Aug 20, 2025  
2025-2026 Rowan University Academic Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Rowan University Academic Catalog

Master of Education in Teacher Leadership

Location(s): Online


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The Master of Education in Teacher Leadership is a graduate program of Rowan University’s CAEP accredited College of Education. It is designed for teachers who want to develop and hone their leadership skills but wish to remain in the classroom. The program approaches leadership from the perspectives of exemplary teaching, continuous learning for all, a need to balance change with stability, and the importance of peaceful existence in a diverse community of learners. To that end, teachers will enhance their abilities to lead not only in their classrooms, but also in the school at large by working with curriculum, becoming mentor/master teachers, developing new programs, and through a variety of other activities that improve schooling for all children.

The Master of Education degree program has three goals:

  1. To develop teacher leaders who practice teaching skills aligned with the New Jersey State Teacher Model Standards.
  2. To develop teacher expertise in a content area of choice.
  3. To empower teachers to assume leadership roles within their schools and districts.

The following seven core propositions of the New Jersey State Teacher Model Standards provide the focus for the master’s program in Standards-Based Practice:

  • Fostering a Collaborative Culture to Support Educator Development and Student Learning
  • Accessing and Using Research to Improve Practice and Student Learning
  • Promoting Professional Learning for Continuous Improvement
  • Facilitating Improvements in Instruction and Student Learning
  • Promoting the Use of Assessments and Data for School and District Improvement
  • Improving Outreach and Collaboration with Families and Community
  • Advocating for Student Learning and the Profession

The M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership is a part-time program with its core courses offered in an online accelerated format. The degree requires the completion of a minimum of 30 graduate semester hours (s.h.). Due to its scaffolding design, transfer credits are not accepted in the M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership program.

The following components make up the M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership program:

  • Seven Core Courses in Teacher Leadership (19 semester hours)
  • Content Area COGS Coursework (15-21 semester hours)

The seven core courses and content area COGS coursework for this program are offered completely online. 

Content Certificate of Graduate Study (COGS) Options

The following are the Content Area COGS for the Master of Education in Teacher Leadership Program. Advisement for each of these COGS is managed by the department in which they are housed.
 

  • Early Childhood Special Education (Early Childhood, Elementary Education & Critical Foundations)

  • Educational Technology (Content Area Teacher Education)

  • ESL/Bilingual (Critical Literacy Technology & Multilingual Education)

  • Learning Disabilities (Early Childhood, Elementary Education & Critical Foundations)

  • Special Education (Early Childhood, Elementary Education & Critical Foundations)

Program Requirements


Notes:


If students hold National Board certification, two courses in the Core/Teacher Leadership COGS will be waived.

*During the final semester of their studies, students will work closely with a faculty member to conduct a scholarly self-study that examines how their emerging teacher leadership skills reflects the standards that guide the program and current research in teacher leadership. This self-study will result in the production of a Synthesis Portfolio, a visual or graphic organizer, and a slide-show guided presentation of the graduate candidates’ work and accomplishments during the time of their program studies in teacher leadership.

For those students who would like to pursue the NJ Teacher Leader Endorsement by matriculating into the COGS in Teacher Leadership program, in addition to the portfolio, this course will also include a clinical self-study with a qualified mentor (a site or district school administrator, or a teacher with a Teacher Leadership Endorsement).

Total Minimum Required Credits for the Program: 30 s.h.


Foundation Courses

None

Graduation/Exit, Benchmark, and/or Thesis Requirements

Self-Study in Teacher Leadership Course - This mandatory Self-Study course must be completed successfully to be eligible to graduate. Successful completion of the COGS coursework is a requirement prior to registering for the Self-Study in Teacher Leadership Course.

For additional details, please consult the Program Coordinator and your appropriate COGS coordinator.

Minimum Required Grades and Cumulative GPA

The Master of Education in Teacher Leadership is a Category 2 program.

For details regarding satisfactory academic progress and graduation requirements, please visit Academic Program Policy Categories  


Program Coordinator/Advisor Contact Information
John J. Quinesso, Jr., MAT
Herman D. James Hall, Suite 3036
856.256.4500, ext.53814
quinesso@rowan.edu

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