Certificate In
Educational Leadership
Tier I Certification-Only
Program Highlights & Benefits
Classes meet online/synchronous every-other week
Two semester completion time
Classes available every fall/spring
No weekend classes
For
The program is highly professionally oriented, and candidates for the program are expected to currently be employed in a professional 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.
Graduates of the Thomas University Teacher Leadership program matriculate seamlessly into the Certification-Only program. All other applicants should submit transcripts for review by the Educational Leadership faculty to develop an individualized program of study for Tier I certification.
What You Learn
The Certificate in Educational Leadership provides candidates who already hold a master’s degree or higher in education with the content knowledge and credentials 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 I Leadership Certification. Tier I Educational Leadership certifies the educator to serve as an assistant principal or coordinator at the district level who does not supervise principals.
How You Learn
The Certificate in Educational Leadership Tier I Certification-Only is an eighteen (18) hour program that can be completed in two or three semesters (classes available every fall/spring/summer). Each course is 8 weeks in length and meets online synchronous every-other week. Candidates take one class at a time.
Career Outcomes
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.
Degree Requirements
| Course # | Title | Hours |
| EDU 671 | Leading with a Social, Emotional, and Cultural Lens | 3 |
| EDU 672 | Human and Fiscal Resources | 3 |
| EDU 673 | Collaborating and Communicating with Stakeholders | 3 |
| EDU 674 | Instructional Leadership for School Improvement | 3 |
| ELECTIVES (6 hours) | ||
| EDU 611 | Leading a Professional Learning Community | 3 |
| EDU 615 | Educational Law | 3 |
| EDU 617 | Using Data to Improve Schools | 3 |
| Total Hours: | 18 |
Please Note:
Graduates of the Thomas University Teacher Leadership program matriculate seamlessly into the Certification-Only program. All other applicants should submit transcripts for review by the Educational Leadership faculty to develop an individualized program of study for Tier I certification.
Applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0 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.
- Possess a valid, level 4 or higher Induction, Professional, Advanced Professional, or Lead Professional teaching certificate, service field certificate, or Life certificate at the appropriate level:
- Report a minimum GPA of 3.0 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 one (1) year of teaching experience.
- Present a passing score on the Georgia Ethics for Educational Leaders.
- 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.
- Present completion of three (3) or more semester hours of coursework in the identification and education of children who have special educational needs or the equivalent through a Georgia-approved professional learning program. TU recognizes a current Georgia educator certificate showing that this requirement has been met as verification of this condition of admissions.
- 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
- A signed Partnership Agreement between TU and the Candidate’s School District or Independent/Charter School/District if there is not one on file.
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