Master's in School Administration
Earn your master's degree in school administration online in as little as two years. No entrance exam required.
Online Master's in School Administration
Every school needs a leader, and we're here to help you fulfill that role. With an online master's degree in school administration from Wayne State College, you'll be well prepared for a career in educational administration. Our online graduate courses for school administration will help prepare you for leadership roles such as principal, assistant principal, or director. Course concepts include administration and leadership, school law, finances and facilities, supervision and instruction, and school organization. You'll then solidify your skills by participating in a practical internship arranged cooperatively with Wayne State College.

No. 5 in the U.S.
Best Online Master's Degree in Education Administration 2020
Intelligent.com

Best Online Master's Degree in Education Administration 2020
No. 5 in the U.S.
Intelligent.com
Intelligent.com ranked Wayne State College as No. 5 in the U.S. for the athletic administration focus area within the MSE in School Administration.

No. 1 in the U.S.
Best College for Educational Leadership Degree Programs, 2018-19
Schools.com

Best College for Educational Leadership Degree Programs, 2018-19
No. 1 in the U.S.
Schools.com
Wayne State College has earned the distinction of having the best educational leadership degree programs in the U.S. for 2018-19. If you're passionate about education and feel that your strengths would be best used in the upper tiers of administration, educational leadership degree programs are your stepping stone to the next level. Training in educational leadership can give you the skills you need to provide the best experience possible for your students, staff and teachers. Criteria used in ranking the top educational administration programs included tuition and fees, graduation rate, accessibility, student-to-faculty ratio, size of the program, and more.

No. 1 in Nebraska; No. 6 in the U.S.
Best Online Master's in Educational Administration, 2019
TopEducationDegrees.com

Best Online Master's in Educational Administration, 2019
No. 1 in Nebraska; No. 6 in the U.S.
TopEducationDegrees.com
Wayne State College's online master's degree in school administration was recently ranked No. 6 in the U.S. by Top Education Degrees. Ranking factors were based on the U.S. News and Word Report, tuition, and admissions criteria.
The Top Education Degrees’ mission is to provide the facts students need to find the degree programs that best suit their personal career goals. Their goal is to educate prospective students about everything they need to know as they embark on their dream educational careers.

No. 15 in the U.S.
Best Online Master's in Educational Administration, 2019
OnlineMasters.com

Best Online Master's in Educational Administration, 2019
No. 15 in the U.S.
OnlineMasters.com
OnlineMasters.com, a trusted source for unbiased college rankings and higher education planning, has ranked Wayne State College’s online master’s in school administration at 15th in the U.S for 2019. The top-ranked programs were selected based on curriculum, program flexibility, affordability, and graduate outcomes. OnlineMasters.com analyzed graduate schools across the country with only the top 50 making it to the final 2019 list.
In addition to interviews and surveys from current students and alumni, they also leveraged insight gained from human resource professionals. The methodology incorporates the most recent data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and statistical data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Most importantly, only programs from accredited nonprofit institutions were eligible.
- No entrance exams required
- Complete the program in as little as two years or extend up to 10
- 100% online
- Accredited
- Nationally-ranked program
School Administration Master's Degree Curriculum
Wayne State College offers a variety of different school administration master's degree and endorsement programs for careers in educational administration. You and your advisor will collaborate in the development of a program of study that best fits your interests and career path.
Curriculum for master's degree, or certificate of advanced study (non-degree):
School Administration 7-12 (12 courses, 36 hours)
School Administration (PK-8) (12 courses, 36 hours)
School Administration (PK-12) (15 courses, 45 hours)
Athletic Administration Focus Area (optional add-on with 3-6 extra hours)
School Administration Certification
In Nebraska, you may be certified as a principal at the PK-8 or 7-12 level. Iowa requires a PK-12 endorsement to be certified as a principal. If you are in another state, you should check with your school administrator licensing agency to see which endorsement is required. To be eligible for administrator certification in Nebraska, you must have a master's degree in education and two years of verified successful teaching experience. If you are seeking certification for the first time in Nebraska, you may be required to complete additional course work in human relations and special education.
Initial Certification:
Upon degree or endorsement completion, you'll contact the WSC Certification Officer to process the application of an administrative and supervisory certificate with the added endorsement of Principal. The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) may impose requirements for certification beyond your program of study at WSC, including the receipt of a passing score on the ETS Praxis II exam Educational Leadership Administration and Supervision. Our program of study is designed to prepare you for such a test, but performance on that test may depend on many issues beyond the control of our department including but not limited to prior professional educational knowledge, teaching and administrative experiences, test-taking skills, and the candidate’s retention of course material. Typically, the Nebraska Administrative and Supervisory Certificate will be good for a period of five years.
Renewal of Certificate
Renewal of an administrative certificate will require successful experience as an administrator. If you have not succesfully completed experience as an administrator at the time of renewal, an additional six (6) graduate credit hours will be required by NDE. Students who have completed a P-8 or 7-12 degree may want to consider taking the additional 9 hours to advance their endorsement to the P-12 level prior to certificate renewal to meet NDE’s renewal requirements.
School Administration Endorsement Programs
If you already have a master's degree in education from an accredited institution, you may be certified by completing an endorsement program that does not lead to an additional degree. If you have not previously completed a master's degree program, you will be required to take one of the MSE degree program options for school administration.
- PK-8 (36 hours)
- 7-12 (36 hours)
- PK-12 (45 hours)
Extending an Endorsement
If you've already completed a PK-8 or 7-12 school administration degree, you may extend your endorsement to the PK-12 level by completing one of the endorsement options.
- PK-8 (9 hours)
- 7-12 (9 hours)
Transfer Credit
A maximum of 18 graduate credits, subject to evaluation by the Dean of Education and Counseling, may be transferred from another regionally accredited graduate institution and applied toward a degree. Graduate credit accepted must meet a minimum course grade of B and be an appropriate substitute for courses in a WSC program. Credit that has been applied toward a previously earned degree will not be accepted, except for the 9 credit hours that are a part of the professional education core. All classes within an MSE degree program must fit into a 10-year timeframe for degree completion.
Program Fast Facts
Degree offered:
Master of Science in Education (MSE)
Costs (2020-21 Tuition):
$380 per credit hour
See cost calculator
Credit hours required:
Degree or certificate: 36-45
Endorsement only: 9
Delivery Method: Fully Online
Accreditation:
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Nebraska Department of Education
Licensing and Certification: Wayne State academic programs are designed to prepare students for licensure or certification in Nebraska. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Nebraska, please check that state's licensing board to determine their licensing requirements. Authorization may be required from them prior to beginning a clinical or field experience in that state. Learn more.
Earn your degree in as little as two years. Need more time? That's okay, too. Our program is flexible and can be extended up to 10 years.
Next start dates:
August 17, 2020
14 weeks, fall term
Registration opens March 9, 2020.
January 11, 2021
14 weeks, spring term
Registration opens Nov. 9, 2020.
May 17, 2021
3, 8, or 13 weeks summer term
Registration TBD.
June 7, 2021
5 weeks, summer term
Registration TBD.
July 12, 2021
5 weeks, summer term
Registration TBD.
August 23, 2021
14 weeks, fall term
Registration TBD.
Need more information?
For questions about the program, please contact:
Dr. Michael Sieh
Assistant Professor of Education
Email: misieh1@wsc.edu
Phone: 402-375-7185
Admission Requirements
Before applying, make sure you meet the admission criteria and hold a valid teaching certificate.
Ready to Apply?
You must first apply for admission to Graduate Studies before admittance into the School Administration Program.