salemstate.edu/graduate
OUR PROGRAMS
We offer two pathways to support and prepare you for educational leadership work in schools:
TEACHER LEADERSHIP 1-YEAR PROGRAM LEADING TO SSU GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
This one-year, 12-credit graduate certificate program is designed to support current and future teacher leaders, including team leaders, specialists, department heads, instructional coaches, curriculum coordinators, teacher mentors, and those aspiring to such roles. Educators in this program learn the art of facilitating adult conversations in schools, prepare to design and lead professional learning initiatives, develop the skills to engage in data-informed decision making, and much more—all competencies needed to effectively serve in informal and formal teacher leadership roles at the school level. Throughout the one-year program, educators adopt a culturally-responsive leadership stance as they focus on developing the mindset and stance of a teacher leader.
CAGS IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP 2-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAM LEADING TO LICENSURE
This two-year, 36-credit Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) program is designed for educators holding master’s degrees who are ready to pursue informal and formal leadership work, with the end goal of licensure as a principal/assistant principal in the state of Massachusetts. The CAGS program supports candidates through coursework (ten core courses) and guided fieldwork (pre-practicum, practicum and seminar experiences), all aligned with the Massachusetts PAL Tasks required for licensure. The program’s first year overlaps with the 1-year graduate certificate in teacher leadership, such that candidates receive that certificate in passing. Given the interrelated work of teacher leaders and formal school leaders, this unique program design gives candidates flexibility in pursuing teacher leadership and formal leadership pathways.
WHICH PROGRAM IS RIGHT FOR ME?
The one-year Teacher Leadership certificate program might be right for you if one or more of the following applies:
• You are currently looking to build your leadership capacity while remaining in the classroom or closely connected to classroom practice.
• You are hoping to work alongside other building-level leaders to take on leadership projects of interest to you at the school level.
• You are currently exploring what role leadership might play in your practice as a teacher.
• You are considering pursuing a Supervisor/Director license independently and are looking for coursework to support those pursuits.
The two-year CAGS in Educational Leadership degree program might be right for you if one or more of the following applies:
• You are hoping to move into a formal school leadership role in the next few years.
• You see yourself leading change in a school or district role.
• You hope to integrate your expertise as a classroom teacher with formal leadership training, setting yourself up to move into a formal leadership role in the near future.
• You are certain you want to be a principal or assistant principal.
COST
For Massachusetts residents, each credit costs $464.30,* which includes tuition and fees. For non-Massachusetts residents, each credit costs $559.40.*
Currently, we are the least expensive educational leadership program among Massachusetts higher education institutions. For assistance funding your graduate education, options may include financial aid, employer reimbursement, tuition remission, or veteran’s benefits. To learn more about funding your graduate education, please visit: salemstate.edu/graduate/funding
*Tuition and fees are subject to change.
For more information on costs, please visit: salemstate.edu/tuition
PROGRAM TIMING AND LOGISTICS
1-Year Teacher Leadership Certificate
2-Year CAGS in Educational Leadership Degree
Sept. to May (9 months total)
only
Two full academic years (20 months total, including two 1.5 credit courses in May and June between academic years) Sept. only
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
with option of taking more as
Pre-practicum during Year 1 (completed in your own school setting)
Practicum starting June of Year 1 and continuing until April of Year 2 (completed in your own school setting)
WEDNESDAY EVENING COHORT | FULLY ONLINE | 5-8 PM
AGS 730: Learning to Lead (3 cr.)
AGS 735: Data-informed Leadership (3 cr.)
EDG 980AS: Seminar in Ed. Leadership I (for CAGS
AGS 734: Leading Professional Learning (3 cr.)
AGS 800: Facilitative Leadership (3 cr.)
EDG 980BS: Seminar in Ed. Leadership II (for CAGS students, optional
AGS 732: Creating and Managing Equitable School Budgets (1.5 cr.)
EDU 770: Legal Issues for School Leaders (1.5 cr.)
EDU 786: Theories and Techniques of Supervision and Evaluation (3 cr.)
AGS 736: Instructional Leadership for Equity and Justice (3 cr.)
Fall 2*
Spring 2*
*CAGS 2-year program only
EDG 980CS: Seminar in Ed. Leadership III (1.5 cr.)
EDG 980A: Educational Leadership Practicum I (1.5 cr.)
AGS 825: Leading School-Community Partnerships (3 cr.)
AGS 820: Culturally Responsive Leadership and Deep Change in Schools (3 cr.)
EDG 980DS: Seminar in Ed. Leadership IV (1.5 cr.)
EDG 980A: Educational Leadership Practicum II (1.5 cr.)
• Each core course meets 7-8 times, in sequence, with approximately 5 synchronous sessions and the rest asynchronous.
• Seminars meet 4-5 times synchronously across the semester, with additional asynchronous work between sessions.
• Current cohorts are fully online. In future years, we may add hybrid cohort options (mix of online and in-person coursework).
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• The program uses a cohort model, allowing for strong collegial connections across each 1- or 2-year program. Classmates support one another and become lifelong colleagues.
• Cohorts launch each September and bring together educators from across various districts in the Commonwealth and beyond.
• Courses run one night per week for three hours, which allows participants to commit to only one evening per week throughout the program.
• Meetings are virtual or in-person, depending on chosen cohort modality.
• For those in the 2-year CAGS program, leadership practicum experiences are supervised by district personnel as well as university supervisors.
• For CAGS students, the program is designed to support completion of state-required PAL tasks.
1-Year Teacher Leadership Certificate Official transcripts or transcript evaluation, documenting the highest degree earned (e.g., undergraduate or graduate)
2-Year CAGS in Educational Leadership Degree Official transcripts or transcript evaluation, documenting the award of a master's degree
One reference letter, preferably from a building principal or other educational supervisor
One reference letter, preferably from a building principal or other educational supervisor
A personal statement answering at least the following questions:
• Which cohort are you applying to?
• What current and/ or previous work experience has prepared you for leadership roles?
• Why is this leadership program the right fit for you now?
• Ideally, how would you like to make use of your leadership skills in your school and/or district?
REQUIRED :
• Resume, demonstrating evidence of at least two years of teaching experience
OPTIONAL :
• Documentation of educator licensure, at least at the initial level
REQUIRED :
• Resume, demonstrating evidence of at least two years of teaching experience
OPTIONAL :
• Documentation of educator licensure, at least at the initial level*
• Evidence of passing C&L MTEL*
• Evidence demonstrating SEI endorsement*
*Note that these items are required for acceptance into the 2nd year leadership practicum experience, and are required for eventual principal/assistant principal licensure from the state of MA. However, these items are not required specifically for acceptance into the CAGS program.
“I wish I had applied sooner. This program will help you at all levels of being a leader within a school, and if there is any hesitation, apply. It convinced me to take the next steps on my journey. The program really shaped who I am as a principal because the skills I learned convinced me that I was ready to take the next step in my career.”
-Sue Faria-Smith, Class of 2021
Teacher Leadership 1-Year Program: salemstate.edu/teacherleader
Educational Leadership (CAGS) 2-Year Program: salemstate.edu/edleader
Email program coordinators at: edleadership@salemstate.edu Follow us on Twitter/X: x.com/SSUedleadership