Educational Leadership and Administration - Short Overview from Cal Poly IGEE on Vimeo.
Mission
The Educational Leadership and Administration Program prepares educational leaders who foster a norm of ethical behavior, moral integrity, and social responsibility in an interdependent and rapidly changing world.
Leaders from many fields including K-12, higher education, and nonprofit organizations will benefit from this fast and flexible program. The Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Administration is instructed by a talented faculty composed of scholar-practitioners who bring real-world experience and nationally recognized scholarship to the teaching and learning experience. The program emphasizes:
- Applied theories of educational leadership
- Mastery of practical skills required for effective leadership and administration
- Competence in research methods necessary for understanding and assessing learning organizations
Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Administration
While designed primarily for K-12 leaders, the Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Administration is beneficial for leaders from other fields, including teacher leadership, higher education, and nonprofit leadership. The program emphasizes applied theories of educational leadership, mastery of practical skills required for effective leadership and administration, and competence in research methods necessary for understanding and assessing learning organizations. Qualified candidates who meet standards established by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing can earn the California Preliminary Administrative Services Credential with the master's degree.
Preliminary Administrative Services Credential
Overview: The California Preliminary Administrative Services Credential program prepares candidates to assume positions of leadership in California's K-12 school system. This credential program is open to candidates who currently hold a valid California teaching/service credential with five years of full-time teaching/service experience. Three quarters of fieldwork experiences are incorporated into the program. Qualified candidates who meet standards established by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing will be recommended for the credential.
Administrative Services Internship Program
Overview: California does not provide an emergency provision to hire someone to be an administrator who does not possess an administrative credential. The Administrative Internship Program supports districts that have an immediate need for an administrator and are without suitable candidates. Applicants must verify proof of a valid basic teaching or appropriate service credential and five years of teaching and/or related service, documentation of being offered an administrative position, and support for this internship from the superintendent of schools in employing district or county office of education. Students will earn the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential as they serve in an administrative capacity and complete the program of study for the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential.
Fast Track Schedule
- Designed to meet the needs of working professionals
- Courses completed over an 11-month period
- 16 weekends (Friday evenings and all day Saturdays, held bi-weekly)
- Five-week summer session
- Rigorous, practical, program requiring serious academic commitment
The Educational Leadership and Administration Program (ELAP) Faculty will discuss courses, the academic calendar, life as a graduate student, the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential requirements for those seeking K-12 administrative positions, and opportunities in Higher Education for those seeking only the MS. We are an 11-month cohort model, and we will provide details on this as well. Join us!
Educational Leadership & Admin (ELAP) Info Sessions
Fall Quarter 2025
Winter Quarter 2026
 Program Coordinators
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Andrea Somoza-Norton
Phone: 805-756-5373
Office: Building 2, Room 110
Email: asomozan@calpoly.edu
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Natasha Neumann
Phone: 805-756-6082
Office: Building 2, Room 112
Email: naneuman@calpoly.edu
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