ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
PETERSON HALL
206.281.2214
GRADADMISSIONS@SPU.EDU

Program Overview

For an overview and important information, including application information, about outcomes for graduate students in the master in educational leadership/school principal certification, click here.

In addition to on-campus classes, graduate education courses in school administration are offered at off-campus locations such as the Olympic Educational Service District in Bremerton,  ESD #113 in Olympia, and in Mt. Vernon/Burlington. Check the online schedule to determine when these occur.

Master of Education in Educational Leadership

The Master of Education in Educational Leadership program (51 credits) is designed to prepare an individual for a position as a school principal or program leader in the elementary or secondary school. This degree is nationally accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and its successful completion will qualify the student for a Washington Residency PK-12 Certificate as a school principal.

A year-long (9-credit) internship is a part of both the master's degree program in educational leadership and the Principal Certification-only program. It is a vital, integrative experience in which students perform administrative activities while being supervised in a school district setting.

The primary objective is for the intern to acquire and practice the skills of effective management and leadership. Internship experiences will center on those competencies and skills defined in the Washington Administrative Code and the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC).

Each applicant to the educational leadership program must have had a minimum of three years' experience as a certified classroom teacher,  or served in an ESA role for a minimum of three years in an instructional setting. Exceptions should be approved through Richard Smith, chair and associate professor of educational administration. Contact him at 206.281.2375 or rsmith@spu.edu.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION FOR MASTER'S DEGREE
This two-part examination, consisting of a written essay and an oral defense of the answers to these questions, is usually completed at the end of the program. An application, available in the School of Education, should be submitted to the graduate program manager of school counseling two quarters in advance. The oral defense is arranged individually through the chair of the program. The written test is to be completed prior to the oral defense.

ITEMS REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION REVIEW

Applicants are to submit the following items to The Graduate Center to be considered for admissions:

• A graduate application.
• A $50 processing fee. Checks are to be made payable to ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ.
• An official transcript from any college or university where a degree was obtained, a professional-certification program was completed, and where any graduate coursework was taken.
• A copy of the most current teaching or ESA certificate. Non-certified persons should contact Richard Smith, chair of educational leadership, to determine the possibility of entering this program.
• Two letters of recommendation. Recommendations must come from present principals and other school administrators who recommend support of the applicant's pursuit of administrative certification. At least one of the letters must be from a school-district administrator who affirms district support for the candidate to conduct a year-long administrative internship, school-based for Principal Certification.
• For master's candidates: Scores from either the Miller's Analogy Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Official results must be sent directly to the graduate program manager in The Graduate Center. Test scores must be less than five years old to be valid.
• A personal statement. Applicants are to submit a typed personal statement on their academic and professional goals. The personal statement should not exceed two pages in length.

Mail all information to:

The Graduate Center
ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ
3307 Third Avenue West, Suite 111
Seattle, Washington 98119

Click here to see certification requirements.

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL/PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR "CERTIFICATE-ONLY" PROGRAM (30 CREDITS)
People who otherwise qualify to enter the educational leadership program and already have a master's or other advanced degree need not complete a second master's degree to obtain certification as a school principal/program administrator. It is necessary only to complete the school principal certification courses (21 credits) and internship (9 credits). The same guidelines and procedures for program admission apply.

2007-08 Graduate Time Schedule | Academic Calendar | Graduate Homepage


Older Editions of the Graduate Catalog
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