Professional Certifications
The coursework in educational and community leadership (PhD EDCL) is consistent with a growing knowledge base within the K-12 environment. The coursework will prepare school leaders in a variety of roles (lead teachers, supervisors, staff developers, central office administrators, principals, superintendents, etc…) for leadership focused on the “technical core” of schooling: curriculum, instruction, and assessment. To this end, students in this program will develop skills in transformational school leadership, professional development, curriculum development, instructional improvement, improvement of student assessment, and databased whole-school improvement.
| Principal | Superintendent |
|---|---|
| Students holding a valid teaching certificate are eligible to earn Texas Principal Certification by completing the Ph.D. program requirements and taking designated principal preparation courses as electives. | Students holding a valid principal certification are eligible to earn Texas Superintendent Certification by completing the Ph.D. program requirements and taking designated superintendent preparation courses for electives. |
| The required elective courses are EDCL 7348 Public School Law, EDCL 7387 Field-based Practicum I, EDCL 7388 Field-based Practicum II. | The required elective courses are ED 7347 The Superintendency, ED 7349 School Finance and Business Management, EDCL 6389 Field-based Practicum I, EDCL 6390 Field-based Practicum II. |
| Students must also pass the state certifying exam (TExES) to be eligible for certification. | Students must also pass the state certifying exam (TExES) to be eligible for certification. |