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Master of Arts (M.A.)
A Concentration In
Instructional Leadership
A 30-credit concentration within the M.A. in Education — for educators stepping into school leadership, instructional coaching, or specialized leadership roles. Three emphases available.
Three Emphases Available
Bible, Instructional Coaching, or Special Education
Action Research Practicum
EDU 650 — graduate-level applied research
Brain-Based Learning
EDU 620 — current learning science for leaders
The Instructional Leadership concentration is for working educators stepping into school leadership, instructional coaching, or specialized leadership roles. Combined with the MAEd’s 6-credit core (EDU 500 Tests and Measurements + EDU 517 Curriculum and Instruction), the concentration adds 30 credits of leadership-focused coursework and one of three emphases that let you specialize further.
The concentration’s 12-credit core covers Teaching Diverse Student Populations (EDU 521), Instructional Leadership (EDU 600), Leading with Brain-Based Learning (EDU 620), and Action Research Practicum (EDU 650) — building the school-leadership foundation principal and instructional-coordinator roles assume. From there, choose one of three 18-credit emphases:
Bible Emphasis (18 cr): For leaders in Christian schools or with strong biblical-formation interests. Covers Old Testament Survey (BIB 502), New Testament Survey (BIB 504), Cultural Apologetics (BIB 512), and ACU’s three-course worldview sequence (MCT 500, 600, 670).
Instructional Coaching Emphasis (18 cr): For educators pursuing instructional coaching, teacher development, or curriculum coordinator roles. Covers Fundamentals of Instructional Coaching (EDU 525), Leading and Coaching for Change (EDU 630), Teaching in Higher Education (EDU 635), Using Data to Improve Student Outcomes (EDU 640), and both Science of Reading courses (EED 515 and 516).
Special Education Emphasis (18 cr): For leaders moving into special education coordinator, SPED administrator, or specialized teaching roles. Covers Introduction to the Exceptional Child (EDU 514), Science of Reading 1 (EED 515), Instructional Methods and Behavior Management for Students with Disabilities (SPE 526), Special Education Law/Assessment/IEPs (SPE 527), Language Development and Disorders (SPE 627), and Mild/Moderate Disability Practicum (SPE 628).
Lead Instruction in Schools
Build the working leadership skill principal and instructional-coordinator roles require through EDU 600.
Apply Brain-Based Learning Science
Engage current learning-science research and its implications for school and instructional leadership through EDU 620.
Conduct Action Research
Complete an Action Research Practicum (EDU 650) — graduate-level applied research in your own educational context.
Specialize Through Your Emphasis
Choose Bible for Christian-school leadership and biblical formation, Instructional Coaching for teacher-development roles, or Special Education for SPED leadership.
Teach Diverse Student Populations
Build the equity, inclusion, and culturally-responsive-instruction foundation school leadership assumes through EDU 521.
The Instructional Leadership concentration treats school and instructional leadership as service to teachers and students — and as work that benefits from explicit biblical-worldview grounding.
Leadership as Service to Teachers
Instructional leaders exist to serve the teachers and students under their care. The concentration treats coaching, evaluation, professional development, and leadership decisions as service to the teaching faculty — not as positional authority to be wielded.
Grounds your leadership in the conviction that good principals make teachers' work possible, not harder.
Students as Whole Persons
EDU 521 Teaching Diverse Student Populations and EDU 620 Leading with Brain-Based Learning both treat students as whole persons — not as test-score units. A Biblical Worldview takes that whole-person view seriously, particularly when leading schools that serve students from many backgrounds and abilities."
Equips you to lead schools that take every student seriously.
Biblical Formation in Christian School Leadership
The Bible Emphasis brings explicit biblical-worldview formation into the concentration — for leaders heading into Christian schools where theological depth is part of the role. The Worldview sequence (MCT 500, 600, 670) gives leaders the worldview vocabulary the work assumes."
Prepares Christian-school leaders to integrate biblical formation into school culture, not just programming.
Instructional Leadership opens doors across K–12 school administration, instructional coaching, special education leadership, and Christian-school administration.
School Principal or Vice-Principal
Step into principal and vice-principal roles where instructional-leadership preparation is increasingly assumed.
Instructional Coach
Move into instructional coaching, teacher development, or curriculum coordinator roles — the direct focus of the Instructional Coaching Emphasis.
Special Education Coordinator or Administrator
Pursue SPED coordinator, district SPED administrator, or specialized teaching roles via the Special Education Emphasis.
Christian School Principal or Head of School
Pair the Bible Emphasis with leadership coursework for Christian school principal and head-of-school roles.
District-Level Instructional Leadership
Build the foundation for district-level instructional coordinator, curriculum supervisor, or director of curriculum roles.
Higher Education Adjunct Teaching
The Instructional Coaching Emphasis includes EDU 635 Teaching in Higher Education — foundation for adjunct or community-college teaching.
The Instructional Leadership concentration combines substantive school-leadership coursework with deep specialization through three distinct emphasis paths.
Three Emphasis Paths
Bible, Instructional Coaching, or Special Education — meaning the concentration meets you where your career is actually headed.
Action Research Built In
EDU 650 Action Research Practicum brings applied research into the concentration — graduate-level work in your actual educational context.
Brain-Based Learning Course
EDU 620 Leading with Brain-Based Learning brings current learning science into school leadership preparation — uncommon at the MA level.
Same Faculty as the Undergrad Education Programs
IL students engage Graduate Education faculty who also teach across ACU's undergraduate Secondary and Elementary Education programs.
36 Credits — Two-Year Format
Designed to be completed alongside teaching or administrative work — manageable for working educators.
The Instructional Leadership concentration is built for working educators. Here’s how students start.
Apply to the MAEd
Submit your graduate application to ACU's School of Graduate Studies and indicate Instructional Leadership as your intended concentration.
Start Your ApplicationChoose Your Emphasis
Decide between the Bible Emphasis (Christian-school leadership and biblical formation), Instructional Coaching Emphasis (teacher development), or Special Education Emphasis (SPED leadership).
Get Your IVP Fingerprint Card
Arizona requires an IVP card before EDU 517 (Curriculum and Instruction) and several emphasis-specific courses. Plan for this in your first semester.
Begin With the MAEd Core and Concentration Core
EDU 500, EDU 517, EDU 521, EDU 600, EDU 620, and EDU 650 form the foundation across both core blocks — take them before the emphasis-specific coursework.
The Instructional Leadership concentration pairs substantive leadership preparation with three distinct emphasis paths — meeting you where your career is heading. Apply or reach out today.
