Ready to step into school leadership? GCU's Administration & Leadership M.A. prepares working New Jersey educators to earn their principal's Certificate of Eligibility, build confident leadership skills, and make a lasting impact on students and schools.
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This isn't just a master's degree — it's your direct path to becoming a certified principal in New Jersey. Upon completing the 36-credit program, you'll earn both your M.A. and eligibility for the New Jersey Certificate of Eligibility (CE) as Principal. No separate program. No extra hoops. You graduate ready to lead.
The program is structured around the realities of being a full-time teacher or educational professional. Coursework focuses on practical, applicable leadership and management skills you can put to work in your school immediately — not just theory you'll revisit years from now. Evening and weekend scheduling options let you keep teaching while you grow.
The program culminates in a two-semester, 6-credit internship in Administration & Leadership — a hands-on capstone where you apply leadership and management skills directly in school settings. You'll be guided by both GCU faculty and local school district administrators, and you'll graduate with a portfolio documenting your real-world leadership experience.
Your M.A. opens doors well beyond the principalship. The program also positions you for postmaster's endorsements in School Supervisor, School Administrator (Superintendent), and School Business Administrator — so you can grow into any leadership role that fits your career goals, without starting over.
GCU's 10:1 graduate student-to-faculty ratio means your professors are accessible mentors, not lecture-hall strangers. Faculty bring active experience in school administration, curriculum leadership, and educational policy — so the conversations in class reflect the realities you'll face in the field.
Leading a school effectively takes more than instructional expertise — it takes strategic thinking, data-driven decision making, and the ability to build a culture where every student can succeed. GCU’s Master of Arts in Administration and Leadership is designed for educators who are ready to make that leap.
The 36-credit program develops visionary leaders grounded in the real work of school administration. You’ll study curriculum leadership for inclusive schools, school law, organizational leadership theory and practice, financial management, supervision of instruction, and data-based strategies for decision making. Throughout the program, emphasis is placed on evidence-based leadership that improves instruction and student learning outcomes — the standard the New Jersey Professional Standards for Educational Leaders holds all school administrators to. The program is aligned with these standards throughout.
The program’s two-semester internship is where everything comes together. Working alongside district administrators and GCU faculty supervisors, you’ll apply the knowledge you’ve built in real administrative settings, prepare a reflective portfolio, and demonstrate readiness for school leadership. Whether your goal is the principalship, a district-level role, or eventually the superintendency, this program lays the foundation — and provides the formal credentials — to get you there.
GCU’s M.A. in Administration & Leadership is a great fit if you:
New Jersey consistently ranks among the top states in the nation for educator and administrator compensation. Here’s where a GCU Administration & Leadership degree can take your career.
| Entry Salary | Mid-Career Salary | Experienced Salary |
|---|---|---|
| $85,000–$100,000 | $128,180 | $155,000–$200,000+ |
Superintendent salaries in NJ typically range from $150,000 to $250,000+ depending on district size.
Job Outlook
School principal and educational administrator positions are projected to grow 4% from 2023 to 2033 — in line with the national average for all occupations — with approximately 24,300 job openings per year nationally (largely driven by retirements and transfers). In New Jersey, demand for qualified, certified school leaders remains consistent, particularly in districts seeking principals with dual general and special education leadership credentials.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDC5010 | Curr Leadership for the Incl Sch | 3.0 |
| EDC6101 | Organizational Leader Theo in Incl Sch | 3.0 |
| EDC5014 | Methods of Res for Leaders in Incl Sch | 3.0 |
| EDC5102 | Superv of Instr in the Incl School | 3.0 |
| EDC5013 | Curr Lead & Mang for Diverse & Incl Sch | 3.0 |
| EDC5101 | School Law | 3.0 |
| EDC6102 | Organizational Leader Prac in Incl Sch | 3.0 |
| EDC6401 | Superv & Leadership of Instr & Learning | 3.0 |
| EDC6103 | Data-Based Strat for Decision-Making | 3.0 |
| EDC6104 | Financial Management | 3.0 |
| EDC6090 | Internship in Admin & Leadership I 1 | 3.0 |
| EDC6091 | Internship in Admin & Leadership II 1 | 3.0 |
| Total Credits | 36.0 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Requirement for School Administrator Certification Eligibility: | ||
| EDC6094 | School Chief Admin Internship III 1 | 3.0 |
Requires 150 clinical hours.
Praxis Test: Administrator candidates are required to pass the applicable Praxis II test prior to applying for certification.
Ready to take the next step in your education career? Here’s what you’ll need to apply to the Administration & Leadership M.A. program.
To be admitted, applicants must submit:
Non-native English speakers are also required to demonstrate advanced proficiency via the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI).
All materials should be submitted as early as possible — applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. Contact Graduate Admissions at 732-987-2770 or [email protected] with any questions.
Graduates of GCU’s Administration & Leadership M.A. are prepared to lead with vision, integrity, and a deep commitment to student success. Aligned with the New Jersey Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (NJPSL) and the National Policy Board for Educational Administration’s Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL), program completers will be able to:
Q: Does this program lead to NJ certification as a principal? A: Yes. Graduates of the Administration & Leadership M.A. earn eligibility for the New Jersey Certificate of Eligibility (CE) as Principal — the formal credential required for employment as a building principal in NJ. You must apply to the NJ DOE for the certification separately after completing the program and meeting the experience requirement.
Q: How many years of experience do I need before applying? A: For the principal CE, the NJ DOE requires five years of successful educational experience. For the supervisor CE, the requirement is three years. You can be admitted to GCU’s program before meeting these thresholds — but you’ll need to meet them before applying to the state for certification.
Q: Is a GMAT or GRE required? A: No. GCU’s Administration & Leadership M.A. does not require standardized test scores for admission.
Q: What is the internship like? A: The two-semester capstone internship (EDC6090 and EDC6091, 6 credits total) places you in real administrative settings — working directly in school buildings under the supervision of both GCU faculty and local school district administrators. You’ll apply leadership and management skills, build a professional portfolio documenting your competencies, and develop the practical experience the NJ DOE looks for when you apply for certification.
Q: Can I do the program while teaching full time? A: Yes — the program is designed for working educators. Course scheduling accommodates evenings and weekends. Confirm specific scheduling options and delivery format with the program director.
Q: Does this program qualify me for the School Supervisor credential too? A: Most of the coursework that satisfies the School Supervisor endorsement is embedded within the M.A. curriculum. M.A. graduates will have completed EDC5010, EDC5102, and EDC6401 — meaning only EDC5013 (one additional course) is typically needed to complete the full School Supervisor endorsement coursework.
Q: What’s the difference between the M.A. and the Ed.D.? A: The M.A. in Administration & Leadership is a 36-credit program that leads to principal and supervisor certification and prepares you for building-level and early district-level leadership. The Ed.D. is a 54-credit doctoral program that goes further — preparing you for senior district leadership (superintendent-level roles), original research, and the highest levels of educational systems change. Many Ed.D. students begin with the M.A.
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