School Principal Certificate
Certificate Level: Graduate
Admissions Requirements: Bachelor's degree
Certificate Type: Post-Baccalaureate
Number of Credits to Completion: 24.0
Instructional Delivery: Online
Calendar Type: Quarter
Expected Time to Completion: 1 year
Financial Aid Eligibility: Aid eligible*
Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) Code: 13.0408 / 13.0409
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: 11-9032
*The current plan of study for this program would only allow for federal financial aid (including Federal Direct Student Loans) for terms that are at least a minimum of 4.5 credits for graduate courses and 6.0 credits for undergraduate courses. This is based on current regulations from the U.S. Department of Education.
About the Program
The School Principal Certificate program was designed to produce school leaders who are knowledgeable about current theories and strategies in leadership and change. Components of the program’s conceptual bedrock are heuristic diagnostic learning, intelligent use of emotions in interpersonal skills of leadership, creative problem solving, and learning technologies.
Admission Requirements
Applicants come from a variety of undergraduate and graduate backgrounds and typically desire to provide leadership for change as a school principal. The School Principal Certification is available for teachers or counselors who already possess initial teaching or educational specialist certificates. Applicants must meet the general admissions requirements for graduate studies at Drexel University.
Program Requirements
Students will not be recommended for the School Principal Certificate until all course requirements are met, the initial teaching or educational specialist certificate has been received, submitted passing Praxis Exam scores, and three years of satisfactory professional school experience have been completed. Minimum coursework requirements for the School Principal Certificate include 24.0 credits of specific pedagogy as outlined below. Students must achieve the grade of B or better in each graduate-level course needed for certification.
| Certification Courses | ||
| EDAM 705 | School Law and Politics | 3.0 |
| EDAM 708 | Integration of Technology with School Instruction and Management | 3.0 |
| EDAM 710 | School Finance and Facilities | 3.0 |
| EDAM 712 | School and Community Partnerships and Relations | 3.0 |
| EDAM 714 | Instructional and Curriculum Leadership | 3.0 |
| EDAM 715 | School Principal Internship: Technology | 1.5 |
| EDAM 716 | School Principal Internship: Finance | 1.5 |
| EDAM 717 | School Principal Internship: Leadership | 1.5 |
| EDAM 718 | School Principal Internship: Relations | 1.5 |
| EDCR 510 | Leadership in Educational Contexts and Systems | 3.0 |
| Total Credits | 24.0 | |
Students working toward School Principal Certification engage in a corresponding 1.5-credit school-based internship when enrolled in EDAM 715, EDAM 716, EDAM 717, EDAM 718 related to each course's content.
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| EDCR 510 | 3.0 | EDAM 712 | 3.0 | EDAM 714 | 3.0 | EDAM 705 | 3.0 |
| EDAM 718 | 1.5 | EDAM 717 | 1.5 | EDAM 708 | 3.0 | ||
| EDAM 715 | 1.5 | ||||||
| 3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 7.5 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | ||||||
| EDAM 710 | 3.0 | ||||||
| EDAM 716 | 1.5 | ||||||
| 4.5 | |||||||
| Total Credits 24 | |||||||
Students who possess a valid state-issued teacher or educational specialist certification and have completed a minimum of three years of satisfactory professional school experience upon successful completion of these certification courses, and who also meet the current state minimum score on the appropriate Praxis Exam may apply for School Principal Certification.
Additional Information
Students can receive a Master of Science in Educational Administration while pursuing the School Principal Certification. For more information, visit the Educational Administration catalog page.
