Online Master of Education — Educational Leadership Principal Certificate

Prepare to elevate your career as an influential leader in education.

4/29/24 Next Application Due Date
5/13/24 Start Classes

Program Overview


Learn what makes the EWU online M.Ed. – Educational Leadership, Principal Certification stand above the rest

$14,700* Total Tuition
As few as 15-16 months Duration
49 Credit Hours

The Master of Education – Educational Leadership, Principal Certificate online program from Eastern Washington University is designed for educators seeking certification as a principal. In this online program, educators will gain the leadership knowledge and practical experience for assuming the role of principal or a variety of other administrative positions in the public schools.

Learn how to interact with your school’s community, manage the challenges of curriculum development, interpret and use test results, and ensure your staff empowers students to achieve established academic goals. With rigorous coursework taught by the same experienced faculty who teach on campus, this flexible online principal certification will give you the resources and tools to positively impact student success.

AACSB logo

The Eastern Washington University School of Business is accredited by AACSB International (AACSB).

In this online principal certificate program, you will learn to:

  • examine the role of the principal, using the ISLLC Standards as a framework;
  • explore the quantitative and qualitative methods, tools, and strategies used in educational research;
  • develop the vision for strategically leading the planning, decision-making, communication, management, and change processes needed in 21st century schools and communities;
  • understand school law relating to the duties and powers of school officials and employees, compulsory school attendance, school census, child labor, control, and organization.
  • examine the role of the principal, using the ISLLC Standards as a framework;
  • explore the quantitative and qualitative methods, tools, and strategies used in educational research;
  • develop the vision for strategically leading the planning, decision-making, communication, management, and change processes needed in 21st century schools and communities;
  • understand school law relating to the duties and powers of school officials and employees, compulsory school attendance, school census, child labor, control, and organization.

Also available online:

EWU offers a variety of graduate education degree programs in a convenient online format. Check out all our online M.Ed. programs.

$14,700* Total Tuition
As few as 15-16 months Duration
49 Credit Hours
Professional Educator Standards Board logo

The School of Education programs are approved by the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB).

Cipponeri testimonial

"Eastern Washington University has been very supportive. They were great about helping me with my student teaching. They have been flexible for nontraditional students and ones with military ties."

– Melissa Cipponeri

M.Ed. – Educational Leadership, Principal Certification online student

Read Melissa's Story »

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Need More Information?

Call 800-826-3411

Call 800-826-3411

Tuition


Designed to fit your budget with pay-by-the-course tuition

The M.Ed. – Educational Leadership, Principal Certificate online degree program offers the same affordable, pay-as-you-go tuition to both in-state and out-of-state students.

Tuition breakdown:

$300 Per Credit Hour
$14,700* Total Tuition

*Tuition and fees subject to change. Total program cost does not include foundation courses. If foundation courses are required, the cost will be added to the total program cost.

Tuition breakdown:

$300 Per Credit Hour
$14,700* Total Tuition

Calendar


View all the important EWU milestones on your student journey

This M.Ed. – Educational Leadership, Principal Certificate is delivered in a convenient online format designed for working professionals, featuring six-week courses with seven start dates a year. View the full calendar for upcoming deadlines for turning in required documents, registering for classes and paying tuition to begin on the start date that’s best for you.

Now enrolling:

4/29/24 Next Application Deadline
5/13/24 Start Classes
TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineRegistration DeadlineTuition Deadline
Winter II2/12/241/29/242/7/242/10/24
Spring I4/1/243/18/243/27/243/30/24
Spring II5/13/244/29/245/8/245/11/24
Summer I7/8/246/21/247/2/247/6/24
Fall I9/23/249/9/249/18/249/21/24
Fall II11/4/2410/21/2410/30/2411/2/24

Now enrolling:

4/29/24 Next Application Deadline
5/13/24 Start Classes

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?

Admissions


See the qualifications for our online educational leadership program

The admission process is the first step toward earning your M.Ed. – Educational Leadership, Principal Certificate online. A teaching certificate is required for admission to this program.

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Cumulative 3.0 GPA
  • Teacher certification or ESA certification

  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the last 90 quarter or 60 semester-graded postsecondary credit hours**
  • Three years of successful school-based experience in an instructional role with students***
  • Teaching certification or ESA certification is required with graduation application
  • Official transcript from the college/university where degree was earned

Have a question? Call us at 800-826-3411.

**We encourage you to apply if your GPA is lower than a 3.0 and you have at least 3 years of professional work experience. Applicants with GPAs below 3.0 are considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Please contact an Enrollment Services representative at 800-826-3411 for more information.

***Please note that building and central office administrative experience does not meet the instructional experience requirement.

This offering is available as an endorsement program for those teachers who hold or who have held an initial, residency, continuing or professional teaching certificate in the state of Washington. If you do not hold a teaching certificate in Washington or do not hold a teaching certificate at all, you are still encouraged to apply.

Please note however that this will not lead to a teaching certificate in Washington. Additionally, this program may satisfy the requirements for states other than Washington. Please check with your applicable licensing board to determine whether this program satisfies requirements for licensure in the state in which you reside. For current contact information for applicable licensing boards, please refer to our State Authorization page. For information on certification in the state of Washington, contact Christi Wavada at [email protected].

Document Submission Information

For Spring 2024 Applications: Please do not send transcripts directly to EWU, as this may delay processing your application. If you are ordering electronic transcripts, please select the CAS application as the recipient.

If you are ordering a mailed paper transcript, please have it sent to:

GradCAS Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9217
Watertown, MA 02471

Note: You will need to use the Transcript ID form (found in your GradCAS application portal) as part of your submission so that your transcript can be matched to your application.

For Summer 2024 Applications and all future terms:

Order your official, electronic transcripts from the degree-granting institution where you earned your highest degree (bachelor’s or master’s) and have them sent to Eastern Washington University.

  • Most EWU graduate programs only require one transcript. Please submit a transcript from your degree-granting institution. This transcript should include the final two years of your degree completion. If it does not, please submit transcripts to cover your final two years of earned credits.
  • Please note that transcripts ordered by main may take 4-6 weeks to arrive.

If you are ordering a mailed paper transcript, please have it sent to:

Eastern Washington University
Showalter Hall 206
Cheney, WA 99004

Courses


Take a look at your online M.Ed. – Educational Leadership, Principal Certification curriculum

In order to earn the M.Ed. – Educational Leadership, Principal Certificate online, you must complete 16 courses (49 credit hours), comprised of 12 credit hours of core courses and 37 credit hours of specialization courses (including an internship).

You must take the following courses.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Four philosophies in education will be studied. The implications of each for school organization and classroom instruction will be examined. Participants will be invited to analyze their beliefs and how these beliefs form into a coherent philosophy of education.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Required of all graduate students pursuing the master of education degree program unless an alternative research course is scheduled. It provides the background of research methods and techniques necessary for meeting the requirements of Education 600 or 601. The methods, tools, and strategies used in educational research, both quantitative and qualitative, will be explored. Continued level teacher certification research requirements may be met through this course.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
This course focuses on reforming and transforming the processes, perceptions and practices of learning and teaching by emphasizing diversity, social justice and equity. First, psychological principles underlying current educational culture will be analyzed. Second, reforming relationships, interactions and contexts for learning will be addressed through reflective practices, and third, rethinking and transforming connections, will be viewed through the lens of learners of diverse backgrounds.
You must take the following courses.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
The work of the teacher or supervisor in improving instruction.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
This course examines the principles underlying the development of a K-12 school curriculum. With an emphasis on methods of determining curriculum priorities, objectives, scope and sequence, and organizational patterns, as well as an examination of how curriculum design facilitates student-learning opportunities.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Court decisions and statutory law relating to the duties and powers of school officials and employees, compulsory school attendance, school census, child labor, control, and organization.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Focus on school leadership, developing with vision the knowledge and skills for strategically leading the planning, decision-making, communication, management, and change processes needed in 21st century schools and communities.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
A problem-based exposure to the multi-dimensional role of school-community relations and communication in school districts. The course addresses the Public Relations domain of the NPBEA and WAC standards for the principalship.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Students will examine the role of the principal, using the ISLLC Standards as a framework. They will prepare themselves for leadership through research, discussion activity and application. Relevant and practical topics will be used to create the curricular content of the course. Students will exit this course with knowledge and understanding of what to expect and how to respond as a new principal. This is a course where practicality and purpose will support those preparing for an instructional leadership role.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of the comprehensive exam is to assess the knowledge and skills attained during the course of graduate study in the Master of Education program. The comprehensive exam requires students to integrate the principals, concepts, and research methodologies when employing academic language and using a formal writing style.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
During this course candidates gain practical, on-the-job, experience while assembling a portfolio of work demonstrating that they have met all required competencies for the professional program. Candidates must apply for, and be accepted by, the university and district at least two terms before beginning their internship.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Continuation of Principal Internship and Portfolio I. During this course candidates gain practical, on-the-job, experience while assembling a portfolio of work demonstrating that they have met all required competencies for the professional program. Candidates must apply for, and be accepted by, the university and district at least two terms before beginning their internship.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Continuation of Principal Internship and Portfolio I and II. During this course candidates gain practical, on-the-job, experience while assembling a portfolio of work demonstrating that they have met all required competencies for the professional program. Candidates must apply for, and be accepted by, the university and district at least two terms before beginning their internship.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Continuation of Principal Internship and Portfolio I, II, III. During this course candidates gain practical, on-the-job, experience while assembling a portfolio of work demonstrating that they have met all required competencies for the professional program. Candidates must apply for, and be accepted by, the university and district at least two terms before beginning their internship.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Continuation of Principal Internship and Portfolio I, II, III and IV. During this course candidates gain practical, on-the-job, experience while assembling a portfolio of work demonstrating that they have met all required competencies for the professional program. Candidates must apply for, and be accepted by, the university and district at least two terms before beginning their internship.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Continuation of Principal Internship and Portfolio I, II, III, IV and V. During this course candidates gain practical, on-the-job, experience while assembling a portfolio of work demonstrating that they have met all required competencies for the professional program. Candidates must apply for, and be accepted by, the university and district at least two terms before beginning their internship.

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