Educational Leadership CAS Requirements

What You Will Learn | How You Will Learn

The CAS is an eight-course, 32 credit-hour program of study, beyond a completed master’s degree of at least 30 credit-hours in a teaching or closely related field. The 32 CAS credit-hours consist of seven (7) required courses and one (1) elective. One of the required courses is an internship, accompanied by a seminar. Electives are selected in consultation with the faculty advisor, and may be taken in relevant graduate programs across campus.

The CAS also requires students to pass the NYS School District Leader assessment and to develop a Personal Plan for Self-Improvement and Continuous Learning, consistent with current NYS standards. The Personal Plan is updated and refined at three defined checkpoints during the program of study.

All CAS students must abide by the Academic Policies detailed in the Graduate Student Manual. 

What You Will Learn

The CAS is anchored in state and national standards for the preparation of qualified, competent, and caring educational leaders. CAS students will:

• deepen their expertise in instructional leadership,
• expand their repertoire of technical tools for guiding complex organizations and
• enrich their understandings of the sociopolitical contexts of education.

CAS students will also refine their abilities to:

• think critically,
• communicate and collaborate effectively,
• facilitate school- and district-wide improvements and
• advance educational opportunities for PreK-12 children and youth.

How You Will Learn

The CAS:

• balances attention to theory, research and practical skill-building;
• integrates leadership experiences throughout the program of study;
• includes a mix of applications at both the school and district levels; and
• culminates in a competency-based capstone internship.

Over the course of the required program of study, students:

• execute varied field-based projects designed to develop leadership skills and provide useful services to schools and school districts,
• reflect on and critically analyze project experiences and
• examine a broad array of literatures to inform their leadership.