Credit Hours
The MSA program is 39-45 credit hours, spans two years, and follows a cohort model beginning in July.
Hyflex Format
Academic courses are offered in concentrated 6-week blocks on Wednesday evenings (online) and select Saturdays (online and in-person), designed to fit the schedules of working educators.
Internship
The internship takes place over a full school year and is a vital component of the program, offering immersive leadership experiences that prepare students to lead with confidence as a principal.
Licensure
The School Administration program prepares graduates for the North Carolina School Administrator Principal License, which qualifies candidates to serve as K–12 principals across the state.
A Community of Leaders
Learn More
About the Program
The School Administration program prepares experienced educators to lead with purpose, respond to student and community needs with intention, and make an immediate impact as licensed K–12 principals through a two-year, cohort-based program blending rigorous coursework with real-world administrative experience.
Building Confidence Through Experience
Program Benefits
- Balance work and study through hyflex learning built for working educators
- Build expertise in instructional leadership, cultural responsiveness, and management
- Apply skills in a full-time assistant principal internship
- Learn within a collaborative, service–minded cohort committed to advancing opportunity
- Graduate prepared to lead with licensure as a K–12 principal in North Carolina
“When I think about my MSA experience and how it empowered me as a leader, one thing that really stands out is how it fine-tuned my craft. I loved how our coursework continuously tied back to real-world practice in our schools. We’d gather data, reflect, and then write papers that ultimately improved our own schools.”Carla Baptista Tavares '24 — Assistant Principal; Wake County Public Schools
More than a path to a degree.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of the MSA program are equipped to lead — not just within schools, but across entire districts and communities. Through leadership experience, mentorship, and a licensure-ready portfolio, students develop the skills and confidence to navigate the complex demands of today’s educational landscape and pursue long-term growth.
Alumni hold a wide range of roles, including:
- Principal or assistant principal
- District-level administrator
- Director of curriculum and instruction
- Professional learning lead