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Educational Leadership Online Master’s Concentration Within the MEd in Curriculum and Instruction Program

Stephen Goulakos, who earned his online degree from SNHU in 2022, standing in the middle of a classroom with young children playing at their desks.

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Total courses 3 (of 12)

Term length 10 weeks

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Concentration Overview Why focus on educational leadership?

Want to pursue a career where you could help transform the lives of students and staff through leadership? As part of your MEd in Curriculum and Instruction program, the educational leadership concentration allows you to deepen your focus in this area.

Southern New Hampshire University's online Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Educational Leadership offers an in-depth perspective on teaching, learning and school leadership. Designed for certified teachers and K–12 professionals ready to expand their influence, the program aligns with national standards and frameworks from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) and the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA), providing a strong foundation in knowledge expected in the field.

Skills you’ll learn:

  • Positive change development for diverse learning communities
  • Curriculum design for today's complex learning environments
  • Student support strategies using universal learning standards
  • Technology integration to enhance teaching and learning
Stephen Goulakos, a 2022 psychology degree online graduate, standing in a meeting room speaking to a group of other business professionals with a white board in the background

Courses & Curriculum Career-focused educational leadership classes

In our MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Educational Leadership program, you'll acquire leadership skills that are directly applicable to classroom or administrative roles. You'll learn about innovative, student-centered curriculum development and instruction models, and you'll gain practical experience that can help you advance your career in education.

Note: The MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Educational Leadership program at SNHU will not lead directly to licensure.

Concentration Course Descriptions

Your 3-course educational leadership concentration explained

Your entire MEd in Curriculum and Instruction degree consists of 12 courses (36 credits). For 9 of your courses, you’ll take master's-level curriculum and instruction classes (27 credits). If you choose this concentration, the remaining 3 courses (9 credits) will focus specifically on educational leadership.

Courses may include:

Course ID: EDU 612
Examine the roles of law and ethics in education and their relationship to becoming effective educational leaders. Investigate ethical decision-making, aligning with laws and standards, that is critical for any educator to practice. Utilize case studies and theory to explore topics such as equality versus equity, privacy versus safety, and responsibility versus accountability.
Course ID: EDU 617
Explore the tools, resources, and knowledge educational leaders must utilize in order to sustain a quality educational program as well as be the drivers of positive change within communities. Examine educational leaders' responsibilities to and decisions surrounding key community stakeholders such as students, instructors, parents/guardians, advisory boards, and local businesses.
Course ID: EDU 619
Study and reflect on the different approaches to leading educational organizations and the decision-making process inherent in leadership roles. Success in the dispositional qualities of leadership comes with the knowledge and skills of managing people, data, and processes that promote growth for all stakeholders. Examine leadership qualities, finance and budgeting, resource management, strategic planning, and personnel management.

Visit the course catalog to view the full MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Educational Leadership curriculum.

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Upcoming term starts: July 6, 2026 | September 21, 2026

Next term starts:
April 20, 2026

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Online Student Experience What’s it like going to SNHU?

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.4% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2025 survey with 8,718 respondents.

What to expect:

10-week terms

Learn around your schedule

24/7 online support

Faculty Profile

Learn from instructors with classroom experience

The faculty members you'll learn from are all credentialed educators in the field of K-12 education. They bring with them a plethora of experience in classrooms and leadership roles within the educational community and are eager to share their knowledge with you.

Featured Faculty

Jay Nagy
Jay Nagy, an associate dean in SNHU's online master's in curriculum and instruction in educational leadership program.

Jay Nagy joined Southern New Hampshire University in 2019 as a facilitator for the Master of Education in Online Instruction program before stepping into his current role in 2024. With more than 20 years of experience in educational leadership, Nagy previously held the role of director of career and technical education for the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, overseeing secondary and postsecondary programming across multiple facilities. He’s served on state and county advisory committees advancing education within correctional environments and brings extensive knowledge in program development, compliance and accreditation.

Position
Associate Dean

Joined SNHU
2019

Education

  • MS in Business Education and MBA from Southern New Hampshire University
  • BA in Psychology from Notre Dame College
  • AS in Drafting Technology from New Hampshire Technical College
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Whether you're applying for an undergraduate or graduate degree, you’ll fill out a form to verify your previous education experience. As part of our admissions process, we'll help you request transcripts from your previous school(s) to see if you can transfer any credits into your SNHU program! (Also for free!)

Additional Requirements:

  • Resume including any relevant K-12 instructional or curriculum development experience for at least six months
  • Non-Licensure Acknowledgment form

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

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Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online graduate tuition

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 36-credit degree*
Full- and part-time students
$659
$1,977
$23,724
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$470
$1,410
$16,920

*before previously earned credits are applied

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

**Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

$1,977 $3,954 $5,931 $7,908
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 3 of your prior learning credits ($659/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $21,747

If 6 of your prior learning credits ($659/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $19,770

If 9 of your prior learning credits ($659/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $17,793

If 12 of your prior learning credits ($659/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $15,816

How we estimate your tuition cost:

We look at the cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits you need to earn for a master's degree. Most master's degrees require 36 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 12 credits, requiring a minimum of 24 credits to be taken at SNHU. This is only a tuition estimator and doesn't account for other fees that may be associated with your program of choice.

Career Outlook What can I do with my concentration in educational leadership?

There's a great need for leaders in education spaces who understand the need for higher-performing students and schools. An MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Educational Leadership can help qualify you for opportunities that allow you to advance your career in education: as a leader, classroom teacher or advocate in the nonprofit space.

A concentration in educational leadership could also help you stand out as a credible and competitive candidate in the job market. And once you've landed a position, the educational theory and classroom management skills you learned in your degree program can help you increase your value as an educational professional even more.

Occupations

Those with an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Educational Leadership may qualify for a number of roles, including:

Lead schools by managing staff, budgets and policies while applying knowledge of educational law, ethics and community building.

Oversee programs, curriculum and staff across schools, guided by leadership principles and organizational expertise.

Design, implement and evaluate curriculum while supporting staff and promoting instructional improvement.

Guide student learning and foster a positive classroom community using management, curriculum design and interpersonal skills.

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not on SNHU graduate outcomes, and do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

What SNHU students are saying

Angelina Kump ’24.
This degree will open up opportunities to achieve my dreams. It also has helped to show that no matter what my physical limitations are, I have knowledge and skills that are incredibly valuable.
Angelina Kump ’23G

Frequently Asked Questions

Teaching is a special profession. As a teacher, you not only guide and coach your students — you're a lifelong learner as well.

There are many options for professional development in the field of teaching. One of the most comprehensive is to earn a graduate degree that combines research, leadership and curriculum design components that together can position you to lead in the classroom, as an administrator or beyond.

Some jobs you might enjoy with an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Educational Leadership are:

  • Principal or assistant principal: Principals lead schools by managing staff, budgets, facilities and policies. Coursework in educational law, ethics and community building provides the knowledge needed to guide both students and staff effectively.
  • District administrator: District administrators oversee programs, curriculum and staff across multiple schools. A strong background in leadership principles, including ethics, curriculum design and organizational leadership can be the key to success here.
  • Instructional coordinator: Instructional coordinators design and implement curriculum, evaluate its impact and may oversee staff. Knowledge of curriculum design, educational law and instructional improvement is essential.
  • Classroom teacher: Classroom teachers lead every day by applying management, curriculum design and interpersonal skills to create a positive learning environment, guiding student learning and fostering classroom community.

Teachers are lifelong learners, making continuing education an exciting part of the profession. There are many options for graduate study in education, including specializing in a content area or in the areas of reading, language-based learning disabilities or technology. SNHU makes it convenient and affordable to earn your degree online, in whichever area you choose.

The educational leadership concentration focuses on 3 key areas:

  • Educational law and ethics, where you'll examine the roles of law and ethics in the classroom. You'll investigate decision-making processes and use case studies to explore theory and best practices for managing a classroom or learning community.
  • Building community through education, where you'll focus on the leadership role in managing various community stakeholders in the field of education. This includes learning how to drive positive change among students, faculty, parents and even local businesses and community organizations.
  • Leading educational organizations, where you'll examine leadership roles more closely. This could include the study of finance and budgeting as well as resource management and strategic planning. This course is designed to help you prepare for the well-rounded role of a school principal or district administrator.

How much a master's degree costs can depend on several factors. At SNHU, affordability is a top priority. Case in point? We offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. For both full- and part-time students, our online graduate tuition is just $659 per credit — meaning a 36-credit MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Educational Leadership comes to about $23,724 in total. You could save even more by transferring up to 12 previously earned graduate credits. We also offer discounted tuition rates to active duty military personnel and their spouses, National Guard and Selected Reserve. Plus, our Student Financial Services team can help you explore funding options and set up a payment plan that works for you.

Learn more about how to pay for a master's degree.

Yes, our MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Educational Leadership program can be completed 100% online. (Note: This program will not lead directly to licensure.) Taught by experienced educators, its courses combine real-world classroom insight with leadership-focused learning to help you take the next step in your teaching career.

At colleges and universities, a concentration is a focused area of study within a larger degree program. A concentration generally replaces elective coursework in the major or discipline, allowing students to focus their studies on an area of interest.

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Sources & Citations

1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/instructional-coordinators.htm (viewed June 5, 2024)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.