CERTIFICATE IN
Educational Leadership
Tier II Certification - Only
Program Highlights & Benefits
Classes meet online synchronous every-other-week
Can be completed in 1 year
Candidates take one class at a time
No weekend classes
For
The program is highly professionally oriented, and candidates for the program are expected to currently be employed in an administrative or leadership role in an organization providing professional educational services (e.g., school, district office, regional educational service agency, department of education). All courses require job-embedded field experiences to provide a synthesis of the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary for today’s educational leader. At the conclusion of the program, candidates will possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to lead schools to higher levels of achievement for all students.
What You Learn
The Educational Leadership Tier II Certification Only program prepares candidates with the content knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to effectively lead schools, districts, and educational agencies. Applicants accepted into the program and completing all degree requirements, will be eligible for a Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) Tier II Leadership Certification. The Educational Leadership Tier II Certification Only Program and successful passage of the Educational Leadership – Tier II Assessment will certify the educator to serve as a principal or in a district position that supervises principals.
How You Learn
The Educational Leadership Tier II Certification Only Program is a 19 hour program that can be completed in 1 year. Each course is 8 weeks in length and meets online synchronously every-other-week. Candidates take one class at a time.
Career Outcomes
Educational Leadership Tier II Certification certifies the educator to serve as a principal or in a district position that supervises principals.
Degree Requirements
| Course # | Title | Hours |
| Semester 1 | ||
| EDU 601 | Orientation to Advanced Program | .5 |
| EDU 678 | Leadership Development | 3 |
| EDU 682 | Leading from A Culture of Care | 3 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| EDU 686 | Organizational Management | 3 |
| EDU 684 | Leading Curriculum and Instruction for Educational Change | 3 |
| Semester 3 | ||
| EDU 676 | Culturally Responsive Leadership | 3 |
| EDU 677 | Facilitating Professional Development in a Collaborative Culture | 3 |
| EDU 699 | Advanced Candidate Program Completion | .5 |
| Total Hours: | 19 |
Please Note:
This course outline is tentative and is subject to change. Courses may be offered in a different order than outlined above.
Applicants with a GPA lower than 2.75 may be considered for provisional admission by the prospective Graduate Council. Any candidate provisionally admitted may be required to take a 3-credit hour writing course, and other requirements may be prescribed by the Division and/or Graduate Council.
NOTE: An interview may be required. If so, the candidate will be contacted by the program to set up the interview.
Admissions Requirements
- Hold a master’s degree or higher in a relevant field from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Present a current Georgia Tier I Educational Leadership certificate or hold a valid, GaPSC issued Standard Professional L or PL certificate in Educational Leadership.
- Report a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale on all graduate coursework in fulfillment of the requirements for the latest graduate degree and any additional graduate coursework.
- Have a minimum of three years of teaching and/or administrative experience.
- Hold a leadership position or role as defined by the Candidate’s District or Independent/Charter school.
- Present a clear background check. TU recognizes a combination of a copy of the Candidate’s current state teaching certificate and verification of current employment via a signed Mentor Form as adequate proof for a background check.
- International students seeking admission into a graduate program must refer to international admissions for additional required documents.
Along with proof of the above criteria, prospective candidates are required to submit the following along with their application for Graduate Admissions:
- A personal statement of career and educational objectives, including the rationale for pursuing a graduate degree (maximum two pages).
- Applicants must explain the circumstances surrounding any ethics reprimand on their certificates and/or a GPA below 2.75.
- Official transcripts from all institutions where a degree was awarded and all institutions where graduate coursework was completed, even if a degree was not awarded attended, to be forwarded directly from the schools attended to the Thomas University Office of Admissions.
- Three professional references (at least one from a building or system level administrator).
- Completed Mentor form.
- Completed School System Endorsement Form.
- A signed Partnership Agreement between TU and the Candidate’s School District or Independent/Charter School/District if there is not one on file.
