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Educational Leadership (M.Ed.) with School Principal or Program Administrator Certification

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
PETERSON HALL
206-281-2214
GRADADMISSIONS@SPU.EDU

Be sure to read this important overview and information, including application information, about outcomes for graduate students in the Master in Educational Leadership/School Principal or Program Administrator Certification.

In addition to on-campus classes, graduate education courses in School Administration are offered at off-campus locations in Bremerton, Olympia, and Stanwood. Contact the Graduate Programs Manager to determine when these occur and the specific location.

A School Principal or Program Administrator "Certificate Only" program (30 credits) are also available for those who already hold a master's or other advanced degree.

MASTER OF EDUCATION IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

The Master of Education in Educational Leadership program (51 credits) is designed to prepare you 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 you for a Washington Residency PK–12 Certificate as a school principal or program administrator.

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

The primary objective is for you as the intern to acquire and practice the skills of effective management and leadership. Your internship experiences will center on those competencies and skills defined in the Washington Administrative Code and by the National Policy Board for Education Administration.

Each applicant to the Educational Leadership program must have one year demonstrated successful school-based experience, three years’ experience is preferred, as a certificated classroom teacher, or served in an ESA role in an instructional setting.

Those in the Program Administrator program are not required to hold a teaching or ESA certificate but they must have demonstrated the one year of successful school, district, or school-site experience.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAM FOR THE MASTER'S

You will usually complete this two-part examination, consisting of a written essay and an oral defense of the answers to these questions, at the end of the program.

You should contact the Graduate Programs Manager to make arrangements for the written portion. 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

To apply, submit the following items to to be considered for admissions:

• A graduate .
• A $50 processing fee. Make checks payable to "Seattle Pacific University."
• 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. Program administrator candidates are not required to hold a teaching or ESA certificate.
• 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 and/or district based for a Program Administrator.
• For master's candidates: Scores from either the or the . Official results must be sent directly to the graduate program manager in . 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.

APPLICATION AND ADMISSIONS QUESTIONS

Ted Hiemstra
Associate Director of Graduate Admissions

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3307 Third Avenue West, Suite 111
Seattle, WA 98119-1922

hiemstra@spu.edu
206-378-5478
800-601-0603

 
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR "CERTIFICATE-ONLY" PROGRAM (30 CREDITS)

Applicants 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 or program administrator.

It is necessary to complete only the school principal or program administrator certification courses (21 credits) and internship (9 credits). The same guidelines and procedures for program admission apply.

OPTION FOR A SECOND CERTIFICATE

If you have earned Residency Principal or Program Administrator Certification from SPU, you may earn the other certificate (either Principal or Program Administrator) by completing 6 additional internship credits.

A valid teaching or ESA certificate and completion of EDAD 6581 are required for those who wish to add a principal certificate. For more information on specific requirements, contact Dr. William Prenevost (prenew@spu.edu). You must complete all coursework for the second certificate within three years of earning the previous certificate.

STUDENT OUTCOMES

You can find information regarding program completion and job placement rates on SPU's (PDF).

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