Leadership in Teaching

Summary

Classroom teachers play a vital role in preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The Master of Arts in Leadership in Teaching Program of Study provides advanced study for professionals who wish to become master teachers—leaders in the art and craft of teaching—with the commitment and skills to provide for the success of their students and the leadership development of their peers. Through graduate study in leadership, in pedagogy, and in international education, the Program develops competencies essential for contemporary educators.

The following are areas of specialization for the Master of Arts in Leadership in Teaching:

• Administration and Supervision
• Cultural Proficiency Leadership
• Digital Technology Leadership
• Library Media Specialist
• Literacy Specialist/Coach (Reading Specialist)
• Mathematics Instructional Leader
• Spanish
• STEM
• TESOL

Program Objectives

Through a combination of theory and practice, students develop leadership skills to assist them in team building, decision-making, problem-solving, communicating effectively, and planning and managing change. Courses in pedagogy introduce students to state-of-the-art practices that enable teachers to empower their students to be self-motivated, serious learners. Teachers improve their ability to become critical consumers of education research that explores teaching and learning. They become familiar with computer tools available for planning and instruction, use instruments for assessment and evaluation, and study approaches to curriculum design and course planning.

Students also devote serious study to expanding their intellectual and cultural horizons by means of coursework that focuses on social, cultural, and global dimensions of learning. They enlarge their capacity to identify and analyze challenges facing educators around the world and expand their awareness of and appreciation for differing cultural perspectives. In so doing, they cultivate skills necessary to teach effectively in an increasingly multicultural environment by becoming more aware of the diverse social and cultural contexts within which today's schools function.

Distinctive features of the 36-credit Program of Study include a multidisciplinary foundation, a focus on the professional development of classroom teachers, and scheduling options that include Saturday and evening courses during the school year, as well as intensive day classes during the summer. For students who prefer summer study only, an option is available which will permit degree completion in four consecutive summers.

The entire Program is offered on the Baltimore campus. In addition, some courses are offered at Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, Anne Arundel Community College, and the Eastern Shore Higher Education Center.

Students seeking certification in both initial and advanced Programs need to pass Praxis Core and Praxis II examinations. In place of Praxis Core, or Maryland accepted test score.