School Administration Master's Degree – Wayne State College Nebraska

School Administration MSE program overview

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.

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. If you've already completed a PK-8 or 6-12 school administration degree, you may extend your endorsement to the PK-12 level by completing the endorsement option that you need.

Download program handbook (PDF) View program courses

This program is 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 about state authorization, licensure, and reciprocity.
In Nebraska, you may be certified as a principal at the PK-8 or 6-12 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 coursework in human relations and special education.
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 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 6 graduate credit hours will be required by NDE. Students who have completed a PK-8 or 6-12 degree may want to consider taking the additional hours to advance their endorsement to the PK-12 level prior to certificate renewal to meet NDE’s renewal requirements.
Student learning outcomes for the MSE School Administration program:
1. Analyze literature to improve educational practices.
2. Develop learning environments that promote student achievement.
3. Cultivate professional relationships with all stakeholders.
4. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to lead and transform schools.

Fast facts

Degrees offered:

Master of Science in Education (MSE) in School Administration PK-8
Master of Science in Education (MSE) in School Administration 6-12
Master of Science in Education (MSE) in School Administration PK-12
Optional focus areas: Athletic Administration, Special Education Supervision

Delivery format: Fully online

Program credit hours: 39-48

School administration core courses (9 credit hours)
Content courses: PK-8, 6-12, or PK-12 (21-27 credit hours)
Focus area (Athletic Administration or Special Education Supervision) or electives courses (9-12 credit hours)

School: Education and Behavioral Sciences

Department: Educational Foundations and Leadership

School administration core courses (9 credits)

Credits: 3
Description: Beginning graduate students will develop a practical knowledge and application of basic types of research, as well as basic research tools and skills that will be helpful to them throughout their program. Graduate students will create a research plan and write a review of literature (paper). Students will create appropriate survey and interview questions, develop a beginning understanding of educational statistics, and the process for developing a research proposal including Institutional Review Board requirements and application processes.
Credits: 3
Description: A course designed to examine the principles underlying the development of a PK-12 public school and post-secondary program curriculum. Emphasis on methods of determining priorities, objectives, scope and sequence and organizational patterns. The roles of state and local involvement will also be examined.
Credits: 3
Description: Introduction to administrative procedures of special services. Emphasis on Nebraska and national laws governing special education. Processes of planning and implementing student programs as well as maintaining student records, identifying, selecting and using local and state resources for operating the special education program are studied.

Content courses (21-27 credits)

Credits: 3
Description: This course examines the different areas of emphases and roles that are central to promoting effective instructional leadership in schools, especially as they apply to the principal. This will include the study of instructional leadership as it relates to the improvement of instruction, effective schools, and ongoing effective program delivery by personnel. Areas to be explored and discussed include significant and recent research and best practices of instructional leadership, high reliability schools, learning theory, the change process, school climate and culture, school improvement and the use of data, effective teaching methods and the relationship of instruction to curriculum.
Credits: 3
Description: This course explores the legal, ethical, and political issues of school administration and implementing equity of educational opportunity and culturally responsive practices. The course will examine the principles of PK-12 education law and the management of school operations through the study of the legal system and student and employee rights.
Credits: 3
Description: A study of school leadership, the organization and administration of public schools, and the meaningful engagement of families and communities to promote each student’s academic success and well-being. The Study shall include an examination of leadership styles, political and legal structure of schooling in the United States, and how to interact with and build partnerships with families and the community; as well as how to advocate for students and schools.
Credits: 3
Description: A study of the management of a school’s facilities and fiscal resources and the leadership skills necessary to cultivate a caring and supportive school community. Emphasis will be placed on acquiring and managing school resources, ethical stewardship of school funds, and maintenance of a safe, caring, and healthy school environment.
Credits: 3
Description: A course designed to acquaint student with leadership strategy, which will help administrators, supervisors, department chairpersons, or others with supervisory responsibility for improving the effectiveness of the teacher-learning process. Emphasis on the conditions and process of supervision.
For the PK-12 and PK-8 programs:
- EDU 610 Elementary School Administration PK-8 (3 credit hours) – A study of the role and responsibility of the elementary principal to lead by establishing a school vision; striving for educational equity; implementing a rigorous and coherent elementary curriculum; cultivating an inclusive, caring, and supportive school community; promoting professional capacity; and fostering a professional community to promote the academic success of elementary and middle school students. Topics include engaging families and community organizations, student personnel policies, student activities, guidance services, class scheduling, integrating technology, and evaluating the education program.
For the PK-12 and 6-12 programs:
- EDU 611 Secondary School Administration 6-12 (3 credit hours) – The study of the role and responsibility of the secondary school principal to lead by establishing a school vision, striving for educational equity; implementing a rigorous and coherent secondary curriculum; cultivating an inclusive, caring, and supportive school community; promoting professional capacity; and fostering a professional community to promote the academic success of middle and high school students. Topics include engaging families and community organizations, student personnel policies, student activities, guidance services, class scheduling, integrating technology, and evaluating the education program.
For the PK-12 and PK-8 programs:
- EDU 689 Internship in Administration PK-8 (3 credit hours) – A one-semester experience and study concerning administrative functions in selected PK-8 school settings. Arranged cooperatively with public/private schools and Wayne State College. Course objectives prescribed in EDU 689 syllabus include 130 internship hours. Prerequisites: EDU 657 School Organization and Community Relations and last 12 hours in the program of study.
For the PK-12 and 6-12 programs:
- EDU 690 Internship in Administration 6-12 (3 credit hours) – A one-semester experience and study concerning administrative functions in selected 6-12 school settings. Arranged cooperatively with public/private schools and Wayne State College. Course objectives prescribed in EDU 690 syllabus include 130 internship hours. Prerequisites: EDU 657 School Organization and Community Relations and last 12 hours in the program of study.
Students in the PK-12 program must complete 400 internship hours. Students in the PK-8 and 6-12 programs must complete 250 internship hours.

Select 12 hours from the following courses by advisement.
This focus area does not lead to any additional administrative endorsements in Nebraska.
- PED 610 Legal Aspects of Sport (3 credit hours) – This course explores the legal principles and rules of law affecting the administration of recreation, sports and athletic programs. Emphasis on risk management theory, safety principles, insurance concepts, and liability issues. Litigation trends identified and procedures outlined to minimize legal risks.
- PED 612 Advanced Sport Marketing and Promotion (3 credit hours) – Examination of the concepts and principles of marketing and promotion as applied to the unique aspects of sport within intercollegiate athletics, professional sport, and global opportunities that exist. Marketing and promotional topics include strategies, decision making, marketing mix, and implementation/control of the sport marketing process. Students develop marketing and promotional strategies that can be applied to real-life sport opportunities.
- PED 631 Seminar in Sport Management (3 credit hours) – This course will cover the following topics: sport ethics, sport journalism, sport accounting and practices, sport management computer applications, personal selling, funding strategies, public and media relations.
- PED 653 Program Management and the Transition of Sport (3 credit hours) – This course examines how managing relationships can become more important than performing tasks as managers of sport. This examination includes but is not limited to: building business strategies/organizational structure, customer/customer service, branding, employee relations, building alliances, crisis management, globalization, repositioning business, leadership. The course addresses contemporary problems and issues that are sport-specific.
- PED 664 Sport Event and Facility Management (3 credit hours) – This course is a study of the principles, guidelines, and recommendations for planning, construction, use of, maintenance and management of sports facilities and the various events conducted in them.
- PED 685 Social Issues in Sport (3 credit hours) – This course is designed to examine the various ways issues such as politics, economics, education, the mass media, gender, race, and financial compensation intertwine with sport in the United States.
Students applying for admission to a program of study for a Special Education Supervisor endorsement in Nebraska must currently have or be eligible to hold a teaching certificate with an endorsement in Special Education; and have completed two years of teaching in an approved or accredited school system.
- SPD 636 Social/Emotional Behavior (3 credit hours) – Develop prosocial classroom culture, climate and community using evidence-based behavior management strategies. Collaboratively problem solving within multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), functional behavior assessment (FBA), and behavior intervention plan (BIP) processes. Using positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) to develop culturally responsive learning environments that address the influence of family values, social and environmental factors.
- SPD 652 Collaboration and Co-Teaching (3 credit hours) – Effective techniques of working with parents, educators, paraprofessionals, related service providers, agencies and other professional personnel. A strong emphasis will be placed on the various models of co-teaching, forming co-teaching partnerships, and planning within a co-taught environment.
- SPD 690 Internship in Special Education Supervision PK-12 (3 credit hours) – A one semester experience and study concerning special education administrative functions in selected PK-12 school settings. Arranged cooperatively with public/private schools and Wayne State College. Course objectives prescribed in SPD syllabus include 70 internship hours.
If a candidate is only secondary-prepared, they must take EDU 604 Language Arts in the Elementary and Middle School.
- EDU 604 Language Arts in the Elementary and Middle School (3 credit hours) – A course designed to enhance instruction and assessment of elementary and middle level students’ communication skills.
- EDU 626 Advanced Educational Psychology (3 credit hours) - A study of theories of learning and motivation, conditions and processes of cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning; personal qualities of a teacher; the teaching process, classroom management; teaching the exceptional learner; and the role of evaluation in learning and teaching.
- EDU 627 Current Issues and Trends in Education (3 credit hours) – This course offers intensive study of specific issues and trends that have direct impact upon education. Individuals will choose a topic to examine in breadth and depth. It presents a comprehensive approach to the exploration of the selected topics. The course offers opportunities for the students to examine relevant topics affecting education in breadth and depth.
- EDU 674 History and Philosophy of Education (3 credit hours) – Philosophies and theories underlying the American educational system. An analysis of the differing philosophies of education and their implications for education in a democratic society.
- EDU 682 Developing and Integrating Technology in the Classroom (3 credit hours) – This is an advanced course in which students will further develop skills to use advanced technology for classroom presentations and interactive teaching/learning. This course is also designed to integrate instructional principles and assessment practices with the use of technology in the classroom. Students will develop a broader understanding of the application of technology in the curriculum of one’s subject area(s) or grade level(s).

Graduate spotlight: Emily Steinhoff and Alex Hull

Emily Steinhoff MSE ’23 and Alex Hull MSE ’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.