Educational Leadership, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS)

Purpose

The C.A.G.S. in Educational Leadership program is designed to prepare school and district leaders who support learning and growth for all students, make collaborative decisions based on evidence, build and sustain collaborative communities of practice, lead powerful professional learning, and engage families and communities in the life and work of the school. The program supports the development of cutting-edge knowledge of relevant educational policy, law, and practice in order to ensure a safe, ethical, and productive educational workplace. This unique program integrates a certificate in teacher leadership as a foundational component, based on the belief that the skills of teacher leadership are integral for all educational leaders, and that the ability to lead from within the class as well as to partner with teacher leaders is vital for all aspiring formal school leaders. Including the certificate in teacher leadership, this two-year, four-semester program uses a cohort model, allowing students to build strong collegial relationships to support their learning over the course of the program. Students will enroll in practicum and seminar experiences in each semester of the program in order to pair field-based learning with their classroom learning. At the culmination of the program, students may pursue licensure as a school principal or assistant principal.

Prerequisites (direct entry into C.A.G.S.)

1. Evidence of having earned a master’s degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited program with an overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in a Master’s program.
2. An Educator License.
3. A letter of reference (preferably from a building principal or other educational supervisor).

For students entering the CAGS through our articulation agreement with Brandeis University, up to 15 credits of coursework from the Brandeis Teacher Leadership Program may transfer directly into the CAGS in Educational Leadership Program at SSU, giving students who fit these criteria advanced standing in the CAGS program.

Prerequisites (entry into C.A.G.S. from Teacher Leadership Certificate Program)
In addition to the requirements listed above:

• Official transcript indicating successful completion of at least two courses in the SSU Teacher Leadership Certificate Program, with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, AND a letter of support from the program coordinator

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS