NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development

MA in Educational Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy

Format: Full-time/Part-time
Credits: 36

Core Courses and Electives

The MA in Educational Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy combines content courses with fieldwork and electives. Each course examines multiple theoretical perspectives, themes of equity and social justice, a focus on the needs and experiences of low-income urban children and youth, and implications for leadership within and outside of educational settings.

Areas of Focus

In your core seminars, you'll study Education Advocacy, Organization and Leadership Theory, the Politics of Education, Participatory Action Research, Demographic Analysis, and pursue additional study based on your chosen focus: leadership, politics, or advocacy. You can pursue multiple paths toward analyzing and critically assessing issues of leadership and policy at the federal, state, and local levels and develop competencies to employ multiple approaches to inquiry and research. You'll also choose from a wide array of options, including economic analysis, policy analysis, demographic studies, community asset mapping, participatory action research, survey design, and ethnographic and case study inquiry.

Flexible Study

The curriculum offers considerable flexibility in creating a program of study that you and your adviser can tailor to fit your professional goals and interests. You can choose to study full-time or part-time. Full-time students can complete the 36-credit program in just three semesters. Students have finished in two summers and two semesters as well, or, in rare cases, in two semesters and one summer.

Fieldwork and Internships

As part of your graduate studies, you will participate in an internship in community-based advocacy organizations, schools, or policy centers. Placements are based on your academic and career interests. Additional field-based opportunities are also included in coursework throughout the program. Thirty-nine percent of our graduates’ internship placements resulted in a paid position within the organization.

Program Electives (12 Points)

You will select electives from the wide array of courses in the Educational Leadership program and other ALT programs as well as other departments in NYU Steinhardt and/or other NYU schools (e.g., Graduate School of Arts & Science, Silver School of Social Work, Stern School of Business, School of Continuing & Professional Studies, and Wagner School of Public Administration). Your choices should reflect areas that will expand competencies in areas of Educational Leadership, Politics & Advocacy and that reflect your specific interests and potential career pathways.

Concentration Electives

• Policy Analysis and Evaluation
• Non-Profit Management
• Out-of-School Youth Organizations
• Self-Designed Concentration

#47 out of 300 universities worldwide for Education, QS World University Rankings

With the combination of course work and internship experience in our master’s degree in Educational Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy, you’ll gain:

• The skills to critically analyze and act effectively on issues of leadership and policy
• Competencies to lead cross-sector
• The ability to employ multiple approaches to inquiry, research, and analysis
• Enhanced knowledge in your area of focus

This degree prepares you for roles including:

• Program director
• Career and internship coordinator
• Manager of economic opportunity program
• Director of admissions and recruitment
• Development and communications director
• Program or data analyst

Our graduates work in and lead child and community advocacy organizations; policy and research centers; private, charter, and independent schools; non-profits, and international NGOs. Others go on to pursue doctoral study.

Our graduates have directed programs in places such as Harlem Village Academies, several city and state Departments of Education including the NYC DOE, Annenberg Institute for School Reform, San Diego Youth Development Office, The Highlander Center, Brooklyn School for Music and Theater, Good Shepherd Services, Points of Light Foundation, Hunts Point Alliance for Children, Young Women’s Leadership Network, the After School Corporation, Year Up, and Posse Foundation.