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Campus Majors
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Leading & Learning in a Competency-Based System (MEd)
Rethink How Education is Delivered with a Master’s Degree in Leading and Learning in a Competency-Based System
Southern New Hampshire University has partnered with 2 Revolutions, an education design lab that rethinks the future of schools and the education system, to offer an MEd in Leading and Learning in a Competency-Based System. This degree program is designed to help you better understand the benefits of a competency-based education (CBE) environment. The program will help you not only appreciate the benefits of a CBE, but also help you, your school and your school district conceptualize and plan a transition to a more competency-based model.
Using a cohort model, the program features a combination of online and face-to-face learning which is broken up into three distinct blocks. You may choose to focus on a full degree program, or you can opt to personalize your pathway to meet your goals:
- Completion of block one leads to a Certificate in Focus, Leading, Learning and Teaching in a Competency Based School
- Completion of block two leads to a Certificate in Collaborating to Build Teacher Knowledge of Assessment and Instruction in a Competency Based Model
- Completion of all three blocks leads to an MEd or CAGS in Leading and Learning in a Competency Based System
Although this program is currently available only in our partnering school districts, we urge you to contact your school or district administrators if you are interested in bringing the program to your area.
See Yourself Succeed with an MEd in Leading and Learning in a Competency-Based System
Designed to be completed in approximately 18 months, the MEd in Leading and Learning in a Competency-Based System program is built upon a cohort structure enabling a balance between online and in-person learning.
Currently available in a limited number of school districts, this course-based, 36-credit program will bring together teams of about 15-18 educators (ideally a mix of central office, building leaders and teacher leaders to ensure a wide range of roles and experiences) to take part in the curriculum. The program is designed to model a competency-based learning experience with a focus on demonstrating evidence of learning rather than seat-time expectations. Approximately 80% of learning will take place online, with 20% taking place in person through these regional cohorts.
As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission - to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of enrolling in the field-based graduate programs in education at SNHU include:
- Convenience. Pursue your graduate degree or certificate where you work, and complete field studies around your teaching schedule.
- Supportive community. We have a deep understanding of how adults learn best, and we know all of our students personally. Our cohort model allows you to learn with colleagues.
- Relevance. All course material and assignments apply directly to your classroom practice. An action research project serves as the capstone in place of a traditional thesis.
- Affordability. SNHU is one of the most affordable private, nonprofit universities in New Hampshire.
- Constructivist classrooms. Our instructors design the classroom experience so that it begins with your experiences and builds toward exceptional practice in a collaborative manner.
- Impact. The action research project enables you to use your classroom as a laboratory of educational innovation.
Admission Requirements
SNHU requires an undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 (or equivalent) for admission. If you are an international student in need of a visa to study on campus, please see our international admission requirements.
Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our three 16-week graduate terms. You can apply at any time and get a decision within two weeks of submitting all required materials. To apply, simply complete our online application form.
Careers & Outcomes
The MEd in Leading and Learning in a Competency-Based System program is designed for teachers and other school officials interested in exploring how a CBE system might benefit their school or school district. Graduates from this program will be prepared to facilitate a transition to a CBE model or to advise school officials on why such a transition might be beneficial. The cohort-based program model allows learners to earn their Master of Education without putting their careers on hold.
Curriculum
Program curriculum is split between online and in-person coursework, with online learning comprising approximately 80% of the program and in-person learning 20%. The program’s first block centers upon the focus, leading, learning and teaching in a competency-based school and grants a certification in CBE upon completion. The second block focuses on collaborating and building teacher knowledge of assessment and instruction in a competency-based model, while the third block will teach you to lead and support a competency-based system.
Program Outcomes
- Learning Orientation - embracing learning and challenge, tolerance for ambiguity and complexity, willingness to learn alongside students and colleagues
- Ownership of Learning/Agency - start with self, metacognition, growth mindset, be courageous, learn at your edge
- Equity Orientation - high expectations for all learners, designing for the extreme learners, disrupting inequities of the traditional system
- Professional Collaboration - social awareness, emotional intelligence, being a team player, contributing to a professional learning community
- Champion Change - embrace change, advocate for change, lead change
- Leveraging Competencies - Designing/revising strong competencies and implementing for learner transparency; leveraging quality competency frameworks; leveraging learning progressions
- Competency-Based Instruction - designing and implementing a competency-based learning cycle; designing and implementing deeper learning; designing and implementing personalized learning
- Competency-Based Assessment - meeting learners where they are via formative assessment and feedback; designing and implementing quality performance assessment; co-designing and implementing extended investigations with learners
- Fostering Learner Agency - foundations in relationship, environment, and strategies (e.g. goal-setting); designing and facilitating learner-centered pedagogies; fostering skills and dispositions for learner agency (e.g. self-direction)
- The Case for CBE - flaws of the traditional system, CBE design principles, designing for equity
- Visionary Leadership - co-creating a vision to engender ownership and articulate a clear and compelling North Star, engaging the community, using the vision as anchor
- Leading Change - creating the conditions for transformation, the human side of change, design as methodology for creating a culture of innovation, adaptive leadership
- CBE Infrastructure - creating a collaborative learning culture, systems for monitoring and support, equity by design, grading and reporting, leveraging technology
- Capacity to Transform - transforming professional learning, building for quality and scale
Earning your degree is a smart choice to advance your career, and investing in an affordable program increases your ROI. We keep our costs low to remove barriers between you and your goals.
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Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.
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