Educational Leadership (CAGS)
The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in Educational Leadership is a post-master’s degree program designed for professionals in education, or a related field, who have completed a master’s degree and are interested in pursuing advanced-level graduate studies. For students interested in pursuing doctoral studies, 27 of the 33 credits can be transferred into PSU's Doctor of Education program.
In many universities, a CAGS, or similar post master’s degree program (e.g. Certificate of Advanced Studies, CAS; Educational Specialist, EdS) is a prerequisite for doctoral studies. In many cases a number of post-master’s course credits can be transferred into the Plymouth State University EdD program. A number of other NH institutions allow students to transfer credits from their post master’s degree programs into a doctoral program as well.
Curriculum Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Leadership Component | ||
| EP 7020 | Collaborative Leadership | 3 |
| EP 7030 | Transforming the Educational Agenda | 3 |
| EP 7040 | Planning in Education and Human Services | 3 |
| EP 7050 | Advanced Mixed Research Methodology | 3 |
| EP 7060 | Legal Issues in Policy Making | 3 |
| EP 7080 | Ethical Leadership and Decision Making | 3 |
| Specialization Component | ||
| Credits approved by advisor | 12-18 | |
| Capstone Experience | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 3-6 | |
| CAGS Capstone | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Special Topics in Educational Leadership | ||
| Total Credits | 33-39 | |
- Demonstrate an ability to collaboratively facilitate the development of a shared vision of learning in order to promote continual and sustainable school improvement.
- Use data to drive decision making, identify educational goals and assess organizational effectiveness.
- Develop a school culture and instructional program characterized by high expectations for students.
- Create and evaluate a comprehensive, rigorous and coherent curricular and instructional school program.
- Develop and supervise the instructional practice and leadership potential of school staff.
- Support teaching and learning within a school environment to promote effective and appropriate technologies.
- Manage the school organization, operation and resources through monitoring and evaluating the appropriate systems.
- Efficiently use human, fiscal and technological resources through monitoring and evaluating the appropriate systems.
- Collaborating with faculty and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources on behalf of the school by collecting and analyzing information pertinent to improvement of the school’s educational environment.
- Promote an understanding and appreciation of the diverse cultural, social and intellectual resources within the school community.
- Build and sustain positive school relationships with families, caregivers and community partners to facilitate a dynamic, high-achieving learning environment for all students.
- Act with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner to ensure a school system of accountability for every student’s academic and social success.
- Model principles of self-awareness, reflective practice and transparency.
- Uphold the values of democracy, equity and diversity within the school to ensure that individual student needs inform all aspects of schooling.
- Evaluate the potential moral and legal consequences of decision making.
- Advocate within the community and educational environment for students, families and caregivers.
- Act to influence local, district, state and national decisions that affect student learning.
- Anticipate and assess emerging trends and initiatives in order to adapt school-based leadership strategies.