The Educational Leadership Master’s Degree and Educational Leadership Certificate Program are designed to prepare candidates to assume leadership positions in both school and district offices. The organizing theme for the program is the school/district administrator's central role as the interpreter, facilitator, and initiator of educational change leading to effective schools for all children.

The educational leaders must understand and interpret changes to assure the safety and operation of schools.

In the role of facilitator, the administrator must effectively implement programs mandated by the school board and support positive changes suggested by students, staff, or parents.

Finally, as the initiator of change, the administrator must lead the process of continuous school improvement.

The JMU Educational Leadership program prepares you to be this leader.

The Educational Leadership Certificate Program is designed for students who already have a Master’s Degree and desire to add the Virginia Endorsement in K-12 School Administration to their Teaching Certificate.  The requirements for the Educational Leadership Master’s Degree are available at the graduate school website, and the degree is designed for students seeking a  Master’s Degree and the Virginia Endorsement in K-12 School Administration.   The requirements for the Certificate Program are listed at the bottom of this webpage.

"The practicum experiences, the support and guidance from the teaching faculty, the relationships built with other adult students from surrounding counties, and the "real life" problems and issues addressed in the educational leadership program at JMU helped prepare me to be successful at my first administrative position. I still keep in touch with several of the professors and fellow students (that are now also administrators).

I am so glad I made the choice to get my advanced degree from JMU! This program helped prepare me to be the very best school principal I can be ... and to remember to keep the students first in all my decisions!"

-Principal Teresa Day

JMU Educational Leadership Certificate Requirements

  Required
  Courses

  Course Title

  Credit Hours

 

 Professional Core

 3

 EDUC 641

Learning Theories

 3

 

 Leadership Concentration

 18-21

 ADSU 540

 Technology for Administrators

 3

 ADSU 640

 Foundations of School Administration

 3

 ADSU 641

 School Law

 3

 ADSU 642

 Leadership for School-Community Relations

 3

 ADSU 643

 The Principalship

 3

 ADSU 644

 Supervision and Development of School Personnel

 3

 ADSU 652

 School Business Management and Finance

 3

 

 Practicum and Internship Experiences

 3

 ADSU 668

 Internship in the Principalship or

 3

 ADSU 678

 Full-time Internship in the School Administrators

 3