Educational Leadership Program: School District and School Building Leadership
100% Online or in Teacher Center Cohorts
Stony Brook University’s Educational Leadership (EDL) post-master's graduate certificate program prepares K-12 educators for advancement into positions at both the school building (SBL) and school district (SDL) levels. This 36-credit program leads to greater marketability and compensation potential in positions such as superintendent of schools, assistant superintendent, director, principal, assistant principal, department chair, or athletic director.
As the largest program of its kind available online in New York State, the Stony Brook EDL program offers flexibility for working professionals to obtain two certifications that meet the demand for competent, confident leaders in education.
Develop the values, thinking, and practices that set you apart.
Prepare to engage with scholar-practitioner faculty who are leaders in the field of educational leadership and learn:
- Theory and practice for the effective administration of education.
- Sound leadership practices and decision-making within an educational community.
- Innovative approaches to create change through cooperation and collaboration.
- Best practices for the highest standards of professionalism in educational leadership.
Further your career and passion for leadership.
Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to advance your career in an educational leadership capacity and become part of an extensive professional network of alumni across New York State. And when you're ready to pursue your doctorate, we have articulation agreements with universities in the region that offer a shortened time to degree completion, tuition discounts, or both.
Application DeadlineDecember 1FOR SPRING 2025 |
Important Program Links
- Admissions Information
- Cost and Funding
- Course Descriptions
- Directory
- Faculty
- Mandatory Professional Licensure Disclosure
- New York State Certification
Teacher Center Cohorts
Want to know if we offer our programs in a Teacher Center near you? Email us with the name of your district.
Educational Leadership Program Curriculum
This program consists of 36 credits, distributed among the four areas listed below. You can find descriptions on the Course Descriptions page. Please note that the courses are only available to students who are matriculated in this program.
Foundation Courses – 9 credits
EDL 501 Educational Leadership Theory I
EDL 502 Educational Leadership Theory II
EDL 503 Educational Leadership Practice
Core Courses – 18 credits
EDL 515 School District Leadership
EDL 528 School Law
EDL 541 School Building Leadership
EDL 555 Supervision of Instruction
EDL 571 School Business Administration
EDL 572 School Personnel Management
Research Project – 3 credits
EDL 595 Educational Leadership Research Project Seminar
The goal of the Project Seminar is to teach students to understand and conduct graduate-level
research that culminates in a final research paper. Successful completion requires
a grade of "B" or better; otherwise, the course must be repeated in order to graduate.
No transfer credit or substitutions permitted.
Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation and required course work.
Internship and Seminar – 6 credits
EDL 585 Internship in School District/School Building Leadership* (co-requisite: EDL
586)
EDL 586 Seminar in School District/School Building Leadership* (co-requisite: EDL
585)
*Prerequisite: Completion of all foundation and required course work. Students may not enroll themselves in EDL 585 and EDL 586. Students who have completed the prerequisite course work should contact the Internship Coordinator, Dr. Robert Scheidet, for enrollment.
Please Note: In addition to the full semester and summer portion of the internship, there are field hours embedded in each course through authentic activities. These field hours and EDL 585 are typically completed through the school district in which the student works.
Examination and NYSED Workshop Requirements
In addition to their graduate course work, all candidates for certification must pass a required New York State qualifying test prior to issuance of a license after graduation from this program. They also must complete required NYSED workshops for certification. It is the student’s responsibility to monitor the TEACH website to ensure that they are taking the appropriate workshops and examinations.
Connect with an Admissions Advisor
Send us an email to educational_leadership@stonybrook.edu, give us a call at 631-632-7759, or fill out our form.