Master of Arts in School Leadership & Management

Rather than separating coursework from leadership practice, SLAM integrates online coursework, field-based internships, mentor coaching, and district-relevant leadership projects. Students apply what they are learning immediately in authentic school settings, building the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for effective building-level leadership.

Highlights:

• Online principal preparation program with embedded field experiences
• Designed for working educators seeking building-level leadership preparation
• Cohort-based structure with sequenced coursework
• Internships connected to each phase of the program
• Emphasis on instructional leadership, school improvement, equity, data use, community engagement, and systems of support
• District-embedded projects that produce usable leadership artifacts
• Apprenticeship-supported pathway with mentor coaching and district partnership opportunities
• License-only pathway available for students who already hold a master’s degree

Why SLAM at UIndy?

• Practice-based preparation: Students complete authentic leadership work tied to real school and district needs, including audits, data projects, improvement cycles, MTSS work, and capstone projects.
• Community-embedded leadership: The program reflects UIndy’s commitment to community engagement by preparing school leaders who understand schools as civic anchors connected to families, neighborhoods, and local organizations.
• Structured internships every semester: Internships are embedded throughout the program so students develop leadership capacity over time rather than completing isolated field experiences.
• Mentor principals as co-educators: Students work with trained mentor principals who provide coaching, feedback, and support as students connect coursework to real leadership practice.
• Online access with field-based rigor: Courses are delivered online to support working educators across Indiana, while projects and internships are completed in students’ own schools and districts.
• Designed around improvement: Students learn to use data, stakeholder input, equity analysis, and evidence-based leadership practices to improve schools and support student success.

Learn More

• About the Program
• Admission Requirements
• Tuition & Aid

About the MA in School Leadership & Management Program

Graduates will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience to lead innovative change in educational systems, address educational disparities, and foster excellence in teaching and learning across diverse environments. Our program creates social support and camaraderie to help you persist through your studies and become an outstanding educational leader.

Signature Experiences

• Thriving School Audit
  Students examine how well a school and its surrounding community are thriving, identifying assets, needs, and leadership opportunities that support student learning and holistic development.
• School Improvement and Data Leadership Projects
  Students use school and district data to identify problems of practice, develop improvement plans, and communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Equity and Community Engagement Work
  Students conduct equity-centered inquiry, examine access and opportunity, and develop leadership responses that strengthen school culture and community relationships.
• Instructional Supervision and Coaching
  Students practice observation, feedback, and coaching routines that support teacher growth and instructional improvement.
• MTSS and Systems of Support
  Students analyze and strengthen schoolwide systems of academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support.
• Capstone Leadership Project
  Students complete an applied leadership project aligned to a documented school or district need, producing evidence of leadership practice, impact, and sustainability.

Program Length & Format

This program consists of 30 credit hours and can completed in 5 semesters. It is offered in an online format to provide you with flexibility.

Pathways & Curriculum

• Master's Degree Pathway
  

  For students seeking a master’s degree and building-level leadership preparation, the revised SLAM program includes a full sequence of leadership coursework, internships, and a capstone project.

• Building-Level License Only Pathway
  For students who already hold a master’s degree, UIndy offers a non-degree building-level license-only pathway. This pathway includes selected leadership courses, internships, school law, and a capstone experience for a total of 19 credit hours.

Advantages

• Cutting-edge curriculum covering:
  • Educational leadership and organizational change
  • School culture and team leadership
  • Equity in education reform
  • School law and finance
  • Data-driven decision making
  • Leading STEM initiatives
• Learn from expert faculty and active school-based practitioners, including leaders from principals to superintendents. 
• Graduates can earn their master’s degree while preparing for successful completion of the Building-Level Administrator (BLA) licensure exam.
• Complete a capstone project where students will:
  • Address real problems of practice in a student's school.
  • Implement a tangible school improvement project. 

When Can I Start?

New cohorts begin each year in August. 

Admission Requirements

The Master of Arts in School Leadership and Management program seeks candidates who demonstrate excellence in teaching and are highly recommended by active principals, superintendents and colleagues for their leadership skills and potential for managing school transformation and fostering community engagement. Candidates must demonstrate through the application process that they are willing to serve as a school leader in diverse school settings and are dedicated to raising student academic achievement.

Admission is based on the following criteria:

• UIndy online application
• A bachelor's degree in education and an instructional teaching license from a regionally or nationally accredited institution
• Official transcripts (undergraduate and/or graduate) with a preferred minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• One letter of recommendation from a school or district leader
• Current resume
• A recent copy of your teaching license
• Agreement from your school corporation to support required field experiences
• Typed personal statement summarizing your career goals and purpose for applying to the program

Unless otherwise noted, send all information to:
University of Indianapolis
Master of Arts in School Leadership and Management
Esch Hall 103
1400 E. Hanna Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46227

Tuition & Aid

• View Graduate Tuition Rates
  

  Students purchase or rent their own books and course materials for each class.

• Financial Aid for Graduate Students
• Many school districts and public charters qualify for a 20% tuition discount.

Named one of the most affordable educational leadership administrator-prep courses in the region

UIndy's Master of Arts in School Leadership and Management online program was named one of the most affordable educational leadership administrator-prep courses in the North Central Region of the United States (Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin) by EducationalLeadershipDegree.com in 2023. 

See what helped us earn that spot

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