Educational Leadership and Management: Technology Leader, CAGS

Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS)

Graduate Committee

Ronald Colbert, EdD
Rosemarie Giovino, EdD
Nancy Kelly, PhD
Susan Williams, PhD

General Philosophy

Fitchburg State University’s CAGS programs are designed to meet well-defined career needs of professionals who have earned an appropriate master’s degree and who wish to attain greater competency in a combination of areas of study within one of the major CAGS fields offered.

General Description of Program

Each student’s CAGS program is planned under the direction of an advisor and is built on the academic background, professional position, and career goals of the student. CAGS programs consist of an integrated core curriculum, supervised professional practice, an Internship, and elective courses.

General Program of Study

Upon acceptance into the program, the student’s plan of study is developed with and approved by an advisor, who works with the student over the course of study. A minimum of 30 approved graduate credits is required to complete the CAGS with the following restrictions:

• CAGS courses may not repeat work previously accomplished by the student in other graduate degree study
• CAGS credits must be earned in graduate-level courses

Details regarding the CAGS curricula, including information about required and elective courses, may be found in the specific CAGS program descriptions which follow.

Educational Leadership and Management: Technology Leader, CAGS

Graduate Program Co-Chairs

Richard Beardmore, CAGS
Danette Day, MEd

Graduate Committee

Jacquelyn Abromitis, EdD

Program Objectives

The CAGS in Educational Leadership and Management: Technology Leader Program is a non-licensure program designed to provide future leaders in technology for school systems. The technology leader degree track provides an in-depth examination of the implications of the technology revolution that has the potential to transform teaching and learning in our schools. Special emphasis is placed on the key role that technology leaders have in initiating the process of change, technology integration and faculty development. The track includes a variety of opportunities for hands-on technology-based experiences and includes critical corecourses in educational leadership and management. This track is primarily offered off-campus through a collaborative partnership with the Merrimack Education Center in Billerica and the Massachusetts Elementary School Principals Association in Marlborough.

Program Description

The CAGS program in Educational Leadership and Management: Technology Leader is designed for students with the desire to:

• Gain competence in the use of software applications as productivity and learning tools
• Develop perspective on their daily work by examining the theory and practice of education
• Create models that incorporate the use of technology to support effective teaching and curriculum development
• Explore the use of instructional technology to address contemporary educational issues
• Understand the implication of digital literacy for teaching and learning
• Plan for building and maintaining technology infrastructure within a school system.

Admissions Standards and Criteria

To apply for enrollment in the CAGS in Educational Leadership and Management: Technology Leader Program, candidates must submit documents as outlined in the Graduate Admissions section as well as:

• Official transcript of master’s degree from an accredited institution
• MAT/GRE/GMAT exams not required
• The MTEL exam is not required.
• Personal Statement
  
  Students must complete an essay of no more than one page in response to one of the following questions/statement:
  
  1. Tell about a positive situation in which you helped a person and made a significant difference in that person’s life.
  2. What are the most important factors in establishing a long-term working relationship with students, friends, etc.?
  3. Tell us about a significant event that involved you in a teaching or helping role.
     • Describe the situation as it occurred at the time.
     • What did you do in that particular situation?
     • How did you feel about the situation at the time you were experiencing it?
     • How do you feel about the situation now?
     • What would you change, if anything? 

Program Requirements

A minimum of 36 graduate credits is required to complete the CAGS program. The program curriculum consists of: