Educational Leadership and Professional Studies

The Department of Educational Leadership and Professional Studies (ELPS) offers graduate study for education professionals who wish to enhance their careers with advanced degrees, certifications, and endorsements. The ELPS Department offers a variety of programs designed to meet graduate students’ personal and professional goals, which may include educational research, teaching, supervising, and providing leadership as directors, principals, librarians, or curriculum specialists at all levels of instruction: elementary, secondary, and higher education. Courses are offered on campus, online, and hybrid.

MA Programs

MA in Higher Education Administration

The 30-credit master's degree in higher education administration is an advanced and in-depth study of the history, structure, organization and administration of colleges and universities in the United States. Overall concentration is on leadership. More info »

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100% Online MA in Higher Education Administration with a Concentration in Leadership Studies

MEd Programs

MEd in Curriculum and Learning with concentrations in Bilingual/ESL, Early Childhood Education, School Library Media, School Nursing, and STEAM

These 33-credit master's degree programs meet the professional development needs of inquiring educators who want to develop in-depth knowledge of theories and trends, research, pedagogical approaches, and applications of educational technology for teaching in one of five areas of specialization. Some courses are offered online or in blended learning environments. Graduates in all concentrations are prepared to become classroom researchers and leaders with a commitment to equity and diversity in curriculum development and reform. More info »

Concentrations:

○ Bilingual/English as a Second Language: This program focuses on developing advanced practitioners in the fields of bilingual education and English for speakers of other languages. As part of the full master's degree program in education, the concentration stresses principles of inquiry, theory, professional applications, and research. More info »

○ Early Childhood Education: This concentration focuses on inquiry-based learning of developmentally appropriate practice, family involvement, technology, and issues and trends in early childhood education. Students apply theoretical knowledge to action research studies conducted in a variety of early childhood settings. More info »

○ School Library Media (Online program): This 33-credit online program focuses on developing the school librarian as a teacher, instructional partner, information specialist, reading advocate, and program administrator for preschool through high school grades. More info »

○ School Nursing: This concentration focuses on helping to develop the school nurses’ knowledge, values, and skills. More info »

○ STEAM: This concentration is designed for teachers who seek to increase their pedagogical competence in educational approaches to learning by using Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM). More info »

○ Teaching Children Mathematics: This concentration is designed for teachers who teach mathematics and other subjects in grades K-5 as well as for mathematics-certified middle and high school teachers who seek to increase their pedagogical competence. Program emphasis is on the teaching, learning, and assessment of mathematics in light of current New Jersey State requirements, the NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, and the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS). More info »

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MEd Educational Leadership
100% Online MEd in Educational Leadership (With New Jersey Certifications)
100% Online MEd in Educational Leadership
MEd in Literacy Reading

MEd in Literacy Reading

The MEd program in educational leadership is designed for educators interested in responding to societal demands to modify the roles, responsibilities, and relationships of school leaders. This graduate program prepares individuals to move beyond reforming school organizations to transforming them for the twenty-first century. At the conclusion of their studies, graduates embrace collaborative leadership, reflective inquiry, and ethical values that support culturally responsive school leadership. This two-year, 39-credit program incorporates both weekend and summer classes utilizing face-to-face and hybrid teaching formats, as well as a two-year administrative internship experience completed on-site while candidates continue in their current job. This two-year cohort program is intended for candidates who have completed a bachelor's degree and will have completed five years of successful, full-time teaching or educational services experience by program completion. More info »

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100% Online Master of Education with a concentration in Teaching of Writing for Grades P-12
100% Online Master of Education in Special Education with a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorder & Development Disabilities

Endorsement & Certificate Programs

Graduate Certificate: Principal (SCPR)

The post-graduate program in educational leadership is designed for educators interested in responding to societal demands to modify the roles, responsibilities, and relationships of school leaders. This post-master's graduate program prepares individuals to move beyond reforming school organizations to transforming them for the twenty-first century. At the conclusion of their studies, graduates embrace collaborative leadership, reflective inquiry, and ethical values that support responsive school leadership. This two-year, 30-credit program incorporates both weekend and summer classes utilizing face-to-face and hybrid teaching formats, as well as a two-year administrative internship experience completed on-site while candidates continue in their current position. This two-year cohort program is intended for candidates who have completed a master's degree and will have completed five years of successful, full-time teaching or educational services experience by program completion. More info »

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Gainful employment disclosure
Graduate Certificate: Associate School Library Media Specialist (NJ #2845)

The MEd in literacy program offers two major concentrations, reading specialist and language arts. The reading specialist concentration is designed for classroom teachers and reading professionals who are interested in extending their knowledge of reading/literacy, teaching and learning. Graduates of this program may be certified as New Jersey Reading Specialists (Pre-K through adult). There are two options in the program. One is for candidates to take a combination of on-campus and online courses. The other option is for candidates to complete course work online, including 20 hours of reading practicum requirements at their respective schools. More info »

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Gainful employment disclosure

Gainful employment disclosure - alternate route
Graduate Certificate: School Library Media Specialist (NJ #2855)

This online program prepares candidates with a master's degree in library science or another related degree to be recommended for certification as a School Library Media Specialist. This program focuses on training school librarians as teachers, instructional partners, information specialists, reading advocates, and program administrators for preschool through high school grades, leading the way in developing twenty-first century skills. For students without a teaching certificate, alternate route programs are available. More info »

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Gainful employment disclosure

Gainful employment disclosure - alternate route
Graduate Certificate: Reading Specialist (NJ #3310)

This program is designed for experienced and certified teachers who hold a master's degree from an accredited institution. Upon successful completion of the curriculum, the student is eligible for New Jersey certification as a reading specialist. More info »

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Gainful employment disclosure
Graduate Certificate: Middle School (5-8) Math (NJ #1102)

Each of the courses uses appropriate technology to allow learners to discover knowledge dynamically and emphasizes the NCTM standards of problem solving as a means as well as a goal. Importance is placed on communication of ideas in various means, interrelatedness of math applications, as well as the special NCTM standards for a particular content. More info »

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Graduate Certificate: Middle School (5-8) Language Arts and Literacy (NJ #1106)

This program is designed for teachers who are already certified for elementary grades K-5. The state requires 15 credits of study in the content area to teach at a middle school level. More info »

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Graduate Certificate: Bilingual (NJ #1480)

This program is designed for certified teachers who desire an endorsement to teach in a bilingual-bicultural program. More info »

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Gainful employment disclosure - 30 week program

Gainful employment disclosure - 42 week program
Graduate Certificate: ESL (NJ #1475)
Graduate Certificate: STEAM
Graduate Certificate: Supervisory (NJ #0106)

This post-graduate 12-credit endorsement program prepares teachers for a variety of supervisory positions. More info »

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Gainful employment disclosure

MA in Higher Education Administration
The program is designed to enhance the professional and career development of current and future managers, leaders, and executives within institutions of higher education.

MEd in Curriculum and Learning: Bilingual/English as a Second Language Concentration
Students who are New Jersey certified teachers may also pursue, with additional requirements, an endorsement as either bilingual and /or ESL teachers.

MEd in Curriculum and Learning: Early Childhood Education Concentration
Students are prepared to develop innovative curricula and take leadership roles in the field of early childhood education. Some of the courses in the concentration count toward the 12-credit New Jersey Supervisory Certificate.

MEd in Curriculum and Learning: School Library Media Specialist
You will have the opportunity to lead the way in developing twenty-first century skills, with an option for endorsement as a School Library Media Specialist (36 credits in total).

MEd in Curriculum and Learning: School Nursing
This degree program meets the professional development of inquiring educators who want to increase their knowledge and expand their career opportunities in school nursing. Graduates are prepared to become researchers and leaders with a commitment to equity and diversity in curriculum development and reform. Expand your knowledge, value and skills as you prepare for your role as a school nurse.

MEd in Curriculum and Learning: Teaching Children Mathematics Concentration
Graduates are prepared to become grade level leaders of mathematics education in their schools. Principles of inquiry and applications for classroom research are emphasized throughout the program. Some of the courses in the concentration count toward the 12-credit New Jersey Supervisory Certificate.

MEd in Educational Leadership
Upon successful completion of this two-year cohort master's program, candidates receive their MEd in educational leadership, supervisory endorsement, and after successfully passing the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) Praxis exam, candidates are eligible for principal licensure by the New Jersey Department of Education.

MEd in Literacy with concentrations in Reading or Language Arts
The program is designed to prepare graduate students who are certified teachers to work professionally in the highly specialized field of reading and writing to P-12 students. Graduates are also qualified to work with college-level students and adults who are experiencing literacy problems. Some of the courses in the concentration count toward the 12-credit New Jersey Supervisory Certificate.

Graduate Certificate: Principal (SCPR)
Upon successful completion of this two-year cohort based certification program and after successfully passing the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) Praxis exam, candidates are eligible for principal licensure by the New Jersey Department of Education. Options exist for an additional 6 credits to also obtain the supervisory endorsement.

Graduate Certificate: Associate School Library Media Specialist (NJ #2845)
This program prepares candidates to be recommended for certification as an Associate School Library Media Specialist in all New Jersey public schools under the supervision of a certified school administrator, principal, or supervisor.

Graduate Certificate: School Library Media Specialist (NJ #2855)
A certification as a School Library Media Specialist will enable students to acquire an endorsement to work in all public schools in New Jersey as a school librarian.

Graduate Certificate: Reading Specialist (NJ #3310)
Graduates will be certified in New Jersey to be a reading/literacy coach or specialist. Some of the courses in the concentration count toward the 12-credit New Jersey Supervisory Certificate.

Graduate Certificate: Middle School (5-8) Language Arts and Literacy (NJ #1106)
The endorsement entitles teachers to teach language arts and literacy full-time in grades 5 through 8.

Graduate Certificate: Bilingual (NJ #1480)
Graduates will be eligible to teach in bilingual-bicultural programs.

Graduate Certificate: ESL (NJ #1475)
Graduates will be eligible to teach in ESL programs.

Graduate Certificate: Supervisory (NJ #0106)
This endorsement authorizes the holder to be employed as a supervisor of instruction and athletic director (for those who do not hold a principal's endorsement) as well as an assistant superintendent in charge of curriculum and/or instruction in public schools.

ELPS News

William Paterson University Finds Creative Ways to Teach Art to School Children in Paterson During Pandemic Shutdown

William Paterson University Launches a New Concentration in its Master of Education Curriculum to Help K-8 Teachers “STEAM” Ahead

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