Today’s teachers do so much more than just teaching. They serve as peer coaches and mentors. They lead curriculum teams. They model and design exemplary instructional practices. Become the type of leader that your school community needs with our online Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership Program.
Applications Accepted for:
Spring 2025: June 1 - Sept. 30, 2024
Fall 2025: Oct. 1, 2024 - June 15, 2025
Click here to view upcoming application and document submission due dates.
Interested in applying? SDSU no longer requires GRE/GMAT testing for admission to any graduate program.
The Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership is designed for teachers who want to take on leadership roles in their school communities without sacrificing their impact in the classroom.
About the program
Today’s teachers do so much more than just teaching. Many educators take on other roles outside of the classroom, becoming coaches and mentors for new teachers, leading initiatives and conducting program evaluations, and leading their professional learning communities. Collectively and individually, these teacher-leaders influence their colleagues, principals, and other members of the school community to improve teaching and learning practices in order to create a more cohesive and productive learning environment for their students.
Total Estimated Cost$543 Total Cost/Unit
Completion Time
Course FormatBecome a leader in your school community by earning your Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership online from San Diego State University. This online masters in teacher leadership program is designed and developed by SDSU’s Department of Educational Leadership with the goal of strengthening educational communities across San Diego, the country, and throughout the world.
Many educators have the ability to lead in the classroom, but those leadership skills don’t automatically transfer to the task of leading fellow teachers and colleagues. Often, professional development opportunities for teachers are limited to the occasional conference or workshop session. This program gives you the skills you need to take on those leadership roles, helping to train and coach your fellow educators and colleagues towards smarter educational practices.
You can complete all necessary coursework in as little as 12 to 14 months. And because the coursework is online, you’ll be able to earn your master’s degree on your schedule.
Is This Program Right for Me?
This online masters in teacher leadership program is designed for passionate educators who are interested in assuming leadership roles in addition to their teacher duties. This program prepares you for these roles by providing you with new knowledge and leadership skills, furthering your sense of inquiry and your ability to lead change in your school, and providing you with a scholarly community of educators with similar career goals and trajectories. If you have a passion for leadership, and you want to actively strengthen your school community, this program can help.
Upon graduation, you’ll have the skills you’ll need to be effective in leadership roles in your school community by taking on diverse leadership roles as:
- A Master Teacher
- Curriculum Leader
- Assessment Leader
- Mentor
- An Instructional Coach
Today’s teachers are busier than ever. Between designing lesson plans, submitting grades, creating assignments, leading classrooms and discussions, and of course, teaching, most educators don’t have time to further their education. This program is designed to lower the barriers, making it easier to earn a well-rounded graduate-level education from a reputable university.
Since the program is entirely online and can be completed in as little as 3 semesters, you’ll be able to earn your master’s degree in your busy schedule. Best of all, upon graduation, you’ll have earned the same degree as our on-campus students: a Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership from San Diego State University.
What Can I Learn?
The online Teacher Leadership program is designed to help strengthen school communities everywhere by helping educators become leaders. You’ll be prepared to lead your fellow teachers and colleagues towards better educational practices. You’ll learn about the power of collective efficacy, its impact on a school, and the expectation that you’ll contribute to building it.
You’ll develop a deep understanding of high-quality instruction to the point where you can see it, feel it and know when it’s not present. You’ll also learn how to work productively on a team, and through teamwork, influence the learning and practice of adults from a parallel position of authority.
The goals of SDSU's Teacher Leadership program are:
- To provide exceptional classroom teachers with the skills they need to pursue leadership roles, such as a department chair, instructional coach, or a coordinator, while maintaining their impact in classrooms
- To provide teachers a foundation for personal and professional growth in leadership skills who then provide high quality instruction in their own classrooms
- To provide experiences that transfer research into practice through leadership opportunities
Career Outcomes
The outlook for teacher leaders is bright. Over the past year, there were over 145,000 job postings across the country, with more than 25,000 job postings in California alone. And as educators continue to take on more active roles in leadership in their school communities, those employment numbers are expected to grow by almost 8.5% over the next decade. As a teacher leader, you can expect to make between $45,000 and $92,000 per year, which is much higher than the average salary of teacher leaders who hold a Bachelor’s degree ($51,122) or an Associate’s degree ($41,253).
Job Postings
K-12 Teaching
Teaching Support & Enrichment
Education Administration
Instructional & Curriculum Design
Category Title
Employment (2018)
K-12 Teaching
Teaching Support & Enrichment
Education Administration
Instructional & Curriculum Design
Category Title
Projected Growth over Next 10 Years
K-12 Teaching
Teaching Support & Enrichment
Education Administration
Instructional & Curriculum Design
Category Title
Salary Range
K-12 Teaching
Teaching Support & Enrichment
Education Administration
Instructional & Curriculum Design
Category Title
Labor Analysis
M.A. in Teacher Education and Professional Development — Nationwide
Job Postings
Last 12 months
145,420
Projected Growth
Over 10 years
+8.49%
Salary Range
Average
$45,000-$92,000
Source: BLS & Burning Glass Technologies, 2020
Why Should You Choose Us?
Accessibility
We understand that teachers are busy, and teachers who take on leadership roles in their school communities are even busier. Because you can earn your degree with just 30 units of coursework, you can complete the program in as little as 3 semesters. The courses are held entirely online, meaning that you’ll have more time to use your degree to improve your school.
Proven Curriculum
When you graduate from this Teacher Leadership program, you’re earning a master’s degree that’s based on proven leadership principles. The program outcomes (Equity, Evidence-based Instruction, Mentoring, Coaching and Collaboration, and Organizational Engagement) are designed to help prepare the next generation of teachers to take on leadership roles in their school communities. These outcomes were designed by the Educational Leadership faculty and local district leaders to be in full accordance with California’s Teacher Leadership Standards.
The program was developed with the help of Douglas Fisher, Ph.D., an experienced leader in the education industry. Professor Fisher is the Department Chair of Educational Leadership and is the recipient of a Faculty Monty Award.
Versatility
Even though the program is designed exclusively for current teachers with 3 or more years of experience, the curriculum will prepare you for a variety of leadership roles in your school community. Teacher leaders design curriculums, lead workshops, become coaches and mentors, and help schools adapt to changes in the educational environment. No matter what leadership means to you, this program can help you achieve your professional goals.