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 ensure the ability to start a position immediately upon graduation
- 21 hours of coursework can transfer to PhD in Education, Leadership, and Organization
The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, the principal certification program and the superintendent certification program prepare educator candidates for the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) exam (State Board for Educator Certification through the Texas Education Agency).
Fulfilling the requirements for the Principal as Instructional Leader certification (whether in a standalone program or within the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership) includes successfully passing the PAIL 268 examinations and PASL 368 examinations prior to completing ELDR 6613 (Internship for the Principal). The practicum and tasks associated with the PASL require access to and time spent on a TEA-accredited school campus; identifying and securing campus principal support and opportunity for PASL task and practicum completion is the responsibility of the student. Find more information about our testing policy here.
Developing leaders in the future of education
TWU stands alone with faculty engagement. Professors know your professional and educational goals and help you develop a plan to meet them. They hold you accountable to high standards and stretch your thinking to develop you into a strategic school administrator ready for any challenge. TWU develops educators able to shape the future of education. Aaron Turrubiarte
Career Opportunities in Educational Leadership
The Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Leadership online program produces leaders skilled in promoting learning in a culturally diverse society. TWU's comprehensive program:
- Prepares you for K-12, higher education and other educational settings
- Helps you define and build environments conducive to learning
- Provides a rigorous, critical investigation of what is and what ought to be in schools
- Prepares and develops educational leaders in areas of scholarship and public service
An online MEd in Educational Leadership from TWU, prepares leaders to become:
- Instructional supervisors
- Principals
- Assistant principals
- Program directors
- Professional development specialists
Certification-Only Programs
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a growing need for principals and superintendents as school enrollments continue to increase. Teacher Education and the Educational Leadership program offer coursework for Texas Principal Certification and Texas Superintendent Certification.
Admission Requirements
Students interested in any Educational Leadership programs need to apply to the TWU Graduate School and send documents directly to the Department of Teacher Education, as indicated below.
Admission to the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership or Principal/Superintendent Certificates
The second step to apply for our program:
Send required documents to the Department of Teacher Education by completing this application (allow a moment for application to load).
Note. We cannot begin reviewing your application until you complete both steps.
Program Contact
Amanda Hurlbut, Ph.D.
940-898-2280
AHurlbut1@twu.edu
Application Deadlines
Fall – August 1
Spring – December 1
Summer – May 1
Admission Requirements for M.Ed. and Certificate Programs
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of study
- Resume/CV
- 2 letters of recommendation addressing applicant's academic capabilities and suitability for the degree program
- Statement of Intent
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
- Have a minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of study; 2.75 overall GPA
- TOEFL iBT score if bachelor's degree was earned out of the US in a country not approved by TEA
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.
How to Apply
Begin by finding your program in TWU's Program, Majors & Degrees listings to see if your program has additional admission requirements and application deadlines prior to applying. (This information is for all programs. The application deadline for your specific program will be listed in the Program Requirements. Use that deadline as it applies below. (Example: if a program only admits once a year and has a Fall deadline for 2023 of March 1, you would need to be looking to apply to the next deadline for Fall 2024.)
- Apply online.
Apply to Graduate Programs according to the start semester and application portals below:
- Spring 2024 - All programs apply via ApplyTexas EXCEPT applicants to the College of Business, Child Life, or Child Development master's programs or the Child Development and Early Education PhD program who should apply via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal.
- Note: When applying through ApplyTexas, you will need to submit any required Documents directly to the program website.
- Summer & Fall 2024 - All graduate programs apply via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal. Required documents will be asked for and uploaded into the application.
- Spring 2024 - All programs apply via ApplyTexas EXCEPT applicants to the College of Business, Child Life, or Child Development master's programs or the Child Development and Early Education PhD program who should apply via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal.
- 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 - Online through the portal you applied on (either ApplyTexas or TWU's Online Graduate Application).
- Certified check or money order by mail or electronically - payable to TWU, sent by mail to:
TWU Admissions Processing, 301 Research Circle, Room 220; Denton, Texas 76204
(include your full name and ID number). - Cash (no personal checks) - Pay at the Bursar's Office. After paying, bring the receipt to Admissions Processing (2nd floor of GRB).
- Fee Waivers - Graduate applicants who are certified McNair Scholars are eligible for a McNair Scholar application Fee waiver. Submit the request using the Application Fee Waiver Submission Form.
- 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.
- 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 Admission website for more details.
For more information on graduate admissions or to contact an admissions official, 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 10:23 AM, September 6, 2023