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ONLINE MASTER'S

Leading Educational Innovation and Transformation

Overview
Applying

The Online Master of Arts in Leading Educational Innovation and Transformation will prepare graduates through a comprehensive program to lead and shape educational institutions at local, national, and global levels.

The program allows teachers, education professionals, and aspiring leaders to grow and enhance their work in their schools and districts, or on a broader stage, with skills that focus on reform and justice with skills that focus on equity for all learners and teachers.

  • All courses are specially designed to be taken exclusively online and asynchronously, providing access and flexibility for working professionals.
  • We are also seeking approval from the MDE for students to add principal certification to their degrees. Students will be able to pursue principal certification upon completion of the coursework, which includes the eight courses all students will complete plus an additional course and internship.

Course Progression

The Online Masters of Arts in Leading Educational Innovation and Transformation is designed around four themes that build on one another, creating a learning approach that focuses students at the center.

The four themes of the online master's program
Foundational LeadershipInnovation and Transformational Leadership
Continuous Improvement LeadershipActionable Leadership

The program begins by providing a foundational understanding of leading for transformation and understanding how people learn. Focused topics, like data-driven decision making and transformative instructional practice, follow and are designed with a strong action learning lens. The Capstone course is a space in which the student is able to bring everything together and represent their skills and knowledge as an educational leader. The intensive curriculum allows learners to actively engage in transformation and innovation through a justice-centered lens.

Focus on Access and Opportunity

The program is centered on the mission, vision, and values of the Marsal School and offers specialized coursework that attends to the needs of all learners. Students are asked in every course to engage in ongoing discussions and reflection to develop their critical thinking skills and to learn how to promote equity and justice in their future leadership roles.

We bring together a diverse cohort of students with shared interests in understanding and improving schools and student outcomes. Increasing both the excellence and equity of schools is a core program priority. To achieve this target, knowledgeable, prepared, and passionate education leaders are imperative. We will engage deeply and meaningfully with our students in this work.

World-Class Faculty

The Online Master of Arts in Leading Educational Innovation and Transformation is designed and taught by leading faculty at the Marsal Family School of Education. Experts in educational leadership and policy, they bring a wealth of research and practical experience to the program. Many have held leadership positions in educational institutions and policy organizations. The result is an exceptional educational experience that prepares graduates to become effective leaders and advocates in education. Its combination of theoretical and practical coursework, experiential learning opportunities, and commitment to diversity and inclusion make it an excellent choice for students who are passionate about shaping the future of education.

Designed for You

The Leading Educational Innovation and Transformation program is designed for working professionals in the education space. Since peer and faculty learning is central to our approach, we require at least two years of relevant professional experience for admission.

Please note: The program is not currently accepting applications from international students seeking F-1 or J-1 visas.

Submit an inquiry

Requirements

This curriculum pertains to students entering the master's program in Fall 2025.

Please note: The program is not currently accepting applications from international students seeking F-1 or J-1 visas.

Credits Required
24

Foundational, Innovation, and Transformational Leadership credits

12

Students complete the following courses: 

  • EDUCONL 500 – Foundations for Leading
  • EDUCONL 502 – Action Research
  • EDUCONL 503 – Entrepreneurial Leadership

Students complete one of the following two courses: 

  • EDUCONL 501 – How People Learn (non-Admin Cert track)
  • EDUCONL 508 – Strategic School Leadership (Admin Cert track, pending MDE approval)

Continuous Improvement Leadership credits

9
  • EDUCONL 504 – Data Driven Decision Making
  • EDUCONL 505 – Transformative Instructional Practices
  • EDUCONL 506 – Leading Effective Collaboration

Actionable Leadership credits

3
  • EDUCONL 507 – Capstone

Course Sequence

Term Structure

The Master of Arts in Leading Educational Innovation and Transformation consists of eight 3-credit courses for a total of 24 credits. All courses are 7-week courses with students taking one course at a time for a total of two classes per term. The degree is completed in four terms.

Interested in adding on a PreK-12 School Administrator Certification? Check back in July for additional information.

ScheduleTERM 1Term 2Term 3Term 4
7-Week AFoundations for Leading

How People Learn (non-Admin Cert track) 

or 

Strategic School Leadership (Admin Cert track, pending MDE approval)

Data-Driven Decision MakingLeading Effective Collaboration
7-Week BAction ResearchEntrepreneurial LeadershipTransformational Instructional PracticesCapstone
Weekly Time Commitment

You should anticipate spending 16-18 hours per week across the four terms of the program to complete the coursework. Coursework includes:

  • Recorded Lectures
  • Readings
  • Discussion Boards
  • Reflections
  • Projects
  • Papers
  • Action Research

Optional opportunities to engage with the Marsal community include faculty seminars, interactive office hours, and participation in professional learning communities.

Questions?

Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Prospective students

Prospective Students

Application Deadlines

Apply early to receive a timely decision! Submitting an early application will give you time to engage with your program, visit campus, and have time to make an informed decision.

Fall (Aug)
August 01, 2025
Winter (Jan)
December 01, 2025
Spring/Summer (May)
March 15, 2026

Eligibility Requirements

Bachelor's Degree
  • Completion of a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association; or completion of an international degree that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a college or university recognized and approved by the authority responsible for higher education in the country where the degree is earned.
Academic Performance
  • Strong academic performance is an important criteria. In addition to academic preparedness, our holistic review process considers personal and professional experiences, anticipated contributions to the incoming cohort and the Marsal School, and potential for success.
Professional Experience
  • At least two years of continuous professional experience.
English Proficiency
  • Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. Applicants are required to provide an official test score report. Photocopies and/or faxes of English proficiency scores are not accepted.

Please note: The program is not currently accepting applications from international students seeking F-1 or J-1 visas.

Application Process

Step 1: Meet us (optional)

We encourage you to attend an information session. Attendance is not required to apply for our program. Write to us at [email protected].

Step 2: Prepare application materials

To submit a successful application for admission, you need to provide the following:

  • Academic Statement of Purpose
    • Describe an education-oriented problem you have solved, or problem you would like to solve. What steps did you take, or could be taken, to identify, design, and implement a solution? In addition, how did or would you successfully communicate that information to influence the outcome?
    • Two double-spaced pages is considered a good length. Set document margins to one-inch and verify that any tables fit within the margins.
  • Personal Statement
    • We welcome applicants with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Paint a vivid picture of a real-world scenario from your professional or academic experience where you found yourself yearning for the skills you hope to gain from this program at the Marsal Family School of Education.
    • Two double-spaced pages is considered a good length. Set document margins to one-inch and verify that any tables fit within the margins.
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Résumé
    • Your curriculum vitae or résumé should describe your education, work experience, research publications, teaching experience, professional activities, volunteer activities, community engagement, honors and awards.
  • Letter of Recommendation
    • A completed application requires one letter of recommendation from an individual who is familiar with your academic or professional performance.
    • Register your recommender's name and contact information on the online application so that they will be sent instructions for submitting their letter via the application system. Let your recommender know that they need to upload a letter and that it is required by the program.
    • As soon as you click “save” on the page of the application where your recommender’s contact information is entered, they will receive an email with instructions for completing the process. Proceed to this point in the application process as soon as possible to trigger that email.
  • Transcripts
    • Upload unofficial transcripts to the application.
    • Admitted students will be required to send official transcripts to the Marsal School.
    • Read the full details on Step 6.
  • Test Scores
    • English proficiency scores for non-native speakers of English only.
    • GRE test scores are not required for admission.
    • Read the full details on Step 7.
Step 3: Create application account

Create an ApplyWeb account, managed by Marsal Online.

  • This program, unlike all of the other Marsal Family School of Education’s graduate programs, is not administered through the University of Michigan Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. However, Marsal Online students can benefit from many of the resources available to Rackham graduate students.
Step 4: Complete application

Complete the ApplyWeb application.

  • You will be issued an UMID number, via email, within 5 business days of submitting the ApplyWeb application.
  • Current and former U-M Ann Arbor students, alumni and employees: You will not be issued a new UMID number.
  • If your personal information has changed (e.g., legal name, gender), make sure the personal information you submit with your application matches your previous Ann Arbor campus record. If your previous Ann Arbor campus record does not display your current personal information, contact the Registrar’s Office (current students) or the Shared Services Center (former students, alumni, and current U-M Ann Arbor employees) to change your personal information before you apply.
Step 5: Upload documents
  • Upload the following documents to the ApplyWeb application:
    • Academic Statement of Purpose
    • Personal Statement
    • Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Résumé
  • Include at the top left of each document:
    • The type of document (Academic Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, or Curriculum Vitae or Résumé)
    • Your name
    • M.A. in Leading Educational Innovation and Transformation
    • Your 8 digit U-M ID (if known)
    • Make sure margins are at least one-inch so nothing is cropped when you upload the documents to the application.
Step 6: Upload transcripts
  • Upload an electronic version of your unofficial transcript(s) for each Bachelor’s, Master’s, Professional, or Doctoral degree earned or in progress through your ApplyWeb application account.
  • Do not upload academic records printed from your school’s website or student portal.
  • You are not required to send official transcripts at the time of application. If you are admitted to the program, the Marsal School will require official transcripts. Admitted applicants will receive an email notification when the official transcripts are required.
Step 7: Submit Test Scores (Non-Native English Speakers)
  • English Proficiency Requirements
    • Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. One way to do so is to meet one of the criteria for an exemption listed below.
      • You are a native speaker of English.
      • You are an applicant from Puerto Rico.
      • You completed all of your undergraduate education and earned an undergraduate degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English only. Undergraduate degree requirements must be completed before the start of classes at U-M.
      • You completed all of your graduate education and earned a graduate degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English only. Graduate degree requirements must be completed before the start of classes at U-M.
      • You are a current U-M student.
    • Applicants who do not meet the English proficiency exemption:
      • A one year graduate degree.
      • If you completed a Master’s degree that was strictly research and no academic classes. This type of Master’s degree is generally awarded at a non-U.S. institution.
    • If an applicant does not meet one of the criteria below, they may be required by the graduate program to submit language test scores.
  • TOEFL, IELTS, MET, or ECPE scores.
    • For non-native speakers of English only.
    • Valid 2 years from test date (example: 12/15/2024 scores are valid until 12/15/2026).
    • The official scores must be received from the testing agency no later than the graduate program application deadline.
      Photocopies and/or faxes of English proficiency scores will not be accepted.
  • GRE Test Scores
    • GRE test scores are not required for admission, but scores (valid 5 years from test date) can be included with your application.
    • Provide ETS with the U-M Institutional Code of 1839 and your scores will be sent directly to the university.
    • Test scores must be sent directly from the testing center to the Marsal Family School of Education. We recommend starting this process early as it can take up to two weeks for the scores to be received.
Step 8: Check Letter of Recommendation Status
  • Check the status of your letter of recommendation, change the recommender, or resend the notification email to your recommender using the ApplyWeb Activity Page.
  • Please reach out to [email protected] if there are any questions regarding the submission of the letter of recommendation.
Step 9: Check Application Status
  • To check on your application status, create a U-M Friend Account. U-M Ann Arbor students, alumni, and employees can view their application status in Wolverine Access.
Step 10: Respond to Admission Offer
  • If you have been accepted, congratulations! The admissions letter includes detailed instructions to accept or decline the offer of admission.

Quick Facts

Application fee

Waived

GRE test scores

Not required

Language test scores

Required for non-native English speakers

Financial aid

Available

Online courses

Online (asynchronous)

Asynchronous course content with a weekly cadence to keep you connected to your cohort and with program faculty

Entry terms

Fall (August), Winter (January), Spring/Summer (May)

Enrollment: Part-Time

Enrollment deposit

$100

Applied toward first term bill.

Career Services

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