May 10, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

School Administration, MSA


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Graduate Coordinator: Karlin Burks Email: kjburks@ncat.edu Phone: (336) 256-2342
Department Chair: Sydney Richardson Email: sdrichardson1@ncat.edu Phone: (336) 256-2342

The Master of School Administration (MSA) program is designed to prepare school executives to assume leadership roles in schools and school systems, primarily as superintendents, central office administrators, principals, and assistant principals. Graduates of the School Administration program are eligible for licensure from the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction (SDPI) and may be qualified for administration certification in other states. Program content is aligned with the North Carolina Standards for School Executives, the National Educational Leadership Preparation Standards (NELP), the Professional Standards for Educational Leadership (PSEL) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Four years of successful teaching experience
  • Two years of Adult Leadership experience (e.g., department chair, grade-level chair)
  • Continuing Professional License (CPL)
  • Three official letters of recommendation, signed and sealed by the writer. One of the letters must be from the current administrator (e.g., principal or assistant principal).
  • Faculty Interview
  • Electronic portfolio that includes evidence in the following areas:
    • Support for all students achieving high standards of learning
    • Accomplished classroom instruction which shall include data providing evidence of two years of student growth and learning within the last 5 years
    • Significant leadership roles in past positions
    • Strong oral and written communication skills
    • Analytic abilities needed to collect and analyze data for student improvements
    • Demonstrated respect for family and community
    • Strong interpersonal skills o Knowledge of curriculum and instructional practices
  • Written Statements – please see College of Education website for writing prompts.
  • A copy of the most recent NC Teacher Evaluation (or its equivalent) with at least a minimum rating of Proficient in all standards.
  • Current resume

Degree Requirements


Credit Hours: 18


Yearlong Field-based Internship


First Semester Internship


Second Semester of Internship


Earn a Passing Score of the School Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA 6990)


Earn a Minimum Rating of Proficient on


NCDPI (North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Certificate of Competency

Total Credit Hours: 30


*Required for NCDPI State Internship Stipend

The field-based internship must be completed during the fall and spring semesters.

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