Superintendent 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).

This course is designed to give students a comprehensive view of communication while leading a learning organization at the district level. Emphasis will be placed on the scope and importance of effective communication in education, and the role of communication in establishing favorable workplace outcomes. This course offers an opportunity to learn and apply practical principles of interpersonal communication. The course will examine basic communication concepts, theories, and practices relevant to transferring meaning between two or more people. A field experience will be required as part of the course. Prerequisite: Principal or Mid-management certification or approval of department head.

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

This course is designed to assist with the recruitment, hiring, dismissal, and supervision of Texas public school employees. State laws regarding hiring and dismissal will be covered A comprehensive study of public school law as well as performance management and interpersonal conflict of employees as it relates to contractual and at-will personnel. Emphasis is placed on advertising, interviewing, selecting, and evaluating personnel. Special attention is given to Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines, Federal Right to Privacy Act, employee contracts, and records.Additional attention is given to employee induction and student record. A field experience will be required as part of the course. Prerequisite: Principal or Mid-management certification or approval of department head.

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

This course requires participants to describe and synthesize federal, state, and local revenues as they relate to school district budgeting and finance through empirically based research and direct resources based upon needs assessment from the district improvement plan (DIP) to support goals and objectives identified from the DIP. A detailed study of the multiple roles and responsibilities of the chief school administration, including the leadership role with the community, school board, professional staff, and students. Some observations and activities in the public schools and community will be required. A field experience will be required as part of the course. Prerequisite: Principal or Mid-management certification or approval of department head.

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

This course is designed to assist educational leaders in developing and applying leadership accountability skills in public school organizations. The focus of this course is on the appropriate use of leadership accountability skills within the framework of theory and research to enhance the organizational effectiveness and improve organizational culture. Emphasis is placed on the identification and use of accountability skills supported by the Texas Education Agency as an integral part of Texas superintendent certification preparation program. Accountability leadership is one of the essential administrative functions for the operation of effective learning organizations. In this course, students will have the opportunity to view the accountability process as it pertains to improving student performance. A study of research and state policy affecting instructional improvement in public school systems. Special emphasis on result-based accountability systems, including curriculum planning and evaluation, professional development, and student assessment processes. A field experience will be required as part of the course.

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

This course involves superintendent certification program students participating in supervised professional activities in the area of district-level public school superintendent and central office administrator practices. The practicum is required to demonstrate competence in the performance of appropriate professional duties while in a district-level leadership position. No more than 3 semester hours of internship course work can be used to satisfy certification plan requirements.