Faculty:
Dr. Paul Nochelski, S.J., Chair; Dr. Paul Fields, Program Director.

To serve as a leader within a school organization is one of the most demanding and rewarding careers. As a school leader, one has the opportunity to shape the lives of learners of all ages. Students in the Canisius College Educational Administration Program are expected to come with not only the desire to be a leader, but also with a rich history of excellence as an educator.

The Canisius College Educational Administration Program is designed to assist students in acquiring the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential to a successful career as a school leader. This competency-based program leads to a provisional New York State School Administrator and Supervisor (SAS) certificate, a permanent New York State School District Administrator (SDA) certificate and/or a master's degree in educational administration, depending upon the amount of graduate work in which a student wishes to engage. To earn a permanent New York State SAS Certificate requires two years of experience as a school administrator but no additional course work. It is important to note that a master's degree in educational administration may not to be used to meet the New York State requirement for permanent certification in teaching.

Possession of the SAS certificate is necessary for employment in the public schools of New York State in such leadership roles as building principal, assistant building principal, supervisor, coordinator or any position in which a person is serving more than 25% of his/her assignment in an administrative or supervisory position. An appointment to such positions as superintendent of schools, deputy superintendent, associate superintendent, assistant superintendent or any position with general district-wide administrative responsibilities requires a School District Administrator (SDA) Certificate.

The New York State Education Department is considering changes to the requirements for educational administration certification. Once Canisius College has received final notification of those new requirements, program changes will be made to address them.

Admission requirements
In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to graduate work in the Canisius College School of Education and Human Services, the applicant must submit the following:

1. The Graduate School of Education and Human Services Application addendum* for the Educational Administration Program;
2. Evidence (an official and final transcript) of an earned master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education;
3. Evidence of a minimum of three (3) years of successful, full- time teaching and/or pupil personnel service experience in K-12 schools*; and
4. Written recommendations from three (3) professional educators, one of whom must be a certified school administrator familiar with the applicant's work as a professional educator.*

An applicant may be required to meet with the program director prior to a decision regarding admission.

Educational Administration program curriculum for New York State School Administrator and Supervisor (SAS) certification
(18 credit hours of course work plus an internship):

EDA 600		Theory in School Administration		3
EDA 610		School Law		3
EDA 620		Supervising Curriculum Development & the Improvement of Instruction*		3
EDA 630		School Personnel Administration		3
EDA 640		School Business Administration		3
Graduate Level EDA course determined in consultation with adviser				3
EDA 690		Educational Administration Internship		8

* These forms are available in the office of the School of Education and Human Services.

Educational Administration program curriculum for New York State School District Administrator SDA certification

24 credit hours of course work plus an internship:
The same course work and internship as required for the SAS plus the following:

EDA 660		The Administrator and Pupil Personnel Services		3
EDA 632		Negotiating and Administering Employee Contracts		3

Educational Administration program Curriculum for master of science degree
33 credit hours of course work, excluding an internship:
The same course work as required for the SDA plus the following:

EDA 661		Emerging Issues in School Leadership		3
EDU 511		Introduction to Tests, Measurement & Statistics**		3
EDU 615		Research Techniques**		3

Notes:

* Students working towards certification for school business administration are to take EDA 670 Independent Study in Educational Leadership for their EDA elective, working under the direction of the professor teaching EDA 640.

** Students who have a master's degree that included a research component are not required to take EDU 511 and EDU 615. They are to take two graduate level courses, based on need and interest, in one of the following programs: EDA, EDC, EDD, EDR, or EDU.

COURSES 2002-2004

EDA 600 Theory in School Administration 3
Theories as they may relate to the forces reshaping our schools.
Topics such as the following may be investigated: organizational models, characteristics of leadership, change systems, vision development and school design.

EDA 604 Catholic Administration Seminar I 3

EDA 606 Catholic Administration Seminar II 3
Both EDA 604 and EDA 606 focus on selected topics pertinent to the administration of Catholic elementary and secondary schools. The two courses are offered during alternating summers.

EDA 610 School Law 3
Principles of public school law with a focus on NYS Education Law and select federal and state cases affecting the administration of our educational system. Topics include student residency, attendance and discipline; freedom of speech; search and seizure; FERPA; IDEA; LRE; employee rights.

EDA 612/PEG 581 Legal Aspects of Sports in Education 3
Provides educational personnel the knowledge and understanding of laws pertinent to sports and education. Emphasis on practical situations where litigation most likely to arise.

EDA 620 Supervising Curriculum Development and the Improvement of Instruction 3
Examination of the structure and significance of school reform, teaching and learning theories; Standards Theory; the change process and how instructional improvement relies on leadership and resourcefulness. Other topics include clinical supervision, teacher mentoring and peer coaching.

EDA 630 School Personnel Administration 3

Broad overview of matters having to with leadership and organization of school personnel. Exploration of such topics as recruitment and selection; induction; professional development; supervision and evaluation; discipline and dismissal; the work environment; compensation and benefits; administering employee contracts and legal issues in personnel management.

EDA 632 Negotiating and Administering Employee Contracts 3
History, "language," trends, preparation activities and effective practices of contract negotiations. Additional discussion topics include impasse and mediation, work stoppage activities (i.e., work-to-rule and striking), contract grievances, arbitration and the importance of proper administration of an employee contract. Students will engage in mock contract negotiations.

EDA 640 School Business Administration 3
Overview of the major areas of responsibility of the school business administrator. Emphasis on a planning approach to educational leadership and the role of the position as a key member of the district's leadership team; how the school business administrator by facilitating decision-making has a positive effect on student learning.

EDA 650 The Principalship 3
Study of the wide range of responsibilities of the building administrator, as building manager and educational leader. Topics include establishing/maintaining positive relationships with all parties (students, teachers, staff, unions, parents, community, etc.); school climate; school safety; collaboration; change; employee supervision; improvement of instruction.

EDA 652 The Principalship in Non-Public Schools 3
The principal's role from the following perspectives: historical significance of private schools; their modes of governance; legal rights and obligations; and for church schools, spiritual dimensions.

EDA 654 School Leaders and Community Relations 3
Principles and practices involved in establishing and maintaining desirable relationships with all members of the community parents, non-parents, business, police and fire, community agencies, etc.

EDA 656 Technology Tools in Educational Administration 3
Introduction to the hardware and software that assist today's school administrators in performing their responsibilities more effectively and efficiently.

EDA 660 The Administrator and Pupil Personnel Services 3
Survey course providing necessary background/understanding of the quantitative/qualitative dimensions of pupil personnel services (PPS) found in schools/districts. Topics include role of the administrator; mandated delivery mechanisms and the "language" of PPS as it relates to special education; compensatory education, testing and assessment, school counseling, etc.

EDA 661 Emerging Issues in School Leadership 3
Exploration of contemporary educational issues, their impact on current administrative practices, and methods to maximize positive results when confronting such issues. Areas of skill development include efficient and effective communications, management of school climate to minimize the stress of change and creative problem solving.

EDA 670 Independent Study in Educational Leadership 3
May be used only when a class is needed for graduation or certification and is not otherwise available. May not be used when regular course offerings are available and suitable or because the time of a regularly scheduled class is inconvenient for a student.

Prerequisite: Program director's signature.

EDA 675 Administrative Internship I 4
This internship was previously numbered EDA 622 and may be taken by only those students who have successfully completed 12 credit hours in Administration. Program director's signature required.

Co-requisite: EDA 690L. (Please see course description for EDA 690 and EDA 690L).

EDA 680 Administrative Internship II 4
This internship was previously numbered EDA 623 and may be taken by only those students who successfully completed EDA 622. Prerequisites: EDA 622 and program director's signature.

Co-requisite: EDA 690L.

(Please see course description for EDA 690 and EDA 690L).

EDA 690 Educational Administration Internship 8
Opportunity to apply theoretical learning to practice. Intern performs responsibilities of an educational administrator under direct supervision of on-site mentor and indirect supervision of college supervisor. Student must find own setting at building and/or central office level. Prerequisites: 12-18 EDA credits and program director's signature.

Co-requisite: EDA 690L.

EDA 690L: Educational Administration Internship Lab 0
Additional opportunities for interns to learn from practicing administrators and from activities using simulation and role-play. Also, interns will receive instruction in areas required by NYS for certification (for example, Project SAVE). Co-requisite: EDA 680 or EDA690.