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. 1 in Nebraska, No. 9 in the U.S.
Best College for School Administration/Principalship, 2023
College Factual
Best College for School Administration/Principalship, 2023
No. 1 in Nebraska, No. 9 in the U.S.
College Factual
Wayne State College has been ranked at No.1 in Nebraska and No. 9 in the U.S. for having the Best Master's Program in School Administration/Principalship. For its 2023 ranking, College Factual looked at accredited colleges and universities in the United States to determine which ones were the best for secondary school administration/principalship students pursuing a degree. Factors included in the rank included program quality, caliber of the student body, program demand, educational resources, degree completion rate, student debt, and post-graduate earnings.
No. 11 in the U.S.
Best Online Master's in Education Administration, 2023
Intelligent.com
Best Online Master's in Education Administration, 2023
No. 11 in the U.S.
Intelligent.com
Intelligent.com ranked Wayne State College as No.11 in the U.S. for the best master's degree in education administration for 2023. Intelligent.com researched over 2,900 colleges and universities, evaluating each program on the basis of academic quality, graduation rate, cost and ROI, and student resources. All of the programs examined were also regionally accredited, with most having National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accreditation, which means they meet the highest quality standards for educator training.
Learn more about our online master's in school administration.
No. 5 in the U.S.
Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees
Great Value Colleges
Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees
No. 5 in the U.S.
Great Value Colleges
A master’s degree can mean as much as $400,000 in extra earnings over the course of a career compared to holders of bachelor’s degrees. Being able to earn that degree on a budget and at your own schedule while continuing to meet personal and professional responsibilities is a marvel of the modern era. These rankings were based on tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, and national recognition. View our online master's degrees.
- No entrance exams required
- Complete the program in as little as two years or extend up to 10
- 100% online
- Accredited
- Nationally-ranked program
Why I Chose Wayne State's Online Master's in School Administration
Emily Steinhoff MSE ’23 and Alex Hull ‘23 share their experience in completing Wayne State’s online master's in School Administration program. They chose Wayne State for a master's degree in the field of educational administration because of the convenience of the fully online program, relevance and applicability of the program material, and Wayne State’s excellent reputation in the education field. Hull is now the 7-12 grade principal at Meridian Public Schools, and Steinhoff is an instructional coach at Schuyler Middle School with the goal of becoming a principal in the next few years.
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)
Special Education Supervision Focus Area (optional add-on with 0-3 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)
Delivery Method: Fully Online
Credit hours required:
Degree or certificate: 36-45
Costs (2022-23 Tuition):
$392 per credit hour ($14,112 - $17,640 for 36-45 credit hours, based on 2023-24 tuition rates)
See cost calculator
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:
Jan. 8, 2024
16 weeks, spring term
Registration opens Nov. 6, 2023
May 13, 2024
3, 8, and 13-week sessions
Registration opens Mar. 25, 2024
June 3, 2024
5 and 10-week sessions
Registration opens Mar. 25, 2024
July 8, 2024
5-week session
Registration opens Mar. 25, 2024
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Need more information?
For questions about the program, please contact:
Dr. Michael Sieh
Assistant Professor of Education
Email: [email protected]
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.