Educational Leadership
Educational Leadership Program Features
- 100% online
- Flexible 7- and 16-week courses (fall/spring) and 5- and 10-week courses (summer)
- One-on-one faculty advising
- Faculty mentorship for PASL exam
- TExES Prep Center resources for PAIL exam
- Discounted TPESS, TTESS and AEL trainings
- Pass state exams before internship to become 100% hireable
- 24 hours of coursework can transfer to PhD in Education, Leadership, and Organization
General Information
Application Fees
- University Application fee: $50
- Educator Preparation Program fee: $55 (activates your certification file with TEA)
Scholarships & Financial Aid
The TWU Graduate Student Scholarship is available to all accepted students who meet the minimum GPA requirement and submit a scholarship application through the Pioneer Scholarship System. Departmental scholarships are also available. Awards are based on specific scholarship requirements. The annual application deadline is March 1.
Financial Aid is available for students who are pursuing a degreed program. More information can be found at twu.edu/finaid.
Tuition Estimator
Our tuition and fees are lower than most universities in the area. Use the tuition estimator to estimate your semester costs.
I earned both my undergraduate and master’s degrees from TWU, and that experience made my decision to return for my doctorate easy. I knew I would be supported, challenged, and prepared in the best way. This program has continued to affirm that choice.
Career Opportunities in Educational Leadership
- Certified principals
- Instructional coaches or specialists
- Program directors
- Curriculum coordinators
- Assistant principals
Degree & Certification Plans
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership Degree Plan
Superintendent Certification Plan
Admission Requirements
Admission to the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership or Principal/Superintendent Certificates
Program Contact
Amanda Hurlbut, Ph.D.
940-898-2280
AHurlbut1@twu.edu
Application Deadlines
Fall – July 15
Spring – December 1
Summer – May 1
Admission Requirements for the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Principal/Superintendent Certification Programs
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of study; 2.75 GPA overall
- Resume/CV (Uploaded to the graduate application)
- Two (2) letters of recommendation addressing applicant's academic capabilities and suitability for the degree program (Name, email, and phone number of recommenders entered into the graduate application)
- Statement of Intent (Uploaded to the graduate application)
Additional Admission Requirements for Principal as Instructional Leader
- Two years as a full-time classroom teacher of record in a public or private, accredited school
- Valid teaching certificate at time of admission and at time of recommendation
- Teaching service record
- TOEFL iBT score if bachelor's degree was earned out of the US in a country not approved by TEA
Additional Admission Requirements for Superintendent
- Principal certificate or the equivalent
- Three years of managerial experience in a public school district
- Hold, at a minimum, a master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education that at the time was accredited or otherwise approved by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
For additional information about the program, please see the Department of Teacher Education. For additional information about obtaining educator certification for candidates who already have a bachelor’s degree, please contact TWU’s Office of Educator Preparation Services and visit the Master of Arts in Teaching and Post-Baccalaureate Initial Teaching Certification websites.
Graduate Admission
Begin by reviewing your program's website to see if there are additional admission requirements and application deadlines prior to applying.
- Apply online.
Apply to Graduate Programs via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal following instructions below. - Submit transcripts to TWU.
- Domestic Applicants must submit official transcripts for each college or university attended, both undergraduate and graduate. See the Information on Transcripts website for more details. Original transcripts for each college/university attended must be submitted, even if referred to on another schools transcripts.
- International Applicants are now required to provide an evaluation prepared by a NACES or AICE member evaluation service. International transcripts should not be sent directly to TWU. See the International Admissions website for more details.
- Submit Recommendation Requests
If your program requires you to submit names for recommendations you will need to do it in the application. List of programs-majors. - Pay the application fee.
The $50 fee ($75 fee for International applicants), which applies to all new and returning applicants, can be paid by:- Credit card - Pay Online through the application as the last step before submitting the application. The second portion of the application will not be available until the application fee has been received.
- Fee Waivers - Graduate applicants who are certified McNair Scholars are eligible for a McNair Scholar Application Fee Waiver. TWU Alumni may be eligible for the Alumni Advantage Fee Waiver. Check your eligibility here: https://twu.edu/alumni-advantage/. If eligible submit the request using the Application Fee Waiver Submission
- Following fee payment return to the application dashboard where supplemental application documents can be uploaded. The online application will list which documents are needed to fulfill the program admission requirements. You can also check the program's website.
- Submit Program supplemental documents
- Review the specific requirements for your intended program to identify any supplemental materials needed for your application.
Watch for emails from your new program/department that may come to your TWU email address.
For more information or assistance with the application or graduate admissions, visit the Graduate Admissions website.
Students who wish to apply for a Graduate Assistantship must meet the General Criteria for Appointment of Graduate Assistants.
Contact Information
Amanda Hurlbut, Ph.D.
940-898-2280
AHurlbut1@twu.edu
More information about state requirements for principal and superintendent certification can be found on the Texas Education Agency website.
Page last updated 11:27 AM, December 4, 2025