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¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ Catalog 2025-2026

School Administration

NCSU’s Master of School Administration (MSA) program is the top-ranked school leadership program in North Carolina and one of only six programs nationally to have been designated as exemplary by the ¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ Council for Educational Administration. The cohort-based program prepares graduates to assume building-level leadership positions in schools (public, private, and charter) as assistant principals and principals and leads to principal licensure.

More Information

Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit:

  • Four years of successful teaching experience (fourth year can be during the first year in MSA program)
  • Continuing NC Teaching License
  • Current employment in a K-12 environment
  • Undergraduate degree
  • Three letters of reference
  • Resume
  • Purpose or Biographical Statement
  • Teaching Philosophical Statement or Educational Platform
  • For non-native English speakers, Test of English as a Second Language

Applicant Information

  • Delivery Method: On-Campus, Online
  • Entrance Exam: None
  • Interview Required: None

Full Professors

  • Bonnie C. Fusarelli
  • Lance D. Fusarelli

Associate Professors

  • David Ayers
  • Lisa R. Bass
  • Anna Margaret Jacob

Assistant Professors

  • Jennifer Baucom Ayscue
  • Timothy Arthur Drake
  • Maja Stojanovic

Teaching Assistant Professors

  • Briana Gaines
  • Shatoi Scott

Adjunct Faculty

  • Syreeta D. Smith

Practice/Research/Teaching Professors

  • Patricia Andrews Ashley
  • Brenda D. Champion
  • William Harrison
  • Gregory Eugene Hicks
  • Henry Johnson
  • Lorenzo J. McKenzie
  • Francine Piscitelli Riddick
  • Makena Stewart
  • Michael Ward
  • Cathy Sue Williams

Emeritus Faculty

  • Paul F. Bitting
  • Raymond G. Taylor Jr.

Courses

·¡³¢±ÊÌý515ÌýÌýEducation and Social DiversityÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Overview of role of education within a culturally diverse society. Major attention to racial, socioeconomic and regional subpopulations. Issues discussed include subcultural influences on public school performances, equality of educational opportunity, social stratification and mobility, and the impact of schooling on intergroup relations.

Typically offered in Fall only

·¡³¢±ÊÌý518ÌýÌýIntroduction To Education LawÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Relationship of constitutional, statutory and case law to elementary and secondary public school settings, particularly in areas of students, teachers and liability. Particular emphasis on N.C. and federal law.

Typically offered in Spring only

·¡³¢±ÊÌý550ÌýÌýPrinciples of Educational Leadership and EmpowermentÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Examines school organization theories and critical domains of leadership (e.g., school vision, culture, management, collaboration, ethics, and environments). Develops conceptual, managerial and interpersonal leadership skills through analysis of school goals and purpose; organizational design, development and improvement; curricular and instructional leadership; and school-community relationships. Instructional activities will include lecture, seminar discussion, case and problem-based analysis. Graduate standing required.

Typically offered in Fall only

·¡³¢±ÊÌý551ÌýÌýContext and Challenges of School ImprovementÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Examination of social, cultural, political and policy environment of schooling with emphasis on NC. Analysis of major theories of school change and development. critical examination of opportunities and barriers to strategic change efforts. Instructional activities will include lecture, sminar discussion, case and problem-based analysis.

Typically offered in Spring only

·¡³¢±ÊÌý552ÌýÌýSchool-Based Planning, Management, and Evaluation in Professional Learning CommunitiesÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Prepares administrators to strategically plan, manage and evaluate core programs and systems for the safe and efficient operation of schools. Operational domains examined will include information systems, management systems, curriculum, instruction, student behavior and school security systems. Instructional activities include lecture, sminar discussions, case, situation and problem-based analysis.

Typically offered in Fall only

This course is offered alternate odd years

·¡³¢±ÊÌý553ÌýÌýOrganizational Management I: Human Resource Management in K-12 EducationÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Examination and application of models, theories, and research pertaining to personnel appraisal in education, including recruitment hiring, retention, and dismissal; evaluation models for professional and classified staff; use of effective professional development models to support professional growth and development.

Typically offered in Fall only

This course is offered alternate even years

·¡³¢±ÊÌý554ÌýÌýOrganizational Management II: Resource Support and Sustainability in K-12 EducationÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Theories and practices of funding K-12 education including examination of: political frameworks and policy issues; concepts central to education finance and budgeting; purposes, designs, and uses of school budgets; procedures for generating, analyzing and interpreting issues related to education finance and school budgeting. Construct, manage and analyze school and district-level budgets; address issues of economic efficiency, equity and fiscal adequacy and their fiscal impact on the school community. Understand North Carolina's Uniform Chart of Accounts accounting structure for school budgeting.

Corequisite: ·¡³¢±ÊÌý553

Typically offered in Spring only

This course is offered alternate even years

·¡³¢±ÊÌý595ÌýÌýSpecial TopicsÌýÌý(1-6 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

·¡³¢±ÊÌý620ÌýÌýSpecial Problems In EducationÌýÌý(1-6 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Opportunity for graduate students in education to study problem areas in professional education under direction of member of graduate faculty.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or PBS status

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

·¡³¢±ÊÌý651ÌýÌýInternship In Educational Leadership and Program EvaluationÌýÌý(1-9 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Utilization of participant-observer role and required participation in selected educational situations with emphasis upon development of observational skills, ability to record relevant observations by means of written journals, skills in analyzing experiences identifying critical incidents and projection of events and consequences. Required development of possible alternative courses of action in various situations, selection of one of alternatives and evaluation of consequences of selected course of action.

Prerequisite: Nine hrs. in grad.-level courses

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer