COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Emancipatory School Leadership (MELS) at SJSU is a 30-unit graduate program designed to prepare educators and aspiring administrators to lead schools through equity-focused, research-informed, and practice-based approaches. The program centers on emancipatory leadership, which emphasizes transforming educational systems by addressing inequities, challenging traditional power structures, and fostering inclusive school cultures that recognize and build on community cultural wealth. Students engage in applied learning through consulting on real “living case studies,” where they collaboratively analyze school or district challenges and develop practical, equity-driven solutions in partnership with educational communities. The program structure includes core coursework spread across summer, fall, and spring semesters, covering topics such as educational leadership epistemologies, emancipatory teaching and learning, critical studies of educational policy, equity and access in educational practices, and leadership praxis. Students either transfer 12 units from completed PASC/CalAPA requirements or complete an approved area of specialization aligned with their professional interests. The culminating experience integrates both academic and applied components, requiring participation in leadership seminars and completion of a praxis-based leadership project. This includes an applied consulting project focused on a real educational challenge and a reflective 3-year emancipatory leadership action plan outlining professional goals, leadership identity, and strategies for growth. Overall, the program is designed to develop reflective, socially conscious leaders capable of implementing systemic change in educational environments.