Skip to main content
Indiana University Online

Urban Education Leadership, M.S.Ed.

Serve as an advocate and leader in urban schools with the M.S.Ed. in Urban Education Leadership from IU Online. This program will expand your knowledge on the education system and prepare you for administrative roles that focus on the specific challenges the next generation of teachers and students will face.

A young student shows a robotics project to an educator who leans down and smiles. Other students are active in the background.

Program quick facts

Course Delivery

100% Online

Total Credits

36

Campuses Hosting

  • Indianapolis

Degree Type

Master of Science in Education

A woman speaks to a group of students who stand in a circle in a gymnasium.

Degree overview

Urban educational institutions face difficult challenges and decisions every year. As a graduate of the Urban Education Leadership program, you'll have the knowledge and capabilities to face these difficulties directly, using your experience as an educator and leader to make a real difference.

You’ll graduate with an Indiana University degree respected by employers worldwide—and you can work on yours anytime and anywhere—100% online. Plus, you’ll enjoy personalized support services throughout your academic journey.

And the benefits start long before graduation. More than half of IU Online students advance in their careers before they complete their degree.

You have two options to choose from: a master’s degree in urban education leadership with a building-level administrator’s license, or a building-level administrator’s license only.

You must already have a master’s degree to qualify for the license only option.

To apply to this program, please complete the IU Online application.

Earning your M.S.Ed. in Urban Educational Leadership prepares you for a variety of roles within the school system, including:

  • Principal/Assistant Principal
  • District Administrator
  • Instructional Coach
  • Department Chair or Grade-Level Lead
  • Dean of Students or Academic Affairs
  • Education Policy Analyst
  • Urban Education Program Director

To graduate from this program, you must complete the required 36 credit hours.

Below is an example of coursework for the non-licensure track.

Foundations (6 credits)

Select 1:

  • EDUC-H504 – History of American Education
  • EDUC-H520 – Education and Social Issues
  • EDUC-A560 – Political Perspectives of Education

Select 1:

  • EDUC-P507 – Assessment in Schools
  • EDUC-P540 – Learning and Cognition in Education
  • EDUC-Y520 – Strategies in Educational Inquiry
  • EDUC-Y535 – Evaluation Models and Techniques

Educational Leadership (24 credits)

  • EDUC-J500 – Instruction in Context of Curriculum*
  • EDUC-A500 – Introduction to Educational Leadership*
  • EDUC-A510 – School Community Relations*
  • EDUC-A515 – Instructional Leadership, Supervision, and Development*
  • EDUC-A608 – Legal and Ethical Perspectives on Education*
  • EDUC-A624 – Educational Leadership: The Principalship K-12*
  • EDUC-A635 – Public School Budgeting and Accounting*
  • EDUC-A695 – Practicum in Educational Leadership*

Leading in Diverse Environments (6 credits)

Select 2:

  • EDUC-K505 – Introduction to Special Education for Graduate Students
  • EDUC-L500 – Instructional Issues in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education
  • EDUC-T531 – Organizational Change in Cultural and Linguistical Diverse Schools
  • EDUC-A675 – Special Education Law and Leadership
  • EDUC-A735 – Building Unified Systems Inclusive of Students with Disabilities

*Required for Building-level Administrator License

Program cost information

Plan your finances

Program cost can vary by campus, resident status, and type of program. Use the resources below to get accurate cost estimates for your specific situation.

View cost by campus Estimate your expenses

Contact Student Financial Services at iuosfs@iu.edu for cost information.

Find the answers you need or start your application. We're here to help!