal
  • Instructional Supervisor or Department Leader
  • District or Network-Level Administrator
  • Central Office Leader
  • Catholic or Faith-Based School Leader
  • Policy or Advocacy Professional
  • Professional Learning or Instructional Leadership Specialist