Professional Certification (Principal)
Cert Principal Certification (Professional Cert.)
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.
Financial Aid
This program does not qualify for financial aid.
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
| Deadlines | U.S. Citizen | International |
|---|---|---|
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.
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Application
- Completed online application
Review important information about the online application.
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Application Fee
- $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.
- $35 nonrefundable Texas Education Agency technology fee (if offered admission)
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Transcripts & GPA
- 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)
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Test Scores
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.
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Documents
- 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.