Post-Master’s Educational Administration Certificate

Online Degrees Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Educational Administration Certificate

Educational leadership comes in many forms—from the teachers who shape the lives of students on a day-to-day basis, to the policymakers who set strategy and develop curricula at the local, state, and federal levels. Between these two levels are principals and educational administrators who take charge of diverse communities of educators and students and direct their efforts toward a common goal. Successful leadership at the PK-12 building level not only requires not only commitment to the potential of every student, but also expertise in educational law, pedagogical theory, and human resources management.

If you already have a master’s degree in education and would like to add the Building Leadership and Administration Endorsement to your Kansas state teaching license (or sit for a building leadership licensure exam in another state), the online post-master’s graduate certificate in educational administration* from the KU School of Education and Human Sciences is perfect for you.

Man in dress shirt and tie smiling with arms crossed outside of school

What is an educational leadership certificate?

The KU School of Education and Human Sciences is proud to add the online post-master’s graduate educational administration certificate to our record of innovation in online education. Taught by the same experienced faculty who lead our online master’s in educational administration program, this online educational administration certificate program covers the areas of educational policy, management strategy, and socioeconomic forces that inform effective building-level leadership in elementary and secondary schools. The program concludes with an internship in which you will work with a university advisor and field advisor to gain the necessary real-world experience to transition to a role in educational leadership.

Introducing Jayhawkville: Your virtual school district

While completing your coursework in this program, you will utilize Jayhawkville, our virtual community that allows you to work through challenging educational administration scenarios thoughtfully, in a risk-free setting. You will engage with more than 30 simulated schools situated in rural, suburban, and urban communities, made up of student and educator populations spanning diverse demographic groups. This unique platform helps you prepare to navigate any challenge you may face in an administrative role, regardless of where your career as an educator takes you.

The Jayhawkville school district is very impressive. It was amazing to see how realistic the environment is: the problems posed; the issues the different schools face; the school districts; the economics. It honestly reminds me a lot of the district I'm in now.

Garrett H., Post Master’s in Educational Administration Certificate, Spring 2022

Graduate certificate in educational administration

Program Details

8 courses, 8 weeks per course, 24 credit hours
Complete in as few as 12 to 16 months
Taught by experienced, renowned faculty
Complete your coursework anytime, anywhere through our innovative online format
No GRE required for admission
Experience the challenges of over 30 diverse schools and their case study-based curricula in the innovative simulated community of Jayhawkville
Required internship course, ELPS 895, needs to be completed during the final 16 week A and B terms

Courses for the online post-master’s graduate certificate in educational administration are designed to fulfill Kansas state standards and prepare students for the building-level certification examination Kansas and other states require for licensure. These are integrated courses that combine theory with practice and feature hands-on case study experiences. All courses listed are worth 3 credits.

Please note: Course list and sequence are subject to change. The online post-master’s graduate certificate in educational administration offers two start terms: Spring and Fall.

ELPS 750 - Principalship

An introduction to the role, responsibilities, expectations, and major duties of elementary, middle and high school building administrators. Students are presented with typical problems faced by school administrators through simulations and role playing and are expected, through reflection and discussion, to develop viable solutions.

ELPS 752 - Education Law

An overview of the theory and practice of the management, recruitment, selection, compensation, placement, and development of personnel in the school setting.

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ELPS 755 - Human Resources Management

This course introduces educators and related service professionals to practical, evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies related to a broad range of antisocial, aggressive, and behavioral problems. Approaches focus on understanding and addressing the precipitating factors related to inappropriate behavior, crisis management in immediate situations, and problem-solving strategies for longer-term change. Course content will include descriptions of problematic antisocial, aggressive, disruptive, and internalizing behaviors; options for classroom interventions; school and system-oriented interventions, and ethical and legal issues involved in various prevention and intervention approaches. Class work will focus on literature, research-based intervention approaches, and case work illustrating specific approaches and programs.

ELPS 854 - Students in Society

A study of children and youth with particular emphasis on demographic characteristics of the population served by schools and implications of those characteristics for schools and schooling.

ELPS 852 - School Resources Management

An examination of the sources and uses of fiscal resources in education including underlying concepts from economic theory, the impact of values on fiscal policy, state funding formulas, and school budgeting and accounting practices.

ELPS 853 - Staff Evaluation and Development

An examination of current trends in personnel evaluation with a focus on clinical supervision and adult development. Students will participate in simulation exercises to develop skills in classroom observation, conferencing techniques, evaluation of teaching artifacts, and the construction of staff development plans.

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SPED 756 - Special Education Leadership

This is an introductory course in special education law and policy implementation. It is designed to provide school and district administrators, and other special education stakeholders, with a basic understanding of key points in the history of special education law and policy. It focuses primarily on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its core concepts, with particular attention given to Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). This course is designed to provide a working knowledge of IDEA's procedural requirements, the preferred practices associated with implementing the procedures in schools, criticism of these practices and their implementation, and ideas for addressing these criticisms in ways that promote more equitable and inclusive special education practices.

ELPS 895 - Internship

As the culmination of the online educational administration certificate program, your internship will focus on the on-site development of the skills necessary to effectively function as a school building leader. Activities will be tailored to the needs of individual students in consultation with a university advisor and a field advisor.

Note: After the first two classes, students will have access to the ELPS Internship Gateway course to start preparing and gaining experiences to complete the internship, ELPS 895.

Admissions Requirements

Review the admissions requirements for the online post-master’s educational administration certificate.

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Tuition & financial aid

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Online Experience

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^{*This online academic program fulfills Kansas state standards for the Building Leadership and Administration licensure endorsement and helps prepare students for the building-level certification examinations other states require for licensure, but it does not fulfill the requirements needed to complete a master's degree.}

^{The online post-master’s graduate certificate in educational administration program meets the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Kansas. If you plan to obtain a license or certification in a state other than Kansas or a US territory after completion of your program, it is highly recommended you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency BEFORE beginning the academic program to ensure you can obtain a license of certification in your home state or territory. The website}^{https://nc-sara.org/professional-licensure-directory}^{provides resources for licensure and certification boards outside of Kansas.}

Note: In order to enroll in this program, a bachelor's degree, a master’s degree in an education-related field, and a current teaching license with 3 to 5 years of experience in schools are required. No program can guarantee building-level leadership licensure for every state.

KU’s licensure programs strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date information about the educational requirements for licensure in U.S. states and territories. However, regulations are subject to change and varying interpretations. In addition to possible changes in educational requirements, licensure often includes additional requirements, such as specific examinations and additional training or practicum hours. It is highly recommended that students seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency before beginning an academic program to ensure they know what is needed to obtain the license/certification/registration in the state in which they intend to practice and/or seek licensure. Visit soehs.ku.edu/current-students/licensure/disclosures for more information

Online post-master’s in educational administration certificate