Administrative Certificate: Principal K–12

Program Overview

This Administrative Certificate Program, approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, in accord with the Pennsylvania Inspired Leaders Competences, qualifies professionals to serve in line administrative positions. This program, which prepares individuals to serve as principals and assistant principals, offers the knowledge and skills necessary to direct, operate, supervise, and administer the organizational and general educational activities of a school.

Program Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the Administrative Certificate Principal K–12 Program are able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of and competence in instructional leadership which provides purpose and direction for the achievement of all students.
• Demonstrate the organizational skills to implement plans of action efficiently and effectively for student achievement.
• Collaborate with students, faculty, staff, and parents to create a school climate that fosters student achievement.
• Articulate the importance of a clear, detailed vision and explicitly stated philosophy in shaping a coherent curriculum and fostering an effective school.
• Use data in a systematic way to assess the needs and accomplishments of students, faculty, and staff.
• Think systematically about practice; learn from experience; seek the advice of others; draw upon educational research and scholarship; and actively seek opportunities to grow professionally.

Principal Learning Certification Outcomes

Attainment of Learning Outcomes will be asessed using the following:

1. One Leadership Test required by PDE.
2. The student is also assessed in the Principal Internship (EDU 577).  The Total Evaluation in EDU 577 takes place using a PDE approved summary instrument aligned with the PDE core and corollary standards and detail in the Internship.  

Program Design

This program requires a total of 21 graduate credits which are specified in the Program Curriculum. Admission into the program requires six credits in special education. To be eligible for Principal K–12 Certification, a 6-credit internship (EDU 577), in addition to the five other required courses listed below in the Program Curriculum, is required. EDU 577 consists of a 360-hour learning experience which includes classroom and field activities, the latter of which requires a 180-hour, site-based internship. EDU 577 is taken after all program requirements have been successfully completed. In addition to these curricular requirements, the student must also satisfactorily complete the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s mandated assessment, have a chief school administrator’s verification of five years of satisfactory and appropriate school experience, and meet all other requirements stipulated by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania law.