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Online Master’s in Educational Leadership MEd Concentration

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Cost per credit $637

Total courses 12

Term length 10 weeks

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Program Overview Why get a master’s in educational leadership online?

Gain an in-depth perspective on teaching, learning and educational leadership with the online Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Education Leadership at Southern New Hampshire University — and pursue a career where you could transform the lives of students and staff.

If you're a certified teacher or select K-12 professional who's looking to lead in the area of curriculum and instruction, this could be the degree program for you. And because SNHU's MEd program and educational leadership concentration are aligned with national standards and frameworks from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) and the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA), you can feel confident about the value of your degree.

Skills you'll learn:

  • How to create positive change for diverse learning communities
  • Curriculum design that addresses the complex learning situations of today’s students
  • How to support students with different backgrounds, abilities and experiences using principles of Universal Design for Learning and other relevant standards
  • Integrating technology into curriculum 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 Online educational leadership courses that fit your goals

Make a direct, positive impact on the lives of students when you get your MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Education Leadership at SNHU. In this 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 leave the program with practical experience that can help you advance your career in education.

Degree Courses

Online educational leadership courses

The online Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Education Leadership at SNHU includes 12 courses, 3 of which are leadership-focused: Educational Law and Ethics, Building Community Through Education and Leading Educational Organizations.

Your courses will help you develop an understanding of curriculum planning and instruction models, while establishing understanding of leadership functions in both traditional and non-traditional settings. Learning how to engage with students' various learning differences is crucial in today’s classroom— and creating leaders in those environments helps to create and sustain critical communities of learning.

Courses may include:

Course ID: EDU 515
Discover the frameworks and approaches used in the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction program. Explore what it means to be an educational leader in today's rapidly changing, multi-cultural education environments and investigate the many traditional and non-traditional facets of contemporary educational leadership. Examine competencies, characteristics, and practices that relate directly to student achievement and are grounded in current professional standards.
Course ID: EDU 545
Explore educational leadership concepts by focusing on the characteristics and best practices needed to define and increase success in learning. Employ multiple measures to resolve learning challenges utilizing effective communication and collaboration in ways that empower oneself and others to enhance one's role as an educational leader. Learn about legal, ethical, and professional issues existing in today's educational environments that impact effective leadership.
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 & Instruction - Educational Leadership curriculum.

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Our no-commitment application can help you decide if SNHU is the right college for you and your career goals. Apply up until 2 days before the term starts!

Upcoming term starts: Aug. 25, 2025 | Nov. 10, 2025

Next term starts:
June 9, 2025

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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, 91.6% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2024 survey with 8,000+ respondents.

What to expect:

10-week terms

Learn around your schedule

24/7 online support

Online Classroom

What does an online course look like?

You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

  • Schedule of weekly assignments
  • Discussion boards
  • Grades
  • Instructor announcements
How to Take an Online Class at SNHU
5 ways SNHU makes the admission process "easy-peasy" #shorts

Admission Applying to SNHU is fast and free

No application fee. No test scores. And no college essay. Just a simple form with basic information. It’s another way SNHU helps you reach your goals sooner.

All it takes is 3 simple steps

It's easy, fast and free.

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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
$637
$1,911
$22,932
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:

$1,911 $3,822 $5,733 $7,644
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 3 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $17,199

If 6 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $15,288

If 9 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $13,377

If 12 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $11,466

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 a master’s in educational leadership?

The current movement to improve the U.S. education system means increased job prospects for administrative leaders who understand the need for higher-performing students and schools. A master's in education 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.

An MEd could 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

Instructional coordinators can find roles in a number of educational environments, including:

Work in leadership positions like site administrator or school principal in school or district administrator's offices.

Work directly with students as a classroom teacher and serve as a mentor to other teachers.

Consult based on field experience in support of an organization or lobby for policy to support schools and teachers.

19,200

The number of open instructional coordinator positions predicted annually, through 2032, by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).1

$74,620

The median annual salary for instructional coordinators as of May 2023, according to the BLS.1

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 ’24

Frequently Asked Questions

Teaching is a special profession. As a teacher, you're 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 educational leadership degree are:

  • Principal or assistant principal: The principal is a key leadership role in any school. Your key responsibilities may include monitoring student progress and writing policies and procedures for the school. You may be in charge of managing the school budget, hiring staff and overseeing the building and facilities. This role is multi-faceted and dynamic and requires a strong leader to do it well. Your coursework in educational law and ethics as well as community building could come in handy here.
  • District administrator: In this leadership role, you might be in charge of overseeing educational programs, curriculum and staff in an entire district instead of just one school. A strong background in leadership principles, including ethics, curriculum design and organizational leadership can be the key to success here.
  • Instructional coordinator: Also known as a curriculum designer, this is a multi-faceted role that includes designing curriculum and possibly staff management if you lead a team. A strong background in the principles of curriculum design is, of course, key. The understanding of educational law and how to drive educational change will also help the person in this role shine. You may develop and implement instructional materials and design ways to assess their effectiveness in the classroom.
  • Classroom teacher: The role of a classroom teacher is the ultimate leadership position. Every day as a teacher, you have the opportunity to apply your management skills, curriculum design skills and, of course, interpersonal skills to manage a positive and effective classroom.

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 may examine the roles of law and ethics in the classroom. You may 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 may 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 may 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.

Teaching at different levels can require various levels of formal education. For most teaching positions for grades K-12, graduate education or coursework toward a master’s in education is necessary.

For post-secondary teaching jobs, the requirements can vary. To teach at the community college level, an MEd in curriculum and instruction or in another area of education may be necessary. Check with the program that interests you, because the MEd in education may be sufficient, depending on the school.

At Southern New Hampshire University, all of our instructors are professionals working in their respective fields. They offer professional guidance as you work through the program. Our career counselors are also readily available to help share information about opportunities to teach at the post-secondary level.

And while our MEd in educational leadership does not qualify you for licensure on its own, it can be a necessary and worthwhile component of preparation leading to that important graduate credential.

An online master's in educational leadership can prepare you to be a leader in the classroom or in any business environment you choose. The online nature of the program allows you to earn this credential at your pace, and on your schedule. We know how important this is for students who are furthering their education while working full time.

There are many opportunities to use an MEd in educational leadership in addition to a vibrant teaching career.

Some opportunities that may interest you include:

  • Education policy analyst: If a leadership career outside the classroom interests you, a role in policy might be a good fit. You may put your research and analytical thinking skills to work with lobbyists or special interest groups to pass legislation pertaining to education. Your education background can come in handy as you work to drive legislation forward that benefits schools, teachers and the educational system as a whole.
  • School and career counseling: Leadership takes many forms, and one of them could involve working with students one on one as a guidance counselor. As the name implies, you might implement a number of strategies to help guide students toward success in school and in life.
  • Education administration: As an educational administrator, you may have the opportunity to take on a lot of different roles within the field of education. You may enjoy the leadership position of a school principal. Or perhaps you wish to guide the policies and curriculum decisions for the school system as a whole. Leading educational organizations holistically is the key to success in this dynamic role.
  • Instructional design and technology: In this role, you may design individual courses, assessments or even entire curricula for a school or school system. Perhaps you could write teaching manuals or guides. There are a variety of ways to apply your writing, communication and curriculum design skills with a master's in educational leadership under your belt.
  • Corporate trainer: If a corporate career is a path that interests you, your master's in educational leadership can prepare you for success designing and implementing training programs in the workplace. You may develop materials, give presentations, run workshops and more. Your teaching skills could work well in tandem with the leadership and curriculum design skills gained in earning your master's in educational leadership online.

You may also wish to use your master's in education leadership as a jumping-off point toward a doctorate in educational leadership. Our admission counselors and academic advisors are ready to help you choose the path that is right for you. They’ll also ensure that you receive every possible transfer credit, which can save you time and money over the course of completing your education.

No matter which career path you choose with your online master's in educational leadership, know this for sure: You are on a sure path to change lives for the better.

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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.