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 (not to exceed 5 years), unless waived; minimum of three years of public school teaching experience or equivalent experience in other settings (e.g., private school teaching; training in the private sector; etc.); and proof of North Carolina “A” or “M” licensure or the equivalent from another state.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School .

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 Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility Information

Standardized exam (GRE, GMAT, MAT) waiver eligibility for graduate degree programs at Appalachian State varies by program, but requires that applicants hold a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in their last earned bachelor’s degree or 3.3 or higher in an earned graduate degree. No exam waiver is automatic but will require review and approval by the program and 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. More complete information about standardized exam waivers can be found in the Admissions Requirements section of this Bulletin .

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 (6 Hours)

Application and Practice (9 Hours)

Select one of the following in consultation with advisor:

LSA 5900 - School Administration and Supervision Internship/Practicum (3) (3 + 3 + 3 = 9) (This course is restricted to students who are not currently employed in a public school district.)
LSA 5910 - Building-Level Action Research (3) (3 + 3 + 3 = 9) (This course is restricted to students who are currently employed in a K-12 public school district.)

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: Portfolio required; see the program director for specific instructions
Product of Learning: Not required