Earn Your Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Management (Non-Licensure) Online
Prepare for a broad range of administrative and leadership roles, both inside and outside the classroom, by enhancing essential skills and competencies in this non-licensure program.
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Overview
Discover the M.Ed. Educational Leadership and Management online program
$12,705
Total Tuition
12 months
Duration
33
Credit Hours
The non-licensure Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Management online program at Fitchburg State University expands your skillset as an educator and administrator while delivering curriculum in an accelerated online format to meet your needs as a working professional. No teaching license is required to enter the program.
This 100% online M.Ed. program combines accessibility and convenience with a stellar Fitchburg State University reputation that dates back more than a century. The curriculum is designed to expand your leadership competencies, with courses delivered in an accelerated and flexible format ideal for working educators.
- Department Chair
- Curriculum Leader
- Academic Coach
- Headmaster
- Childcare Manager
Student learning outcomes:
- Develop a supervision and feedback approach for faculty that grows and strengthens best practices, including best practices for online learning
- Demonstrate leadership capacity to ensure instructional units of faculty are anchored to key principles of Understanding by Design and Universal Design for Learning
- Exhibit capacity to lead in the design of data and progress monitoring meetings
- Apply understanding of diverse learning needs in the leadership of schools and their faculties
- Design school environments that apply current research in effective pedagogy and relevant elements of educational law
- Exhibit effective leadership to respond to achievement gaps caused by institutional racism and societal inequities
- Develop a supervision and feedback approach for faculty that grows and strengthens best practices, including best practices for online learning
- Demonstrate leadership capacity to ensure instructional units of faculty are anchored to key principles of Understanding by Design and Universal Design for Learning
- Exhibit capacity to lead in the design of data and progress monitoring meetings
- Apply understanding of diverse learning needs in the leadership of schools and their faculties
- Design school environments that apply current research in effective pedagogy and relevant elements of educational law
- Exhibit effective leadership to respond to achievement gaps caused by institutional racism and societal inequities
Completion of this online educational leadership master’s program prepares you to lead in supporting roles, such as:
- Department Chair
- Curriculum Leader
- Academic Coach
- Headmaster
- Childcare Manager
Accreditation
Fitchburg State University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Also available
Fitchburg State offers a variety of specialized M.Ed. options. Check out all of our M.Ed. online programs.
$12,705
Total Tuition
As few as 12 months
Duration
33
Credit Hours
Need More Information?
Tuition
Our affordable program tuition includes fees
Our M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Management online program offers affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition, which is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Ed. in Educational Leadership & Management (Non-Licensure) | $385 | $1,155 | $12,705 |
- Application fee: $50
- Visit the student accounts website for a breakdown of tuition and fees
- If you are applying for financial aid, please use School Code 002184. For further information, please contact Financial Aid at (978) 665-3302 or [email protected].
Tuition breakdown:
$12,705
Total Tuition
$385
Per credit hour
Calendar
Know the important dates for our students
Fitchburg State online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year.
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Intent to Enroll Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer A | 5/19/25 | 4/21/25 | 5/2/25 | 5/9/25 | 5/12/25 | 5/13/25 |
| Summer B | 7/10/25 | 6/9/25 | 6/20/25 | 6/27/25 | 6/30/25 | 7/1/25 |
| Fall A | 9/4/25 | 8/5/25 | 8/15/25 | 8/21/25 | 8/25/25 | 8/26/25 |
| Fall B | 10/29/25 | 9/29/25 | 10/10/25 | 10/16/25 | 10/20/25 | 10/21/25 |
| Spring A | 1/20/26 | 12/22/25 | 1/2/26 | 1/8/26 | 1/12/26 | 1/13/26 |
| Spring B | 3/16/26 | 2/16/26 | 2/27/26 | 3/5/26 | 3/9/26 | 3/10/26 |
| Summer A | 5/18/26 | 4/20/26 | 5/1/26 | 5/7/26 | 5/11/26 | 5/12/26 |
| Summer B | 7/9/26 | 6/8/26 | 6/19/26 | 6/25/26 | 6/29/26 | 6/30/26 |
Now enrolling:
8/5/25
Apply Date
9/4/25
Class Starts
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Admissions
Know the requirements for this online educational leadership and management program
The admission process is the first step toward earning your online degree. Familiarize yourself with these requirements for Fitchburg State's M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Management online program along with information on required documentation. This program does not lead to initial or professional teacher licensure. No teaching license is required to enter this program.
Admissions Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Minimum 2.8 GPA on prior coursework
- Resume detailing professional experience
You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for admission.
- Submit graduate application and $50 application fee
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, with official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Minimum GPA of 2.8 in prior coursework; a letter of recommendation is required for students with a GPA below 2.8
- Professional resume
- Essay (no more than one page in length) on one of the following topics:
- Tell us about a positive situation in which you helped a person and made a significant difference in that person's life
- What are the most important factors in establishing a long-term working relationship with students, friends, etc.?
- Tell us about a significant event that involved you in a teaching or helping mode
To submit official documents by mail, send them to:
Fitchburg State University
Admissions Office
160 Pearl Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
International Students:
- An English Proficiency test is required for natives of non-English speaking countries (see testing options below)
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended*
- International Credit Evaluation for degrees and coursework taken outside of the United States
- GPA of not less than 2.5
- Application fee ($50)
- Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose (300 word minimum)
*All foreign transcripts must be formally evaluated before we are able to make an admission decision. We accept evaluations and the respective type of evaluation from one of the following credentialing agencies:
- World Education Services
- course-by-course ICAP
- Education Credential Evaluators (ECE) - course-by-course
- SpanTran - course analysis
- SpanTran has created a custom application for Fitchburg State University that will ensure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application here: SpanTran Pathway - Fitchburg State University
English Language Proficiency - Applicants can demonstrate English proficiency by submitting official test scores from one of the following approved exams:
- TOEFL - minimum score requires TOEFL iBT 79, paper based-TOEFL 550
- IEFLTS - minimum score required 6.5 overall band score
- Duolingo English Test - minimum score required 105
- PTE Academic Test - minimum score required 58
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign education (from a non-English speaking country) will need to follow the international admission requirements (English proficiency testing excluded). Students in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa are not eligible for the program. I-20s are not issued for online programs.
TOEFL Code: 3518
IELTS Code: No code; please select Fitchburg State as a recipient.
Courses
Take a look at the curriculum for this online master's in education program
For the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Management online, the curriculum is comprised of 11 courses covering 33 credit hours.
Students must take the following courses.
EDLM 8011: Achievement by Diverse Learners
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to prepare students with the knowledge and skills to effectively consider school policy and structure for all students. To this end, this course will prepare leaders/administrators to effectively and comprehensively assess, evaluate and support best practices in instruction for learners who come from different cultural and/or linguistic backgrounds. There is a particular focus in this course on promoting academic success for English learners, students from homes in poverty and other students who may come from homes where standard English is not spoken.
EDLM 8037: Educational Law for Administrator
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Constitutional/statutory provisions governing a public school system are examined on local, state, and national levels. Particular attention is given to the legal and ethical parameters of compliance of federal and state guidelines, legislation, and judicial decisions.
EDLM 8033: Using Data to Improve Student Learning
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Through case studies, applied practice and research-based practices, students investigate date sources for positive applications in administrative decision making to improve teacher effectiveness and student learning, as well as for school improvement. This course has imbedded experiential learning components.
EDLM 9007: Supervision and Feedback for Professional Development
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The role of the supervisor is examined and practiced as it has evolved from the traditional model to the instructional leadership model, a model that embraces collegiality and professional development in an era of accountability. This course has embedded experiential (field-based) learning components.
EDLM 8043: Leading Assessment Based Instruction
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will address the important role of classroom-based, formative and summative assessment to maximize student progress. Students will build upon previous coursework to align instruction with state and national standards and develop appropriate assessments. They will learn how to use a variety of informal and formal methods of assessment to measure student learning, growth, and understanding, develop differentiated and enhanced learning experiences, and improve future instruction. Students will analyze data from assessments, draw conclusions, and share them appropriately with parents and other professionals as appropriate. Professional behavior and ethics in the assessment process will be stressed. This course involves imbedded experiential (field-based) components.
EDLM 9006: Leading the Change Process
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course includes a review and analysis of sociological and psychological factors inherent in the educational change process. Such topics as organizational behavior, intervention theory, inter-group relations, and management techniques, among others, are reviewed. The course schedule includes a series of multi-hour sessions mixing lecture, simulation, problem solving and discussion of the four major components of the course: Principles of Change, Preparation for Change, The Dynamic Change Process, and Continuous Improvement. Experiential (field-based) learning is embedded in this course.
EDUC 9160: Reflective Seminar
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will return to a consideration of all prior courses in the program. As the terminal course in the program, the Seminar will revisit prior learning, and a Capstone Journal will be submitted, intended to be an expression of synthesis of all these prior courses, and a personal statement of recognized strengths and challenges of each seminar participant as they seek to apply and extend their learning in the program to their field. These journals will also be shared and considered by the other seminar participants to receive and offer feedback, and thereby deepen the product of the reflection by and from each student.
EDLM 8034: School, Family & Community Partnerships
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course prepares administrators with a solid base of knowledge, skills, and dispositions in regard to fostering and sustaining meaningful partnerships with families and communities with the goal of influencing the development of students. This course has imbedded experiential learning components.
EDLM 9011: Researching Pesrpectives in Education
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on relevant topics that are currently shaping education today. In this course students will examine issues facing educators (i.e. curricular and instructional decisions, legislative mandates, diversity and special education). This course is designed to acquaint students with the current research in education and how to assess its effectiveness and pertinence to educational problems and their solutions. Students will identify and analyze the research literature, its effect on issues, stakeholders and on educational outcomes. In addition to taking a critical stance on research, students will examine their personal biases and perspectives on educational issues to develop knowledge, skills and professional empathy.
ETEC 9200: Project in Educational Technology
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Completion of a comprehensive project utilizing educational technology in elementary, middle school, special, or secondary is required. Additional projects focus on associated school and school-district-based technology leadership. The course addresses competencies for developing and sustaining a comprehensive technology plan to improve teaching and learning.
EDLM 8038: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for Leadership
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to develop the knowledge and skills essential to leadership roles in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. There are experiential (field-based) learning hours embedded in this course.
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