COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Learn more about the graduate certificate in K- 12 School Leadership.

About the Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in K-12 School Leadership in the College of Education and Human Development is rooted in the college’s commitment to social justice and educational equity. In this 27-credit certificate program, you will focus on urban schooling and leadership, exploring how educational policy, community dynamics and systemic factors shape schools in urban environments.  

You will be prepared for leadership positions in school settings, particularly in urban schools. Graduates emerge equipped to make meaningful, research-informed contributions to K–12 schools and communities, particularly within urban education contexts.  

The curriculum is an approved course of study that partially fulfills the requirements for Pennsylvania certification as a principal or supervisor of curriculum and instruction. 

Time Limit for Certificate Completion: 4 years

Campus Location: Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The graduate certificate can be completed on a part-time basis.

NOTE: International students may not be eligible to apply for a student visa based on admission to the certificate program. Please contact the Office of Enrollment Management for more information.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadlines:

Fall: March 1
Spring: November 1
Summer II: March 1

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Recommendation: 
Number Required: 2
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained to provide insight regarding the applicant's academic competence. Letters from college/university faculty are recommended.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A bachelor's degree is required. A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is expected.

Transcripts: Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all accredited institutions attended and/or from which credit was earned must be submitted.

International applicants must also submit an official document, including a course-by-course evaluation conducted by a NACES-accredited organization, that validates completion and conferral of a degree, diploma and/or certificate. While not required, international applicants are encouraged to submit transcript(s) to World Education Services (WES) for evaluation.

Statement of Goals: Outline your interest in seeking a graduate certificate with a specific focus on the career to which you aspire, your interests, and your academic and job-related experiences that are relevant to the program.

Standardized Test Scores:
Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

• TOEFL iBT: 4.5
• IELTS Academic: 6.5
• PTE Academic: 53

Resume: Current resume required.

Transfer Credit: Courses may be transferred from an accredited institution provided they were completed less than five years ago, are considered current, and are relevant to the certificate. The academic program makes the decision about the relevancy of the courses. Aligned with Graduate School policy, no more than 20% of the credits required for the certificate may be transferred.  (See also, Graduate School policies 02.24.21 and 02.25.)

Clearances: All admitted students must submit copies of the required Pennsylvania Criminal Record Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Certification and FBI Criminal History Background Check, and TB test to the College of Education and Human Development's Office of Field Placement prior to enrolling in their first term. These clearances are required by law prior to entering pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade classrooms to complete field experience requirements, starting with the first term and continuing throughout the program.

Pennsylvania clearances are not required for application completion. All new students who possess required Pennsylvania clearances more than one year old must submit updated clearances to the Office of Field Placement. Please note that obtaining these clearances may take up to six weeks. For instructions, please visit the Office of Field Placement's website at https://education.temple.edu/ofp/clearances.

Certificate Requirements

Number of Credits Required to Complete the Certificate: 27

Required Courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Courses:
URBE 5401	Policy and Practice in Urban Education	3
EDAD 5301	Leadership for Learning	3
EDAD 5302	Contexts for Sch Reform	3
EDAD 5303	Ldshp in Diverse Context	3
EDAD 5304	Sch Operations, Mgmt, Tech	3
EDAD 5201	Action and Collaborative Research Seminar	3
EDAD 5306	Change Leadership	3
Clinical Experience in School Leadership (Internships):
EDAD 5307	Clin Exp in Sch Ldship	3
EDAD 5308	Clinical Experiences in School Leadership 2	3
Total Credit Hours		27

Contacts

Department Contacts: