Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study & Master of Education in
Educational Leadership and Management
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study & Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Management Fitchburg State University/National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) THE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM Since 2005 the National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) executive development program has been implemented through cohort groups of Massachusetts public school educators and leaders as an administrative leadership program with a special focus on the principal. In fact, dozens of administrators across the state have been NISL trained in this program that is both supported and guided by the Massachusetts Department of Education. Fitchburg State University has a long and distinguished history in offering nationally recognized and accredited graduate programs in school leadership. Fitchburg State University offers a comprehensive program designed specifically for the NISL candidates who wish to pursue a graduate degree. The program has been developed in recognition of the rigorous coursework contained in the NISL program and its alignment with Fitchburg State University’s Educational Leadership and Management (EDLM) program objectives. Candidates can apply for the MEd or CAGS degree and receive 16 EDLM graduate program credits for a reduced tuition.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS n Easy Access to graduate level courses
• NISL courses apply to Fitchburg State University MEd or CAGS programs in Educational Leadership
• The four NISL courses offered through Fitchburg State University are clustered and aligned to specific NISL units.
• The NISL/Fitchburg State University courses provide opportunities to apply learning through relevant school-based activities leading to graduate credit.
• The Online courses offered through Fitchburg State University allow for flexibility in scheduling
•
NEW!
Graduates of the CAGS in Educational Leadership and Management can transfer 18 credits of their work into the Doctor of Arts in Leadership at Franklin Pierce University.
n Nationally recognized by the National Council on Teacher Accreditation n Fitchburg State seminars complement the NISL program and fulfill degree and/or licensure requirements. n Completion of this innovative degree granting graduate program guarantees Massachusetts DOE licensure in Principalship or Supervisor/Director. n Candidates who are accepted and enrolled in the M.Ed. or CAGS degree program may take the four NISL courses at a reduced cost as a portfolio option. n Reasonable Cost: Total tuition and fees for MEd or CAGS is $8,427. n Benefits of earning a CAGS or Master’s Degree
• A graduate degree raises the salary of most educators by $3000 to $4000 per year. Usually, after 2 - 2 1/2 years educators will have paid for the degree through raises in salary.
• Professional opportunities result from the advanced degree.
• The administrative licensure received by the educator is reciprocal with many other states. n NISL courses count for 54% of the CAGS or MEd program at Fitchburg State University.
Plans of Study: Educational Leadership & Management Program CAGS & MEd Licensure Options NISL COURSES Course 1: NISL 7000
World-Class Schooling: Vision and Goals (Portfolio Option)
4 credits
Seminar I (Supplemental course required for degree) ONLINE
3 credits
Course 2: NISL 7500
Focus on Teaching and Learning (Portfolio Option)
4 credits
Course 3: NISL 8000
Developing Capacity and Commitment (Portfolio Option)
4 credits
Seminar II (Supplemental course required for degree) ONLINE
2 credits
Driving for Results (Portfolio Option)
4 credits
NISL 9000
NISL 9500
Course 4: NISL 8500
Subtotal: 21 credits
EDLM COURSES* (ADDITIONAL FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY COURSES REQUIRED FOR DEGREE)
EDLM 8010
Human Resources and Personnel Administration
3 credits
EDLM 8020
Law for the Educator
3 credits
EDLM 8030
Public School Finance
3 credits
EDLM 9020
Collegial Supervision
3 credits
EDLM 9101/9110 Practicum/Internship (School Principal or Supervisor/Director)
6 credits
Comprehensive Exam
0 credits Subtotal: 18 credits Total for Degree: 39 credits
CAGS & MEd Non-licensure Options NISL COURSES Course 1: NISL 7000
World-Class Schooling: Vision and Goals (Portfolio Option)
4 credits
Seminar I (Supplemental course required for degree) ONLINE
3 credits
Course 2: NISL 7500
Focus on Teaching and Learning (Portfolio Option)
4 credits
Course 3: NISL 8000
Developing Capacity and Commitment (Portfolio Option)
4 credits
Seminar II (Supplemental course required for degree) ONLINE
2 credits
Driving for Results (Portfolio Option)
4 credits
NISL 9000
NISL 9500
Course 4: NISL 8500
Subtotal: 21 credits
EDLM COURSES* (ADDITIONAL FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY COURSES REQUIRED FOR DEGREE)
EDLM 8010
Human Resources and Personnel Administration
3 credits
EDLM 8020
Law for the Educator
3 credits
EDLM 8030
Public School Finance
3 credits
EDLM 9020
Collegial Supervision
3 credits
Electives
6 credits
Subtotal: 18 credits Total for the degree: 39 credits
Non-Degree Option (not eligible for portfolio option) NISL COURSES ONLY Course 1: NISL 7000
World-Class Schooling: Vision and Goals ONLINE.................................................................. 4 credits
Course 2: NISL 7500
Focus on Teaching and Learning ONLINE.............................................................................. 4 credits
Course 3: NISL 8000
Developing Capacity and Commitment ONLINE.................................................................... 4 credits
Course 4: NISL 8500
Driving for Results ONLINE..................................................................................................... 4 credits Total: 16 credits
Program Costs: Fitchburg State University/NISL Partnership Program PHASE ONE
Degree
Non-degree
candidates candidates
Course 1:
World-Class Schooling: Vision and Goals (NISL 7000), 4 credits............................ $460.....................$750
Seminar I (NISL 9000), 3 credits (for students pursuing CAGS or MEd).......................................$867
During NISL course 1, students pursuing a degree through the Fitchburg State University EDLM program register for both NISL 7000—World-Class Schooling: Vision and Goals, and NISL 9000—Seminar I.
Course 2:
Focus on Teaching and Learning (NISL 7500), 4 credits.......................................... $460.....................$750
PHASE TWO Course 3:
Developing Capacity and Commitment (NISL 8000), 4 credits............................... $460.....................$750
Seminar II (NISL 9500), 2 credits (for students pursuing CAGS or MEd)...................................... $578
At the beginning of Phase Two, Course 3, students pursuing a degree through the Fitchburg State University EDLM program register for both NISL 8000— Developing Capacity and Commitment, and NISL 9500—Seminar II.
Course 4:
Driving for Results (NISL 8500), 4 credits.................................................................. $460.....................$750
Total cost for 21 credits earned through NISL Partnership.................................................................$3,285 Total cost for 18 credits earned for additional courses through Fitchburg State University............$5,202 Total cost for Degree (39 credits)........................................................................................................$8,427 Total cost for 16 credits earned through NISL courses...................................................................................................$3,000
PRE-REQUISITES Fitchburg State University Course
Prerequisite NISL
Course/Unit
Course 1 NISL 7000
Completion of Unit 4
Foundations of Effective Learning
Course 2 NISL 7500
Completion of Unit 8
Promoting Professional Learning
Course 3 NISL 8000
Completion of Unit 10
Principal as Ethical Leader
Course 4 NISL 8500
Completion of Unit 12
Leading for Results
Tuition and fees subject to change.
Admission Application Requirements To apply for the CAGS or MEd in Educational Leadership & Management Programs applicants are required to submit: n Graduate application for admission. n Non-refundable application fee of $25 for U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Do not send cash. Please print your first and last name on the check or money order. n Official transcript from your baccalaureate degree granting college/university. The transcript must indicate degree received and date of graduation. The transcript must be sent directly from the institution to the Admissions Office. Applicants to the CAGS program are not required to submit a transcript from the baccalaureate degree granting college/university but must submit a transcript from the master’s degree granting institution. n Official transcripts from all graduate programs from which you are requesting transfer credit and, if applicable, all institutions from which you have received graduate degrees. Transcripts must be sent directly from the institution to the Admissions Office. n Standardized Test Scores. The MEd in Educational Leadership & Management Program requires the official results from either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller’s Analogies Test (MAT). Test scores are not required for those seeking a second master’s degree. n Test scores are not required for applicants to the CAGS in Educational Leadership and Management. n Three letters of recommendation from individuals under whom the applicant has studied or under whose supervision they have worked in a professional capacity. Please use the Letter of Recommendation forms provided in the Graduate Application booklet. Submit the narrative portion of the recommendation on institutional letterhead. All letters of recommendation must be mailed by the author directly to the Admissions Office. n A professional resume. n An essay, no more than one page in length, in response to one of the following questions:
b Tell us about a positive situation in which you helped a person and made a significant difference in that person’s life.
b What are the most important factors in establishing a long-term working relationship with students, friends, etc.?
b Tell us about a significant event that involved you in a teaching or helping mode. • Describe the situation as it occurred at the time. • What did you do in that particular situation? • How did you feel about the situation at the time you were experiencing it? • How do you feel about the situation now? • What would you change, if anything?
IMPORTANT: If you are applying to the licensure track of the CAGS or MEd in Educational Leadership Degree Programs that leads to a Massachusetts Teaching License you are required to submit the following document:
n Passing scores for the Communications and Literacy subtests of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) are required for all applicants to graduate and certificate programs leading to initial licensure to teach in the state of Massachusetts. MTEL Communications and Literacy results are also required of all applicants to the CAGS Educational Leadership and Management: School Principal or Supervisor/Director. Note: Subject area MTEL test(s) must be completed prior to student teaching.
The application, fee and other requested materials should be sent to:
Office of Admissions, Fitchburg State University, 160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420-2697
Admissions Office Hours and Contact Information
Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you have questions and would like to speak to a representative, please contact (978) 665-3144 or e-mail, gceadmissions@fitchburgstate.edu.
Financial Aid Information
Students enrolled in a minimum of five graduate credits per semester and who have been formally admitted to the University by the Office of Admissions are eligible to apply for federal student loans. Federal student loans provide a low interest financing option for those who qualify. Interested students should complete the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For more information, please visit the Financial Aid webpage at www.fitchburgstate.edu/finaid or contact the office directly at (978) 665-3156 or finaid@fitchburgstate.edu .
Course Enrollment NISL participants interested in earning credit through Fitchburg State University will be provided information regarding registering for courses. Please complete the NISL/Fitchburg State University Potential Student Information Sheet to indicate your interest in enrolling for graduate credit and you will be contacted by a NISL advisor regarding registration. Courses will be offered three times each year giving students maximum flexibility. Students will not be required to register for all courses during the same enrollment period. For your convenience all Fitchburg State University supplemental NISL courses are offered online. Once you have officially registered for your first course, you will be eligible to access your online course. All students are required to obtain a Fitchburg State University e-mail account and password for access to their online course. To obtain your email account and password, contact the Information Technology Service Center Desk at 978-665-4500. Staff is available 24/7 to assist you. Once you are registered and have obtained your course access password, you can find your course by going to http://blackboard.fitchburgstate.edu. Students are encouraged to visit our demonstration course at www.fitchburgstate.edu/demo/. This course will help you become familiar with using Blackboard, the online learning management system that hosts all of the universities online courses. Complete details regarding getting ready to take an online course including hardware and software requirements can be found at www.fitchburgstate.edu/distance. We strongly encourage you to review this web page before beginning your courses. For additional information regarding registration for courses, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 978-665-4196.
Frequently Asked Questions 1. Can I transfer graduate credit I received beyond my MEd degree towards the CAGS? Yes, you may transfer up to 12 credits into a graduate program at Fitchburg State University. Six of these credits can be from another accredited institution or you may transfer as many as 12 credits taken at Fitchburg State University. It is important to note that a graduate program must be completed within a six year period, so courses that will extend your degree period beyond the six year limit cannot apply. Transfer courses must be approved by the program chair. An official transcript and course syllabus is required to ascertain that the course meets the program standards. 2. I am currently enrolled in a traditional EDLM CAGS program at the university. Can I transfer my NISL credit towards this CAGS program? Yes, you may transfer to the NISL CAGS only with the approval of the Chair of the Educational Leadership program. Those EDLM degree candidates who wish to transfer to the NISL EDLM degree program should fill out the Student Petition Form, which can be found on the university website (www.fitchburgstate.edu/uploads/files/Registrar/ studentpetitionfsu.pdf) stating “I wish to change my status in the Educational Leadership program to the NISL Educational Leadership program” and return it to the Chair at Fitchburg State University. Similarly, if currently enrolled in a Master’s Educational Leadership and Management (EDLM) program at Fitchburg State University, you may apply NISL credits towards the that degree with approval of the program Chair. 3. How many hours (time commitment) outside of the NISL cohort work are required for each NISL course? How many hours for each seminar? For the online NISL courses (Courses 1-4) each course takes approximately 6-12 hours of work. The time needed depends on the amount of time which has lapsed between the face-to-face NISL work and the Fitchburg State University online work. If the courses are done concurrently with the cohort work, each Fitchburg State University NISL course should not require more than 6-8 hours of additional work to receive the four credits. If time has lapsed and participants need to reacquaint themselves with the content, it will take closer to 12 hours. Some administrators may be already doing work in their schools that will fulfill the requirements and, therefore, reduce the additional time.
Seminar 1: (3 credits) and Seminar 2: (2 credits) are closer to the number of hours one would expect from a 2 or 3 credit graduate course. The two seminar courses include EDLM pre-practicum requirements and experiences for curriculum, community relations, and action research (25 hours each).
4. How long will it take to complete the Master’s or CAGS degree program at Fitchburg State? The online NISL courses are scheduled to be offered in trimesters. Seminar I and II are usually taken in conjunction with NISL Course 1 and NISL Course 3 respectively. The two seminars would be offered in either the fall or spring semesters. So, attaining the first 21 credits towards the required 39 credits for the degree could be completed in as few as three semesters. The other online EDLM degree courses that are scheduled to be offered at least once per year should enable the completion of the remaining 18 credits in five semesters, which includes a 6 credit practicum (or alternative course electives for those who already hold an administrator’s license). Therefore, it is possible to complete a degree program in three and a half years. Enrolling in summer courses could allow for completion of the degree in less time. Participants who wish to take courses in the summer may take courses with one of our Extended Campus Partners (www.fitchburgstate.edu/extended) upon approval of the Program Chair. 5. I am not a school principal and do not have easy access to faculty, classrooms, and students. Will this prevent me from completing any of the NISL requirements? The Fitchburg State University faculty recommends that when online NISL course requirements focus on school-based activities, non-building leaders partner with a school principal, whenever possible. The Fitchburg State adjunct faculty for the NISL MEd and CAGS are familiar with these circumstances and will allow alternative activities suitable to the leadership role to be arranged on an individual basis. However, all activities must stay within the NISL content which is designed as a program for the executive development of school principals. 6. If candidates need a Masters in their content area, would enrollment in the ELDM masters have any benefit? Candidates who are required to obtain a Master’s degree or who are pursuing an alternate route for professional status in their content area may refer to the university website www.fitchburgstate.edu/edunit or consult with Ann Hogan at Fitchburg State University ahogan@fitchburgstate.edu. 7. I am almost finished in my NISL cohort. Which course should I register for first? NISL courses are based on applied leadership activities. Therefore, in deciding which course to register for, the individual should consider the work most essential to or currently underway in one’s district, school, or program. Otherwise, candidates nearing the end of their cohort work may enroll in any of the NISL courses. Candidates at the beginning of their cohort work must complete the prerequisites listed in this brochure. 8. How do I enroll in a NISL online EDLM degree program? Candidates who wish to enroll in a degree program can access the application forms online at www.fitchburgstate.edu/admissions/applying/graduate. 9. I do not wish to enroll in a degree program at this time, but I am interested in taking online courses for graduate credit in Educational Leadership courses. How do I enroll in the online courses? Educators wishing to enroll in a course may access the course registration form at www.fitchburgstate.edu/uploads/ files/Registrar/RegistrationGCEFSU.pdf. Prior to the start of the course, the university will notify you regarding instructions to access your online courses.
Contact For more information regarding the CAGS or the MEd in Educational Leadership and Management Fitchburg State University/NISL Partnership Program, contact the GCE Advisor at (978) 665-3660 or e-mail gceadvisor@fitchburgstate.edu.