Education - Administration and instruction

This program prepares you to reimagine learning, from launching alternative education spaces to leading nonprofit or community-based initiatives. Through systems leadership coursework and an immersive externship, you’ll gain the tools to expand access to education and strengthen communities.

Upon graduation, you’ll be equipped to lead as a systems thinker, community collaborator and purpose-driven innovator. Nontraditional environments offer opportunities to implement inclusive, future-focused learning strategies.

The knowledge and skills you’ll develop

This program empowers you to launch and grow ventures that center on student and community needs. You’ll apply theory to practice through case studies, inquiry-based learning and critical reflection. The curriculum balances foundational leadership courses with electives and hands-on experiences that align with your goals. You’ll gain expertise in:

• Analyzing systemic challenges and leading adaptive change across educational ecosystems
• Building business models and sustainability plans for educational ventures
• Identifying and mobilizing community resources
• Launching ideas through social entrepreneurship
• Securing and managing grants and funding
• Navigating education policy and nonprofit leadership
• Understanding intellectual property in entrepreneurial contexts

Choosing the right educational leadership master’s program for you

ASU’s educational leadership master’s programs are built for those who want to drive change in learning spaces and improve student outcomes. The right program for you depends on your professional goals.

• MEd in educational leadership
  • This program is ideal if you’re passionate about reimagining education through entrepreneurial or creative work outside traditional school settings. You’ll focus on systemic innovation beyond a single school.
• MEd in educational leadership – principalship
  • This path is designed for aspiring principals and district administrators. Guided by a certified mentor principal in a yearlong internship, you’ll learn to support teacher and school success.

Integrating principles from social work, nonprofit leadership, therapeutic recreation and physical education teaching methodologies, this program allows you to gain an appreciation for all individuals. The curriculum cultivates systems-level thinking, encourages a reimagining of health and disease management and informs the development of health programming. You’ll also learn how to leverage the social, physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions of wellness to enhance health and quality of life.

Upon completing the program, you’ll be prepared to design, implement and assess education and health promotion initiatives. Your work can lead you to help others adopt healthy lifestyles and a proactive approach to improving overall well-being.

The skills you’ll develop

This program focuses on building interdisciplinary skills and exploring theoretical perspectives from education and public service. Throughout your courses, you’ll gain the confidence to empower others to pursue proactive wellness and adopt healthy lifestyles. As a graduate, you’ll also be prepared to:

• Apply team-based interprofessional practice.
• Critique social issues facing community health.
• Design proactive and innovative solutions to address community health issues.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

If your career goals include educating others on improving their health in community health programs, community organizations and schools, this program is ideal for you. You’ll develop interprofessional competencies in youth development, behavioral health, integrated health, education, recreation nonprofit management, leisure and community resources.

This program is interdisciplinary at its core. Individuals with bachelor’s degrees in any field can be excellent candidates if they’re passionate about making a positive impact on community well-being. Please note this program does not lead to professional teaching, social work or recreational therapy certification or licensure. These professions require additional education and training.

This early childhood special education teacher certification program teaches you how to support young children with exceptionalities and advance your understanding of early childhood education. You'll gain knowledge of child development theories, best practices and assessment methods. You'll also learn how to plan and implement effective interventions, monitor children’s progress and engage families collaboratively. Emphasizing the roles of family, community, collaboration and advocacy in early childhood special education, this program provides you with the knowledge, experience and certification needed to excel in this rewarding field.

Skills you’ll develop in this master’s program

Throughout this program, you'll develop a wide range of skills and competencies essential for working in early childhood education and special education settings, including:

• Collaboration with educators and parents.
• Design of inclusive instructional methodologies for various subjects.
• Development of research-based practices for typical and atypical behaviors in young children.
• Positive relationship building with children, families and communities.
• Remediation of learning difficulties.
• Support for child growth and development, including special health care needs.
• Support for language and literacy development.
• Use of a variety of assessment practices to evaluate young children's progress.

This teacher certification program also includes three professional placements: one in a birth-preschool setting and two in pre-kindergarten to grade 3 settings. You can choose between traditional or alternative certification routes. Traditional certification involves two internships and one student teaching experience, while the alternative route requires being hired as an early childhood teacher and completing two apprentice teaching courses, with an additional course or internship to meet requirements. These experiential learning opportunities will prepare you for a career in early childhood special education.

What candidates are a good fit for this early childhood special education teacher certification?

This early childhood special education master’s is ideal for candidates with a bachelor's degree in a field other than early childhood, special education or early childhood special education, who aspire to teach early childhood special education and obtain certification. If you're currently working in public or private preschools, elementary schools or early childhood education centers and you’re seeking certification or an alternative certificate, this program is well-suited for you.

Upon graduation, you'll receive an institutional recommendation for the Arizona Department of Education Early Childhood Special Education teaching certificate and will be prepared to sit for licensure exams, paving the way for a rewarding career in this field.

This master’s degree prepares you to become a leader in the higher education sector. In your courses, you’ll explore the intricacies of higher and postsecondary institutions, gain insight into the outcomes linked to earning a college degree, learn how to work with faculty and staff and develop supervisory skills tailored for the collegiate environment. Courses are taught by leading faculty who share your commitment to broad access, equity and community engagement within education.

Additionally, graduates will be prepared to support college-level students, staff and faculty in a variety of service areas, such as:

• Academic advising.
• Admissions.
• Athletics.
• Career services.
• Disability resources and services.
• Orientation.
• Residential life.
• Study abroad.
• Transfer student programs.
• Veterans and military service.

The skills you’ll develop

Through your coursework and a hands-on practicum experience, you’ll learn how to navigate the complex organizational processes at college campuses. You’ll also analyze the landscape of higher education globally. Upon graduation, you’ll be skilled in:

• Advising, supporting and developing students.
• Creating a learner-centered curriculum.
• Developing and understanding a budget for an organization.
• Leading within higher education administration.
• Understanding how to best support supervisees.

Who’s a good candidate for this master’s program?

Ideal candidates for this master’s in higher and postsecondary education program come from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds. Some already work in higher education and want to further their education, while others come to the field inspired by their own undergraduate experience and want to make an impact.

As a candidate, you should be interested in learning about the theoretical and practice-focused scholarship of how higher education works worldwide. You’ll graduate as a confident leader prepared for positions in higher education or an adjacent sector that serves college student populations.

This master’s program equips you with the skills and practical experience needed to become a certified teacher working with children in early ages through third grade. By completing your coursework, applied activities and in-person clinical experiences, you’ll gain skills in areas including early childhood development and pedagogy, policy advocacy and analysis, literacy, evaluation and research. You’ll also become knowledgeable about:

• Current trends and research in the field of early childhood education.
• Instructional design and delivery techniques for young learners.
• Typical/atypical early childhood development.

Earn your ECE master’s and certification together

In this program, you have the option to pursue a master’s degree only, or a master’s degree with Arizona certification in Early Childhood Education to become a licensed educator. The MEd in Early Childhood Education with certification includes two internships, each worth two credits: one in preschool and one in grades K-3. During these semester-long internships, you’ll spend one full day per week in a classroom setting working with children.

Certification students will also complete a full-time student teaching experience, working full-time for 15 weeks in an early childhood (K-3) classroom. While completing this, you’ll be expected to follow your mentor teacher’s contracted hours and are advised to not work other jobs during these times.

Who’s a good candidate for this master’s program?

An ideal candidate for this master’s in ECE plus certification program is a current or aspiring educator seeking official licensure to teach students who are in pre-K through third grade. The professional experiences in this program allow you to connect what you learn in your courses to real-world settings, helping to prepare you for a successful career.

If you aren’t seeking early childhood teacher certification or have already obtained it, ASU also offers a Master of Education in early childhood education. This program is designed for current educators who are looking to advance in their professional path or gain specialized knowledge.

This program is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any field who want to deepen their knowledge for teaching grades 6–12. Coursework emphasizes the connection between educational design, decision-making, professional growth and leadership. It’s ideal if you’re already working or planning to work in a school or similar learning environment but aren’t seeking teacher certification. Although this degree doesn’t lead to certification, it provides valuable scholarly and practical knowledge to enhance your role in educational settings. Please note that you’ll need access to students in a professional or community setting to complete the coursework.

Which Master of Education program is right for you?

Each of ASU’s online Master of Education programs is tailored to fit your specific career goals in education, whether you're pursuing a teaching license or looking to advance your career and knowledge.

If you’re looking to expand your expertise in educational theory and practice for grades 6–12, this secondary education master’s without teacher certification will be the right choice for you. If you want to earn your teacher certification, our Master of Education in secondary education – teacher certification program is a better option for you.

Additionally, ASU offers an online Master of Education in elementary education with certification and without certification. These programs’ curriculum prepares you for K–8 roles.

Programs with certification are the most popular option because they meet the widespread requirement for state certification, which all public schools mandate for teaching. While some charter, private and international schools don’t require certification, having it generally opens more teaching opportunities. However, earning a Master of Education without certification can also be beneficial, especially if you’re pursuing roles such as a teacher's aide or instructional assistant, or if you're interested in educational theory and research.

This program is for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any field looking to expand their expertise in teaching students in grades K–8. The curriculum focuses on educational design, decision-making, leadership and professional growth. This program is ideal if you’re working in or planning to work in a school or another learning environment without pursuing teacher certification. While this degree doesn’t result in certification, it equips you with valuable academic and practical skills to enhance your contributions in educational roles. Access to students in a professional or community setting is required to complete the coursework.

Which Master of Education program is right for you?

Each of ASU’s online Master of Education programs is tailored to fit your specific career goals in education, whether you're pursuing a teaching license or looking to advance your career and knowledge.

If you’re looking to expand your expertise in educational theory and practice for grades K–8, this elementary education master’s without teacher certification will be the right choice for you. If you want to earn your teacher certification, our Master of Education in elementary education – teacher certification program is a better option for you.

Additionally, ASU offers an online Master of Education in secondary education with certification and without certification. These programs’ curriculum prepares you for grades K–8.

Programs with certification are the most popular option because they meet the widespread requirement for state certification, which all public schools mandate for teaching. While some charter, private and international schools don’t require certification, having it generally opens more teaching opportunities. However, earning a Master of Education without certification can also be beneficial, especially if you’re pursuing roles such as a teacher's aide or instructional assistant, or if you're interested in educational theory and research.