Professional Certification (Principal)

Cert Principal Certification (Professional Cert.)

The program prepares equity-oriented school and community leaders to transform education at the campus level.
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Program Overview

Recognized by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) for preparing equity-oriented leaders, the program focuses on situating school-based leaders within societal contexts and teaches students how to engage school and community assets as the foundation for improvement efforts.

This certification program requires 18 hours to complete.

Course Work

Educators who have already earned a master’s degree in education and have a minimum of one year of teaching experience in K-12 schools can take the 18-credit-hour post-master principal certification program. This program can be completed in three semesters with summer admission. Candidates who have not yet earned a master’s degree should apply to the Educational Leadership (M.A./M.Ed.) program.

What Our Alumni Say

“ Emphasizing social justice, the principal preparation program provided me with opportunities to engage in scholarly learning and action research that directly impact my everyday work in schools. ˮ

— Tamey Williams-Hill, M.Ed. ’07, Ph.D. ’15, Education School Improvement, Director of Human Resources, Lake Travis ISD

Program Details

The program encourages students to keep issues of equity and ethics at the forefront while developing and implementing collaborative action research strategies to effect systemic change at the campus level.

Program Mission

The education and community leadership program is committed to developing leaders who understand how to build and nurture healthy schools and communities. The program believes the practice of leadership must be ethically grounded, committed to equity, and informed by research. It also demonstrates a strong commitment to this philosophy through a broad-based rigorous curriculum, strong and relevant instruction, and meaningful feedback to students. Effective leadership development begins with an understanding of self and progresses outward toward a critical consciousness of the interconnected relationship among people, organizations, communities, policies, and practices.

Career Options

A master’s degree in educational leadership with principal certification prepares educators for a variety of supervisory and leadership roles in schools and other educational organizations. Graduates of this program work in positions such as principal, assistant principal, academic dean, athletic director, instructional supervisor, curriculum specialist, special education director, director of student support services, and human resource specialist.

Program Faculty

Faculty members are experienced public school teachers and administrators. This practical background enables the professors to demonstrate to students the manner by which ideas, techniques, and policy studies may be applied in a school setting. The faculty is actively engaged in professional organizations at state and national levels. They also serve as consultants to numerous school districts in personnel searches, facility studies, curriculum projects, staff development, and professional organization accreditation studies.

Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.

Graduate Advisor
Dr. Brenda Heath-Agnew
ba15768@txstate.edu
512.771.9002
Avery Building, Room 46

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Application Deadlines

DeadlinesU.S. CitizenInternational
Deadlines
Summer I
U.S. Citizen
May 1 (*Flexible)
International
March 15

*This program’s deadline is flexible for those not requiring an F/J visa. A flexible deadline means applications received after the standard deadline may be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis with no guarantees for admission consideration.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.

  • Review important information about the online application.

    • $35 nonrefundable Texas Education Agency technology fee (if offered admission)
      and either
    • $20 nonrefundable application fee
      OR
    • $60 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials

    There are additional fees associated with certification programs to be paid after admission. Review important information about the additional fees to be paid.

    • baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
    • master's degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a U.S. Master’s degree. Master’s degrees following a three-year Bachelor’s degrees may not be equivalent; please contact Graduate Admissions if you are unsure.)
    • a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
    • minimum 2.75 GPA on your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work

    Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.

    Effective Fall 2024

    • baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
    • master's degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a U.S. Master’s degree. Master’s degrees following a three-year Bachelor’s degrees may not be equivalent; please contact gradcollege@txsate.edu if you are unsure.)
    • a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
    • a 2.75 overall GPA or a 2.75 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses) 
  • GRE Scores

    • GRE not required

    TOEFL Scores*

    Applicants are required to submit TOEFL scores that meet the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or one of the exempt countries found on the TEA standards and Texas State University standards.

    • official TOEFL iBT scores with minimum individual scores of
      • 22 listening
      • 22 reading
      • 24 speaking
      • 21 writing

    *Exceptions are made for students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an institution of higher education in India. These students must meet the following requirements:

    • official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
    • official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
    • official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
    • minimum individual module scores of 6.0
    • official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
    • official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
    • Review important information about official test scores.
    • This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.

    This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.

    Review important information about official test scores.

    • copy of official teaching certificate documenting initial teaching certification
    • copy of official teaching record documenting at least one year's teaching experience

    Review important information about documents.

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