Sudha Ramaswamy, Ph.D., Chair
Department of Special Education and Educational Leadership
914-674-3058
sramaswamy@mercy.edu

Rose Rudnitski, Ed.D., Program Director
Department of Special Education and Educational Leadership
914-674-7447
rrudnitski@mercy.edu

The M.S. program in Alternative Route: School District Leader (Transitional D) is a 33 credit program for exceptionally qualified individuals from other fields who already hold a graduate or professional degree and are able to demonstrate the nine essential characteristics of effective leaders as a result of exemplary prior service for at least three years in a leadership position. Upon completion of this program, candidates are eligible for recommendation for School District Leader professional certification. The successful completion of 60 semester hours or more of graduate study is required for this certification (these hours may include graduate study completed prior to admission and the graduate study required to develop knowledge and skills for school district leadership). 

Admission Requirements

1. An undergraduate degree in a related field from an accredited institution, with a GPA of at least 3.0 is required. A graduate degree is also required. 

2. A letter documenting school district employment and support commitment.

3. A resume.

4. Dossier documenting exemplary service in a leadership position (3 years). 

5. Submission of scores on the Verbal Reasoning, Mathematical Reasoning, and Analytic Writing subtests of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Praxis are needed if the candidate does not have an earned master’s degree and NYSED teacher certification.