Degree Details

Degree Type

  • Master's Programs

Minimum Requirements

  • 2 Semesters
  • 32–36 Credits

Formats

  • In-Person

Availability

  • Full- and Part-Time Available
Degree Requirements

Drive Change with a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (EdM)

Be a transformational leader in any PreK-12 school or district. This degree offers everything you’d find in a master’s degree in education administration, while diving deeper into leadership and policy. Our program offers field work and research experience, faculty mentorship, and flexible licensure and non-licensure options, including principal licensure programs. Bring your vision for better education to life here.

Program Pathways

Become a Licensed Administrator

Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development’s master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies (EdM) gives you the coursework and clinical experience you need to be eligible for a Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) administrator license, including:

  • Principal/Assistant Principal (PreK–8 or 5–12)
  • Special Education Administrator
  • Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent
  • Supervisor/Director

Gain Meaningful Field Experience

As part of the principal licensure program and other licensure pathways, you will complete a practicum in a school setting. Gain meaningful experience and put coursework into practice. The practicum is required for licensure. This is just one of the ways our master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies (EdM) provides you with more options than a typical master’s degree in education administration.

Non-Licensure Leadership Options

Interested in leadership and policy roles at the local, state, or federal level? Or looking to work at an independent, international, or charter school? Opt for the non-licensure pathway for your master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies.


I chose the Educational Leadership program at BU Wheelock because I wanted to grow into a multifaceted leader in education—someone who can lead at the intersections of policy, equity, and justice.
Hala Tabbara

Career Outcomes in Education Administration

Become a life-changing leader in education.  Learn to implement policies and create school environments that make all students feel included. With a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies (EdM) from BU Wheelock, you’ll have the skills to:

  • Implement policies and build high-performing schools
  • Establish healthy school cultures
  • Develop inclusive and collaborative decision-making and governance skills
  • Manage systems for talent development and fiscal planning
  • Develop and evaluate innovative educational programs, practices, and services
Education administrators earn
$79,000–$138,000
on average, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Alumni in Education Administration

When considering a master’s degree in education administration and comparable programs, it’s important to look at student outcomes. BU Wheelock delivers. 

Whether you choose a licensure path, like the principal licensure program, or take the non-licensure option for completing your master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies (EdM), you’ll be prepared for leadership roles in a variety of school environments. Our graduates go on to make a difference at local, regional, national, and international schools, institutions, and organizations.

BU Wheelock alumni go on to lead as:

  • Principals
  • Heads of school
  • Assistant principals
  • Curriculum coordinators
  • Program directors
  • District leaders

This program has helped me connect my personal values to real-world educational leadership. It’s not just preparing me for a job—it’s shaping the way I want to lead, serve, and contribute to education.
Balkhiya Amirkhanova

Featured Faculty

The faculty for BU Wheelock’s master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies (EdM) includes successful school and district leaders with experience in a variety of educational settings and communities.

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies faculty member Ramon Gonzalez speaks with two recent graduates at BU Wheelock's convocation 2025

Learn from instructors like award-winning principal and innovative community educator Dr. Ramon Gonzalez. He founded two public schools and mentored over 100 aspiring leaders to school leadership positions.

Education Administration, Leadership, and Policy Courses

Build your knowledge, skillset and confidence as a leader in PreK-12 education administration at BU Wheelock. Our master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies (EdM) curriculum is designed to help you apply research to meet the changing needs of students, schools, and communities.

Courses  include topics such as:

  • Family and Community Engagement
  • Strategic Planning and Implementation
  • Educational Equity and the Law
  • School Governance, Finance, and Operations

Scholarships Available

Ready to start your master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies (EdM)?  Let us help you figure out how to fund your dreams. Merit-based scholarships are available to graduate students.

95%
of all BU Wheelock applicants were offered scholarships

Admissions & Dates

Spring & Fall 2025

Aug 15, 2024

Application Opens

Spring 2025 Semester

Dec 15, 2024

Application Deadline

Fall 2025 Semester

Jan 15, 2025

Deadline to Receive Priority Scholarship Consideration

Fall 2025 Semester

Aug 1, 2025

Application Closes

Connect with BU Wheelock to learn more about the master’s degree program in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies: PreK–12. Learn about application requirements and deadlines, sign up for an information session, or start your application today.

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