School Leadership-Superintendent Certification Only
Non-degree seeking students who already hold a conferred Master's degree in education or a related field, a valid principal's certificate (or an approved waiver for the principal's certificate issued by the Texas Education Agency) and who will have completed a minimum of three years of managerial experience by the end of the certification program, may apply for participation in the superintendent-certification program. Persons in the Ed.D. (EDLE, K-12 emphasis) or the PhD (EDLE, PK-12 emphasis) may also pursue the superintendent certificate, provided they apply and are accepted to the superintendent preparation program and complete the required coursework and experiences within their degree course sequence. NOTE: The superintendent certificate does not require a doctoral degree; persons who are degree-seeking, but who complete the program outlined below, may apply for and be recommended for the superintendent certificate before completion of the doctoral degree.
The program is an 21-24 hour program, with the variation dependent on the time to completion of the practicum experience. Persons seeking to apply to the superintendent certificate program must apply and meet admissions criteria, including (1) holding, at a minimum, a Master's degree in education or a related field; (2) holding, at a minimum, a valid principal certificate or the equivalent issued by another state (or, holding a waiver of the certificate granted by the Texas Education Agency at time of program application). Other materials required for submission for consideration for admission include a current resume, equity statement, video or live interview, transcripts of prior coursework, professional references, and a personal statement, in addition to completion of the online application.
Upon admission to superintendent certification, the following courses are required:
Educational Policy and Practice | 3 | |
OR | ||
Education Policy Studies | 3 | |
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Ethical and Moral Dimensions of Educational Leadership | 3 | |
School and Community Contexts | 3 | |
OR | ||
Community Engagement and Culturally Responsive Practice | 3 | |
OR | ||
Cultural Foundations in Educational Leadership | 3 | |
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Legal and Social Environment of Education | 3 | |
OR | ||
Law and Ethics in Educational Leadership | 3 | |
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Organizational Behavior in Education Contexts | 3 | |
Issues and Trends in :Superintendency | 3 | |
EDLE 70090 | Superintendent Practice in Educational Leadership* | 3-6 |
*1 semester (3.0 hours) of EDLE 70090 is required if state-required 160-hour practicum is completed wholly within the fall or spring semester; 2 semesters (6.0 hours) are required if the 160-hour practicum cannot be wholly completed within a single semester.
Additionally, some state-required trainings or learning experiences may be embedded in courses or assigned external to coursework (e.g., dyslexia training; mental health/substance abuse/youth suicide; digital literacy). Evidence of successful completion of these are required for final recommendation of the candidate by TCU for the superintendent certificate.
Final recommendation by TCU for certification to the State Board of Educator Certificate for the Superintendent certificate requires: (1) successful completion of the program of study as approved by the advisor and in alignment with state requirements; (2) successful completion of the State of Texas required TExES examination(s);and (3) evidence that the candidate has completed at least three creditable years of managerial experience in a public school district (requirements for what such experience must include is noted in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 242.20).