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This concentration is designed to prepare a Â鶹´«Ã½ for the leadership role of being a building principal, as well as an athletic director. Students who complete this concentration will be recommended to receive, from the state of Michigan, the School Administrator Certificate. Program graduates may be endorsed to receive the administration certification outside of Michigan as well (depending on the certification process in state of residence).

Notification: Starting, January 2025, the State of Michigan will be requiring state testing for those that are wanting to attain a School Administrator license for either the Central Office or Building Level. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.

Why this program at Â鶹´«Ã½?

• This program has the fewest required credits of any similar M.A. in the state of Michigan, while still meeting all state and national standards. 
• Ranked No. 41 in the the nation and No. 2 in the state of Michigan for best online master's in education programs by U.S. News and World Report in the .
• New! Earn up to 15 of the 33 required credits with our Prior Learning Assessment program. Learn more. 

Course requirements

Leadership Core 

•  Credits: 3 hours
•  Credits: 3 hours
•  Credits: 3 hours
•  Credits: 2 to 3 hours

Principal & Interscholastic Athletic Administration Core 

•  Credits: 3 hours
•  Credits: 3 hours
•  Credits: 3 hours
•  Credits: 3 hours
•  Credits: 3 hours
•  Credits: 3 hours
•  Credits: 3 hours

Application information

Applications are accepted on an on-going basis throughout the year. Admission decisions take approximately two weeks after all materials are received.

Note: To complete many course assignments, and to have a mentor for a two-semester principal internship, applicants must be employed within a K-12 setting OR have access to a school setting.

Admissions requirements

• Official transcript from institution(s) where you completed your bachelor's degree and any graduate coursework 
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Written statement

Accreditation

The K-12 Principal master's degree program meets the new standards for the , CAEP accreditation standards and the guidelines of the National Educational Leadership Preparation Standards (NELPS), and is  approved.

Multi-year course offering/planning tools

• 5-year course offering information 
• Course-taking planning tool
• Program Course Requirements (for those admitted prior to fall 2021)

Newsletter

The Lead is a monthly online publication that highlights the work of our Educational Leadership (K-12) programs, and contains a wide-array of information relevant to school administrators; it also celebrates the work of our alumni, Â鶹´«Ã½s and faculty. Visit  for all issues.

Cost & Funding

• Tuition and fees
• Cost of attendance
• Scholarships
• Assistantships
• Grants
• Loans
• Employer-paid tuition
• Â鶹´«Ã½ and veterans

Helpful links

• College of Education and Human Development
• International Admissions and Services
• Graduate College
• Office of Â鶹´«Ã½ and Veterans Affairs
• Visit Campus