Educational Administration

Michael Silver, PhD, Program Director and Department Chair

Overview

The program in educational administration offers four specializations to meet the needs of instructional leaders in K–12 and post-secondary schools, as well as other organizations. The specializations are: superintendent, principalship for public, independent and Catholic school educators; program administration; and general administration. Certification as a superintendent, principal or program administrator is available as a post-master’s option or as part of an educational specialist degree or a doctoral degree.

Field Experience

All students must complete field experience at sites selected cooperatively by the student and major advisor. Students seeking certification as principals, whether in public or in independent schools, take three one-credit practica and three two-credit internships; students in program administration take three one-credit practica and one two-credit internship.

Admission Requirements for Master’s Programs

Application for Graduate Admission with non-refundable $55 application fee. (Application fee waived for SU alumni.)
Four-year equivalent bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Minimum GPA of 3.00 calculated from transcripts of all post-secondary educational institutions attended in the last 90 quarter/60 semester credits of the bachelor’s degree, including transfer credit earned during this time, and any post-baccalaureate course work. Applicants with less than a 3.00 GPA are required to submit official scores from the GRE or the MAT by the application deadline.
Résumé reflecting at least one year’s successful relevant work experience
Two recommendations from supervisors within past five years using College of Education Recommendation forms
Interview with the program director with an on-site writing sample
College of Education Self-Evaluation form

Admission Requirements for Principal and Program Administrator Credentials

Master’s degree from a regionally accredited university. Equivalent course work from that degree can apply to the certification requirements. Interested applicants should contact the Educational Administration Program Director for specific requirements.
For candidates with a non-Seattle University master’s degree, Seattle University requires content knowledge equivalent to the master’s program leading to certification. The program director evaluates the applicant’s transcripts and plans a program of no fewer than 15 credits (the university minimum requirement) for the principal and program administrator programs, in a range that extends to as many as 42 credits for the principal certificate and 41 credits for the program administrator certificate.
Résumé reflecting at least one year’s successful relevant work experience
Two recommendations from supervisors within past five years using College of Education Recommendation forms
Interview with the program director with an on-site writing sample
College of Education Self-Evaluation form

Certification

Persons serving as principals and program administrators in the public or private schools shall hold certificates authorized by the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) for service in the respective roles as required by statute or rules of the PESB. The university recommends for certification a student who has successfully completed an approved program to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, which issues the appropriate certificate.

Residency Certificate

State requirements for the administrative credentials include possession of a valid teacher’s certificate (principal only) or valid educational staff associate certificate and documented successful school-based experience in an instructional role with students; completion of a master’s degree; and completion of an approved preparation program. The residency certificate is valid for five years.
Professional Certificate

State requirements for the Professional Certificate include completion of an approved professional certificate program; satisfactory evaluations while serving in an administrative role and, for principals only, three years of employment as a principal or assistant principal. The Seattle University professional certificate program for administrators is in the design process and will be submitted to the Professional Educator Standards Board for approval.