The Ramapo College Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program is specifically designed to address a critical need in this ever-changing education landscape. It is the mission of the Ramapo College Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program to provide prospective educational leaders the opportunity for professional growth and development that is effectively balanced in both theory and practice, allowing for experiential learning in authentic contexts that reflect the changing social, economic and political climate that currently shape our contemporary educational communities. In the last year, the pressure on educators to adapt virtually was immense, now more than ever, is the time for aspiring educators to become leaders in their organizations to better the education and services provided to all students.

We offer the full 36-credit MA program in a two-year and one-year accelerated cohort model, and collections of courses for supervisor, principal, and superintendent certification.

Harnessing the power of modern communication and distance learning technologies, students can effectively and comfortably complete all program requirements within a two-year sequence. Students who successfully complete all MAEL program requirements, have practiced successfully for five (5) years as a NJ teacher and pass the School Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA) PRAXIS are eligible for the Standard NJ Supervisor Certificate, as well as NJ Certificate of Eligibility as Principal (including Assistant Principal and Curriculum/Program Director).

Director’s Message: The Need for Exemplary Educational Leaders

Dear Prospective Educational Leaders!

The skills that our students will need to thrive in our post-pandemic, 21st century global economy, are vastly different than that of the Industrial Age – an age for which our schools were built. While the research certainly justifies the need for high quality educational leadership, it comes at a time when the school principal has increasingly become one of the more challenging and stressful leadership positions in contemporary society. The challenges confronting the educational leader are most daunting. School communities are faced with unprecedented societal forces and challenges including, but not limited to:

• a rapidly changing global economy that requires a different skills set of its laborers;
• increased performance standards, accountability and academic expectations;
• increased parental demands for quality education and alternative school choices;
• a changing, more diverse and increasing student population;
• increased incidents in school violence and demands for student safety;
• inadequate facilities and budgetary shortfalls;
• an overall lack of teacher quality; and
• the exponential growth of knowledge and the ongoing emergence of new technologies.

Our Ramapo College Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program is specifically designed to address the aforementioned critical needs. To this end, the mission of our MAEL program is to provide prospective educational leaders the opportunity for professional growth and development that is effectively balanced in both theory and practice, allowing for experiential learning in authentic contexts that reflect the changing social, economic and political climate that currently shape our contemporary educational communities. The program curriculum and course offerings are uniquely designed to realize this mission.

Wishing you all the very best – Dr. Julie Good, Program Director – Teacher Education Graduate Programs