The Master of Education in Educational Leadership prepares elementary and secondary school principals or program administrators. Successful completion of this degree qualifies the student for a Washington Residency  l P-12 School Principal Certificate or Program Administrator Certificate.

A one year integrative internship allows students to perform administrative and leadership activities under supervision in a school setting. The primary objective is to acquire and practice effective management and leadership skills. Internship experiences apply the competencies and skills defined in the Washington Administrative Code and by the National Policy Board for Educational Administration. The program also  meets or exceeds the standards of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Applicants to the Educational Leadership Program must have one year demonstrated successful school-based experience; three years’ experience is preferred.  To be eligible for the principal certificate the applicant must be a a certificated teacher or educational staff associate. An applicant intending to pursue a program administrator certificate must meet the same experience requirement as above but does not have to possess an educational certificate.

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL or PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATE "ONLY" PROGRAM
Students entering the Educational Leadership Program with a master's or other advanced degree need not complete a second master's degree to obtain school principal or program administrator certification. Only the major  courses must be completed (21 credits) and internship (9 credits). Standard guidelines and procedures for program admission apply.

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENTS (51 credits)

Professional Core (21 credits)
EDU 6085 Moral Issues in Education (3)
EDU 6120 American Education: Past and Present (3)
EDU 6526 Survey of Instructional Strategies (3)
EDU 6655 Human Development & Principles of Learning (3)
EDU 6975 Interpreting & Applying Education Research I (3)
EDU 6976 Interpreting & Applying Education Research II (3)
Approved elective  (3)  

Major Courses (21 credits)
EDAD 6580 Educational Administration (3)
EDAD 6581 The Principalship (3) or approved elective for the Program Administrator Certificate
EDAD 6584 Washington School Finance (3)
EDAD 6585 School Law (3)
EDAD 6586 Human Resources Administration (3)
EDAD 6588 Instructional Supervision (3)
EDAD 6589 Current Issues in Ed Leadership (3)

Internship (9 credits)
EDAD 6940 Principal Administrative Internship (3,3,3)

•  Washington State Requirement: All candidates for the residency principal or program administrator certificate must spend 540 hours in a full school-year field experience, of which at least one half shall be when students and staff are present. The internship extends, for three academic quarters. Interns are required to register for 3 credits per quarter.
•  Mentor Supervision: The principal intern shall be under the supervision of a mentoring principal or vice principal certificated at the appropriate level with a minimum one year experience in the role.  The program administrator intern shall be under the supervision of a designated district administrator whose responsibilities include those in which the intern is seeking experience.
• District & University Approval: In addition to obtaining University approval on all internship arrangements, candidates must initiate and satisfy any internship approval procedures required by his/her district.

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 to be completed at the end of the program.

Requests for the exam should be submitted to the Graduate Programs Manager one month in advance. The oral defense is arranged individually through the chair of the program, Dr. William Prenevost. The written exam is to be completed prior to the oral defense.

STUDENT OUTCOMES

Information regarding program completion and job placement rates may be found on the Information and Data Management website: http://www.spu.edu/depts/idm/docs/Gainful%20Employment.pdf.