MEd in Educational Administration Specializing in School Business Finance
Pursue Your Passions for Business and Education
The Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Administration with an Emphasis in School Business and Finance from Grand Canyon University aims at bridging the gap between education and business. This program is ideal for educators who desire to deepen their skill set of business and its applications in education administration and for those passionate about shaping educational environments within a pre-K through grade 12 setting. If you are seeking a principal’s license and would like to focus on business finance, you have the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the financial and managerial aspects of education in this program.
Take School-Related Business and Finance Courses at GCU
This online course of study allows you to complete the MEd coursework on your own schedule. You will be taught how to drive positive change in your school and community by providing the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the challenges of educational administration, preparing you for leadership roles within educational settings.
You will study advanced techniques to apply business principles and financial analysis to educational institutions and organizations. Having the flexibility of an online learning system can help working professionals balance their educational goals with their personal and professional responsibilities.1
Applicants for this program must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and provide documentation of two years of verified teaching experience. For more details on graduate and doctoral admission requirements, fill out the form on this page and a university counselor will contact you.
Analyze School Business and Finance Industry Topics
The College of Education aims to help you achieve a comprehensive understanding of business principles and practices within an educational administration setting. This degree is designed to cultivate leadership skills and business acumen relevant to the education industry, empowering you to explore opportunities as an educational administrator.
Upon completing your master’s of education in educational administration and business and finance courses, you will have had exposure to specialized areas such as:
- Entrepreneurship
- Ethical decision-making
- Finance
- Leadership
- Marketing
- Strategic planning
Pursue Practical Business and Education Courses
Candidates for the position of principal must be prepared to complete three practicum/field experiences that add up to a minimum of 300 hours of classroom experience. Courses are taught by knowledgeable practitioners in their respective fields who share wisdom and experience in areas such as:
- Administrative foundations
- Creating and sustaining positive school cultures
- Curriculum development
- Empowerment of teachers
- Business finance
- Instructional leadership
- PK–12 legal issues
- Professional development
- School leadership
The exploration of these mission-driven ventures within this master’s of education in educational administration program aims to serve both local communities as well as the greater good of society.
Career Paths for School Finance and Business Emphasis Graduates
Graduates with an MEd in Educational Administration degree can have a range of career paths available across both education and business sectors. For example:
- School business education administrators: Oversee finances within educational institutions
- Corporate finance: Consult or financial analysis, applying their expertise to a range of industries
- Entrepreneurship: Leverage their knowledge of business finance to start their own ventures
With a focus on ethical decision-making, leadership and strategic planning, you can work toward making a positive impact in your organizations and communities.
Graduate With an MEd Degree From an Accredited University
GCU has held accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1968, signifying its commitment to academic quality. Accreditation from reputable organizations like the HLC and state boards can help ensure you receive quality education from a university that meets rigorous standards of academic excellence and integrity.
Educational Administration MEd: School Business and Finance Emphasis FAQs
We’ve prepared answers to a few frequently asked questions about our master’s program to help you decide whether this degree is right for you.
Yes, you can get a master's in educational administration with a school business and finance emphasis with a bachelor's degree unrelated to finance or business. It’s important to note that admission requirements will vary depending on the institution you choose and the program you apply to. A background in business or finance, mathematics, economics or engineering may be required.
School leadership can be a challenging field that requires a strong foundation in mathematics, economics and other related subjects. This graduate-level program offers a significant amount of independent study, research and coursework where you may be expected to analyze complex financial data, develop business strategies and write research papers. When evaluating the difficulty of a degree program, it’s important to consider the potential hurdles and how you can put a plan in place to help you address them and stay on track to completion.
Acquiring a master's of education from an accredited program, whether on campus or online, can lay a strong foundation for a career in finance, business and education. Learn more about GCU’s institutional accreditation and the College of Education accreditation.
Yes, this master’s degree with an emphasis in business and financial management in education typically requires a certain level of math proficiency. The exact math requirements can vary, but many programs will expect students to have a strong foundation in mathematical concepts such as statistics, economics and accounting. Additionally, some curricula may require coursework in advanced mathematical topics such as financial modeling, data analysis and decision science.
Take the next step in your educational journey with an MEd in Educational Administration and develop skills in efficient school resource management.
If seeking licensure or certification, applicants to the program are responsible for contacting their state department of education for licensure requirements and program approval. In addition, fingerprint and background clearance is required.
This degree, offered by the College of Education, is a regionally accredited program approved by the State of Arizona. It aligns with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL, 2015) led by the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA, 2018).
1 Excluding observational and practice-based experiences, including student teaching.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course begins by acquainting candidates with the learning management system while preparing them to be successful graduate-level students and future educational leaders. With a programmatic focus on developing leaders, this course examines school missions and visions that promote the values of equity, diversity, and community, with an emphasis on a leader’s character development, modeling and advocating for ethical behavior, and leadership.
Course Description
This course introduces candidates to the laws and policies governing and relating to PK-12 education in the United States. A broad range of topics will be examined including the values of democracy, individual freedom, and responsibility, as well as equity, social justice, community, and diversity within the educational community. Focus is on the principal’s role in ethical decision-making and implementing laws, rights, policies, and regulations to improve outcomes for all students.
Course Description
This course examines PK-12 education finance with a fundamental focus on issues and practices that directly affect the operation of the school and local education agency (LEA). Candidates will be exposed to the regulations encompassed in the Uniform System of Financial Records (USFR) and the implications of these regulations at the school site level. School finance topics related to education at the federal, state, and local levels will be examined. Candidates will explore financial aspects of school improvement while managing change.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the critical role of the leader in creating and sustaining a positive school culture and shared vision. Given diverse settings, contexts, and leadership situations, candidates will explore how to manage and cultivate productive relationships with students, families, and the educational community that promote student development and success. Emphasis is placed on effective communication with community stakeholders in a variety of contexts.
Course Description
This course focuses on funding available to schools and districts from the federal government. Funding types and the regulations for allocating those funds in compliance with federal guidelines are emphasized. Prerequisite: EAD-527 or FIN-504.
Course Description
This course focuses on funding available to schools and districts from the state government. Funding types and regulations for allocating those funds in compliance with federal guidelines are emphasized. Prerequisite: EBF-520.
Course Description
This course focuses on funding available to schools and districts from local entities. Funding sources, including community organizations, are explored. Ethical and legal management of local funding is emphasized. Prerequisite: EBF-525.
Course Description
This course explores critical organizational and management issues faced by school principals. Topics explored include recruiting, selecting, and hiring, to build a quality work force to support school improvement. Focus also includes managing and allocating resources, including technology that supports equity and digital literacy to all learners. Candidates also explore promoting a school mission and vision to support school community safety and learning.
Course Description
This course focuses on the equitable allocation and distribution of funds and resources available to schools and districts. Legal and ethical use and reporting of funds are emphasized. Prerequisite: EBF-530 or ACC-502.
Course Description
This course prepares candidates to become effective instructional leaders in the evaluation of school-wide curricular programs to promote continuous school improvement. Focus is placed on evaluating academic and non-academic practices, services, and curricula to ensure cultural responsiveness, character education and development, equity, and accessibility based on data-driven analysis.
Course Description
This course prepares candidates to develop and promote best practices in emerging trends and initiatives in support of teacher self-efficacy and retention. Topics will explore coaching and mentoring in alignment to the teacher coaching cycle of observation, evaluation, and providing actionable feedback for teacher improvement. Emphasis is placed on creating a collaborative professional culture that promotes equity, cultural responsiveness, and the success and well-being of all stakeholders.
Course Description
This course prepares candidates to promote effective and safe learning environments to support school improvement initiatives. Research-based best practices in establishing a consistent, organized, and respectful learning environment will be explored. Emphasis is placed on equitable, inclusive, and culturally responsive practices. Character education is addressed to support the social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of all school community stakeholders, and to sustain a positive learning environment.
Course Description
This course prepares candidates to become effective building-level instructional leaders who are able to supervise, support and evaluate school staff in a manner that promotes character education, character development, reflection and self-awareness, equity, cultural responsiveness, and distributed leadership. Emphasis is placed on promoting professional dispositions and norms that support equity, inclusion, and educational success.
Course Description
The internship experience and course content bridge program knowledge and skills with a focus on observing, participating, and leading. Principal candidates will apply building-level leadership skills in a clinical practice designed to facilitate the candidate's ultimate success in improving the outcomes for all students as a school leader. Practicum/field experience hours: 100. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisites: EAD-507, EAD-517, and EAD-527.
Course Description
The internship experience and course content bridge program knowledge and skills with a focus on observing, participating, and leading. Principal candidates will apply building-level leadership skills in a clinical practice designed to facilitate the candidate's ultimate success in improving the outcomes for all students as a school leader. Practicum/field experience hours: 100. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: EAD-570.
Course Description
The internship experience and course content bridge program knowledge and skills with a focus on observing, participating, and leading. Principal candidates will apply building-level leadership skills in a clinical practice designed to facilitate the candidate's ultimate success in improving the outcomes for all students as a school leader. Practicum/field experience hours: 100. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in POS and content area; a 3.0 GPA and approval and placement by College of Education Office of Field Experience.
- GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
- Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
- Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.