Graduate Degrees and Licenses in Educational Leadership

Increase Your Impact with a Master’s in Educational Leadership at BSU

Are you an educator thinking of transitioning into a leadership role? Do you see yourself developing and implementing curricula, serving as a superintendent or playing another decision-making role in administration? If leadership is your calling, add to your graduate studies or earn a master’s in educational leadership at Bridgewater State University.

For more than 180 years, BSU has helped educators master teaching and leadership skills to advance and grow in their careers. If you’d like to do the same, our Department of Secondary Education and Educational Leadership offers a variety of educational leadership programs.

Graduate Admissions

Bridgewater State University
Maxwell Library, Room 019
10 Shaw Road
Bridgewater, MA 02325

(508) 531-1300

gradadmissions@bridgew.edu

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Educational Leadership Program Highlights

3 students in a Secondary Education class, one woman in the foreground smiling at her desk with papers in front of her and pen in hand

The flexibility you need

At BSU, many of our graduate educational leadership programs can accommodate your schedule with classes after 4:00pm and various modalities: online, hybrid and face to face classes. There are quarter courses (7-8 weeks) and semester classes (15 week), as well as five-week intensive courses during the summer. Our educational leadership programs provide convenient, accelerated pathways for you, if you’re seeking an administrator license in Massachusetts.

BSU Professor Phyllis Gimbel teaching an Ed Leadership class

Educational leadership courses taught by top-notch faculty

Learn from faculty members who have extensive teaching and leadership experience. Your instructors also actively participate in educational research, professional organizations and scholarly publishing so you can benefit from their knowledge and networks.

BSU Ed Leadership grad and Elementary School Principal Edward Paris standing on a playground wearing a dark gray suit, white button down shirt and light blue tie

Variety that fits your needs

From becoming an administrator in secondary and postsecondary education to a business administrator and more, we have graduate educational leadership programs to fulfill your aspirations. This includes our master’s in educational leadership degree program and postbaccalaureate and post-master’s licensure programs.

Personalized learning that benefits you

Take educational leadership courses with just a handful of other graduate students. This provides you with a more personalized learning experience and one-on-one guidance compared to graduate educational leadership programs at other institutions.

Connect and collaborate with fellow graduate students

In some of our educational leadership programs, including the master’s degree in educational leadership and postbaccalaureate and post-master’s licensure programs, you’ll complete educational leadership courses as part of a small cohort. Build professional relationships with fellow educators and support each other through the graduate program and beyond.

Program of Study for Educational Leadership Graduate Students

Throughout each of our master’s in educational leadership and related programs, you’ll study everything from team building, decision making, problem solving and strategic planning to institutional, legal, fiscal and external political perspectives on education.

Educational Leadership (Non-Licensure) MEd and EdS: These programs emphasize theory and practice to prepare you to become a school administrator, supervisor, principal and superintendent.
Educational Leadership, Principal/Assistant Principal (Initial Licensure), Postbaccalaureate Licensure, MEd, Post-Master's Licensure and EdS: These programs prepare you for a career as a school administrator, supervisor, principal or superintendent, and include your postbaccalaureate or post-master’s initial licensure for Massachusetts.
Educational Leadership, School Business Administrator (Initial Licensure), Postbaccalaureate Licensure, MEd, Post-Master’s Licensure and EdS: These professional degree programs emphasize relationships between curriculum and instructional development, supervision of instruction, and professional and organizational development.
Educational Leadership, Special Education Administrator (Initial Licensure), Post-Master’s Licensure, EdS, Post-Master’s Licensure and EdS: Designed for educators with master's degrees, these programs delve into effective supervision and administration of special education programs.
Educational Leadership, Supervisor/Director (Initial Licensure), Postbaccalaureate Licensure, MEd, Post-Master’s Licensure and EdS: Hone skills to effectively lead through a practicum in supervisorship and directorship as part of these educational leadership programs.

Admission Requirements and Program Details

Click any link below to reveal each program's admission requirements and program description.

Educational Leadership, Principal/Assistant Principal

Educational Leadership, School Business Administrator

Educational Leadership, Special Education Administrator

Educational Leadership, Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent

Educational Leadership, Supervisor/Director

Program details from 2024-2025 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

Graduate Program Coordinator: Dr. Carol Young

Careers in Educational Leadership

Our educational leadership programs will help you develop and hone many skills for a variety of careers in secondary and higher education. You’ll learn how to manage staff members, set and achieve goals, create and implement budgets, work with families and the community and more.

Graduates of our educational leadership master’s program have gone on to become:

Elementary, middle or high school principals or assistant principals
School business administrators
Special education administrators
Superintendents or assistant superintendents
Supervisors or directors

The need for elementary, middle and high school principals and superintendents is expected to grow by

through 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Graduate Funding Opportunities

The College of Graduate Studies provides various opportunities for graduate students to receive funding while working towards their degrees. Appointments are competitive and are determined by undergraduate and/or graduate grade point averages, pertinent experience, educational preparation and interviews. For information on assistantships, fellowships and conference funding awards, please visit our Graduate Funding Opportunities page.