MSEd in Educational Leadership & Advanced Certificates in School Building Leadership (SBL) and School District Leadership (SDL)

New York City public schools have great potential. At a time of higher standards and tougher assessments, there is a great need for exceptional educational leaders. These individuals must possess the confidence and passion to lead our schools, and, even more importantly, they must be prepared to weather this climate and to continue to lead effectively in spite of it. Our rigorous program, coupled with our supportive faculty, can help you meet that challenge.

MSEd in Educational Leadership and Advanced Certificate in School Building Leadership (SBL)/SAM Citywide Program

Our program in Educational Leadership is based upon the notion that the greatest predictor of student achievement is the quality of the teaching, and the greatest predictor of the quality of the teaching is the quality of principal leadership.

The 33 credit MSEd in Educational Leadership program includes the Advanced Certificate in SBL/SAM Citywide Program with the addition of 9 elective credits in the Educational Leadership or MPA program chosen in consultation with an academic advisor.

Teaching Approach

The Scaffolded Apprenticeship Model (SAM Citywide) is a School Building Leadership certification program that integrates leadership skill development into the work of school improvement.

What makes SAM an apprenticeship model is that the learning is embedded in the work participants do in their schools:

their schools are the subject of study
professional literature is used to shed light on and augment craft knowledge
action research links theory and practice and
success is measured based upon participants’ capacity to lead improved student outcomes in the schools in which they work.

What makes SAM a scaffolded model is a sequence of research-based ideas that shape the school work – explicitly at first and then internalized as “habits of mind.”

Developed in 2003 through a grant by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, SAM’s core principles and structures have formed the basis of the New York City Department of Education’s Children First Initiative inquiry team process as well as credentialing programs and school reform efforts in Boston, Massachusetts and the Bay Area in California.

Findings from ongoing longitudinal evaluation of the SAM program support SAM’s theory of change. Specifically, research findings suggest that SAM is a powerful model for improving outcomes for struggling students and for developing ongoing capacity for continual school improvement.

Since 2004 SAM has been offered exclusively to teams of practitioners working in selected New York City public schools.

For the first time the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College is pleased to be able to accept applications for the SAM Citywide program from individuals (as well as teams) working in any New York City public school.

The 24 credit School Building Leadership certification program is a two-year program and admits for both the Fall and Spring semesters. The program includes:

14 weekly 4 hour seminars per semester
One all-day school site visit per semester
4 day intensive each summer
Regular individual coaching

Students interested in pursuing the MSEd in Educational Leadership take an additional 9 credits beyond the SBL/SAM Citywide curriculum and can begin to take these courses after completion of their first semester.

Additional Information for Admission to the SBL/SAM Citywide Program

Applicants must have at least 3 years of teaching experience and must serve or be able to serve in their school’s inquiry team. Applicants should also have a prior Master’s degree or obtain the MSEd in Educational Leadership before they can be recommended for SBL certification. Please see the Application Addendum for more application information.

Required Courses		Credits
First Semester
PAF 9310 -	School Leadership and Organizational Management	3
PAF 9314 -	Instructional Leadership	3
Second Semester
PAF 9301 -	School Leadership in the Community	3
PAF 9312 -	Legal and Policy Issues for the Educational Leader	3
Third Semester
PAF 9309 -	Instructional Leadership in Educational Organizations	3
PAF 9320 -	Internship and Seminar I	3
Fourth Semester
PAF 9319 -	School Finance and Budgeting	3
PAF 9321 -	Internship and Seminar II	3

Elective Courses		Credits
PAF 9306 -	Human Capital Management for the Educational Leader	3
PAF 9313 -	Practicum in Supervision	3
PAF 9317 -	Seminar on Research for the Educational Administrator	3
PAF 9318 -	Issues in Educational Policy	3
PAF 9342 -	Political Policy Analysis in Education	3
PAF 9399 -	Selected Topics in Educational Administration	3
View all Course Descriptions

Advanced Certificate in School District Leadership (SDL)

The Advanced Certificate in School District Leadership is a 15 credit program and leads to NY State certification for educators who are interested in working in the school district level.

Required Courses		Credits
Choose One from Personnel Management:
PAF 9306 -	Human Capital Management for the Ed Leader	3
PAF 9120 -	Management I	3
PAF 9117 -	Public Personnel	3
Choose One from Research
PAF 9317 -	Seminar on Research for the School Administrator	3
PAF 9170 -	Research and Analysis I	3
Choose One from Policy Analysis
PAF 9318 -	Analysis of Education Policy	3
PAF 9342-	Political Policy Analysis in Education	3
PAF 9180-	Policy Analysis	3
Two 3-Credit Practicum Courses
PAF 9323-	Practicum in School District Leadership I	3
PAF 9324-	Practicum in School District Leadership II	3

Students who are applying for both certifications may take some coursework concurrently. Please note that SDL practicum cannot be taken until after the SBL/SAM Citywide internship requirements have been met. Also, electives toward the MSEd in Educational Leadership may include courses in the SDL curriculum. For more information, please speak with an advisor.

Additional Information for Admission to the SDL Program

Applicants must have at least 3 years of teaching experience and prior New York state certification in School Building Leadership. Applicants should also have a previously taken at least 60 graduate-level credits and have a Master’s degree. Please see the Application Addendum for more application information.