School Administration, MSA

Program Code: MSA_433A
CIP Code: 13.0409

Program of Study for the Master of School Administration

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Graduate School ; official general GRE or MAT exam scores, unless waived.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School . Meeting the minimum qualifying score does not guarantee admission, only consideration for unconditional admission.

Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility: The standardized exam (GRE or MAT) requirement may be waived for applicants with:

an undergraduate GPA of 3.1 or higher OR
who have five or more years of professional experience in K-12 education.

Location: Online

Additional Information about Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility

Any standardized exam waiver for a graduate degree program at Appalachian State requires that applicants hold a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in their last earned degree (undergraduate or graduate; some programs have established higher GPA requirements). No exam waiver is automatic but will require review and approval by the Graduate School upon submission of a complete application. An approved waiver request does not guarantee acceptance into the program. A denied waiver request does not mean that a candidate is denied admission to the program, only that a standardized exam score is needed to more fully evaluate the application. Standardized test scores may be required for scholarship consideration.

Course Requirements for the Master of School Administration

Total Required (Minimum 36 Hours)

Required Courses (33 Hours)

Leadership Practice and Theory (12 Hours)

Theory and Philosophy (6 Hours)

Research and Data-Informed Decision-Making (9 Hours)

Application and Practice (3 Hours)

Select one of the following in consultation with advisor:

LSA 5900 - School Administration and Supervision Internship/Practicum (3-6) (3+3) (for pre-service students)
LSA 5910 - Building-Level Action Research Leadership Evidences (3) (3+3) (for in-service students)

Electives (3 Hours)

Off-campus cohorts are limited in their selection of electives to those scheduled to be provided at the off-site location. For specific electives to be offered, please contact the program director.

Select 3 hours from the following; other elective options are possible with the recommendation of the graduate advisor/coordinator and the approval of the department chair.

Other Requirements for the MSA

Thesis: Optional
Proficiency: Not required
Candidacy: Required; see the program director for specific timeline and requirements for admission to candidacy
Comprehensive: Required
Product of Learning: Not required