Department of Leadership Studies

Master’s of Education in Instructional Leadership
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Master’s of Education in Instructional Leadership (MEIL) program? It is an innovative program model that combines the resources and expertise of WVSU’s Department of Leadership Studies to create opportunities for potential educational administrators to explore and apply new techniques and concepts in instructional leadership and to attain an advanced degree.   It is decided that the department will focus on a Master of Education in Instructional Leadership with an emphasis on the concepts of Social Justice, Fairness and Equity, the first of its kind in West Virginia. 

2. Where is the Program offered? The program is offered to all licensed and eligible educators in an on-line format. 

3.  What certification will I receive from the program? All Degree and Licensure program completers can apply for West Virginia certification in Principal Pre-K through 12, General Supervision and Superintendency.  WVSU is one of only three universities in the state to offer all three areas of certification. 

4. Who teaches the classes? Classes are taught by full-time faculty of WVSU as well as by highly qualified and experienced adjunct faculty for selected courses.

5. Where and when are classes held? The MEIL program will offer open and rolling enrollment for fall, spring and summer semesters.  Because the program utilizes open enrollment, there will be no elective courses—WVSU will offer the same 12 courses in rotating sequence with each course designated as fall, spring or summer semester course offering, with each course three semester hours of credit, the WVSU MEIL Degree program will consist of 36 credit hours of required courses. The WVSU MEIL Licensure program will require eighteen credit hours in addition to the previously earned Master’s degree.

6. How long does it take to complete the program? Students will have the opportunity to complete two courses per eight week course schedule, and projections are for Licensure students to complete the program in 1-2 years and Degree stream candidates to complete the program in 2 years.

7. What is the length of each course?  Classes in the MEIL program are offered on-line in vigorous eight-week courses.  The Internship course is a twelve week summer class divided into two sections—Building Level and District Level Leadership.

8. Why is the WVSU MEIL degree program a good option for me?
This hands-on, innovative and exciting program allows instructional leaders to create pathways for the successful achievement of educational goals for students and staff members.

This program will provide an opportunity to apply for administrative licensure upon successful completion of requirements of the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE). 

To increase student achievement in the public schools of the region, state and nation, the proposed program will develop the professional knowledge skills and dispositions of Instructional Leadership candidates so that they may demonstrate their ability to achieve the following:

• To expand the knowledge base and practices of potential educational leaders, including identifying and implementing components of change leadership for student achievement, professional development and community relations.
• To provide a positive, action-based series of learning opportunities for the completion of a Master degree and/or licensure for positions of instructional leadership.
• Integrate historical, legal, developmental, and sociological research to meet the instructional needs of all student populations.
• Design, develop, conduct and share findings from action research projects that address meeting the needs of diverse students, staff and communities.
• Through study of evidence based practice and current trends, identify, develop and integrate educational technology to increase student achievement.
• Increase instructional leadership skills in communications, evaluation, and networking to be responsive to the needs of a variety of public school audiences.
• To identify and explore diverse student populations, their unique needs, and methods to insure development of their personal goals and academic success.