Principal Certification Program

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

This foundation course explores the role of an educational leader as a scholar-practitioner. Scholar-practitioners use empirical evidence and practitioner expertise to inform effective strategies to improve academic environments within broader educational contexts. Prerequisites: Doctoral Standing.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

This course applies the concepts of ethics and philosophy to personal and professional decision-making relative to educational organizations, operations, and leadership. Prerequisites: Doctoral Standing.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

This course examines the legal and practical foundations of the modern administrative legal oversight in education. Topics include rationales for delegating laws to administrative agencies; the legal framework that governs agency decision-making; the proper role of agencies in interpreting statutory and regulatory law; and judicial review of agency action as applied to educational environments. Prerequisites: Doctoral Standing.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

This course will provide an exploration of key models and theories of educational leadership and examine the impact of each in educational settings. Prerequisites: Doctoral Standing.

 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

This course explores the legislative policy-making process and how it influences educational governance. It also examines the role of agencies and their relationships to educational administration. Prerequisites: Doctoral Standing.

 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

This course focuses on the tenets of leadership necessary to facilitate technology innovation and change within education. Students develop and apply strategies to provide leadership, foster a culture of innovation in teaching and learning, promote and guide professional development programs, and evaluate and refine initiatives for systemic improvement. Prerequisites: Doctoral standing.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

The Scholarly Process in Educational Leadership course is designed to help prepare students to critically examine scholarly articles and other written works in the field of educational leadership and write effective papers for publication or presentation. Students address issues of academic and professional style. Topics may include effective writing techniques and strategies, writing to specific audiences, editing, proofreading, APA style, plagiarism, and academic honesty. Prerequisites: Doctoral Standing.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

This course explores mixed methods research designs. Topics include evaluating the quality of empirical research, research design, sampling, data collection, ethical issues, and Institutional Review Board developments. Prerequisites: Doctoral Standing.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Students identify and systematically investigate problems of practice in educational contexts. Prerequisites: Doctoral Standing.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Students develop knowledge and skills in mixed methods data analysis techniques. Students select and apply appropriate data analysis techniques to address a variety of research questions. Prerequisites: Doctoral Standing and Successful Completion of EDAD 6311, EDAD 6312, and EDAD 6316.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Techniques address the approach to data analyses required to examine the problem of practice. Various types of approaches to analyses applicable to the student’s selected research topic will be practiced. Prerequisites: Doctoral Standing Successful Completion of: EDAD 6311: Scholarly Process EDAD 6312: Research Design and Critical Analysis EDAD 6316: Investigating Problems of Practice in Educational Leadership EDAD 6325: Data Analysis.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 1 Hour).
The purpose of EDAD 5300 Foundations of Educational Leadership is to introduce students to: campus-based educational administration and the context in which it currently operates; an initial description of the scope of the process of educational administration; and a review of the fundamental theories related to management, administration, and leadership. Other concepts to be explored in the course include: creating a shared mission and vision, exploring the Texas Principal Standards, identifying frameworks of educational organizations, examining educational policies at the local, state, and national levels, and developing a context for ethical leadership. Prerequisites: Admission to the Educational Administration program and the principal certification program.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

The study of programs and procedures in supervision emphasizes the application of appropriate supervisory practices in hiring, selection, and retention of teachers, as well as, the development and appraisal of teachers. Educational leaders develop an understanding of clinical and developmental supervision, teacher evaluation/appraisal, observation and feedback, and the evolving concepts of supervisory practice. Prerequisites: Admission to the principal certification program; Completion of EDAD 5300, 5316, and 5309 or approval of department head.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

The study of legal issues emphasizes the relevant legal principles that affect the operation, organization, and administration of public schools. This course focuses on the ethical application of constitutional, statutory, administrative, and case law. Prerequisites: Completion of EDAD 5300 and EDAD 5316 or approval of the department head.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

The purpose of EDAD 5339 Processes of Educational Leadership is to assist academic leaders in developing the utilization of communication skills, school culture development and professional learning communities to address campus improvement planning and create collaborative teams that result in long-term academic and social strategic performance improvement. The course will require students to (1) develop a general knowledge and understanding of multiple perspectives (2) create and frame professional learning communities (3) examine data driven instruction and observation feedback tools (4) develop and implement an effective professional development plan, (5) examine the components of a positive student and staff campus culture aligned with the school vision and (6) identify and evaluate integrated planning and decision-making. Prerequisites: Admission to Educational Leadership and Principal Certification Program prerequisite is completion of EDAD 5300 and EDAD 5316 or approval of the department head.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

The purpose of EDAD 5342 Leadership of Campus Resources is to develop the aspiring campus administrator’s knowledge and skills in resource management, policy implementation, personal management, and school operations. Topics will include management of the fiscal resources, physical plant, campus budget, federal programs, and human capital (hiring, selection, and retention) within the framework of strategic planning. Prerequisites: Admission to Educational Leadership and Principal Certification Program and completion of EDAD 5300, EDAD 5316, EDAD 5309, and EDAD 5307 or approval of the department head.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

The purpose of EDAD 5345 Leadership of Curriculum Systems is to introduce the aspiring campus administrator to the processes supporting curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation. Emphasis will be placed high-quality instruction, curriculum alignment, teacher effectiveness, quality professional development, coaching, and ongoing supervision, Topics include: content area best practices, curriculum alignment, curriculum evaluation, assessment, instructional support, resource allocation, staff development, and personnel management. Prerequisites: Admission to Educational Leadership and Principal Certification Program and completion of EDAD 5300, EDAD 5316, EDAD 5309, and EDAD 5307 or approval of the department head.

 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

The purpose of EDAD 5355 is to assist aspiring administrators in cultivating a campus culture that fosters awareness of individual differences and supports the continuous and appropriate development of all learners in the campus community. The course emphasizes ethical leadership, ensuring student access to effective educators, programs, and services, and addressing barriers that may hinder achievement of campus initiatives and goals. Prerequisites: Admission to Educational Leadership and Principal Certification Program and completion of EDAD 5300 and EDAD 5316 or approval of the department head.

3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours). Per course

The purpose of EDAD 5398 Principal Practicum & EDAD 5399 Principal Practicum is to provide supervised professional activities in the area of educational administration, including the role of elementary and secondary principal and central office administration. The university field supervisor will support principal candidates’ development and demonstration of competencies of professional responsibilities according to state standards. As the culminating experience in the Principal Certification Program, students must take Principal Practicum II in the last semester in the program. Prior to enrollment students must have successfully completed Principal Practicum I. Prior to enrolling in Principal Practicum I, all students must submit the Request to Enroll in EDAD 5399 Principal Practicum form, which can be found on the Educational Leadership & Technology (EDLT) web page or requested from the EDLT office. Note: Principal candidates will also need to pass the state principal certification assessment in order to apply for the Principal Standard Certification. Additionally, practicum students must be employed in an educational setting during the entirety of the course. Lastly, the site supervisor who will be mentoring the principal candidate is required to hold current Texas principal certification. This is a two semester course: Principal Practicum I and Principal Practicum II; it must be taken in the fall and spring semesters consecutively. Prerequisites: Admission to Educational Leadership and Principal Certification Program and Completion of Application for Practicum I and completion of EDAD 5300, EDAD 5316, EDAD 5307, EDAD 5309 and EDAD 5399 or approval of the department head.