Instructional Leadership, MAE (0506)
Program Coordinator
Nicholas L. Brake, nicholas.brake@wku.edu, (270) 745-3062
The Master of Arts in Education, Educational Leadership and Administration program is tailored to the selected concentration, listed in parentheses below. The 30-hour program aligns with Kentucky EPSB requirements and may not be recognized by other states.
Director of Pupil Personnel Services (KDP1 and KDP2)
This concentration leads to eligibility for administrative certification as a Level 1 and 2 Director of Pupil Personnel (DPP) and a Rank I.
Director of Special Education (KDS1 and KDS2)
This concentration leads to eligibility for administrative certification as a Level 1 and 2 Director of Special Education (DOSE) and a Rank I.
Supervisor of Instruction (ILV1 and ILV2)
This concentration leads to eligibility for administrative certification as a Level 1 and 2 Supervisor of Instruction (SOI) and a Rank I.
School Principal (KP1 and KP2)
This program leads to eligibility for administrative certification as a Level 1 and 2 Principal and either a Rank I or a Rank II.
Principal Certification, Alternate Route
Kentucky Senate Bill #77 made it possible for higher education institutions with approved school administration certification programs to provide an alternate route to certification programs upon application and approval by the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB). Western Kentucky University (WKU) has an EPSB-approved Alternate Route to Principal Certification program, with eligibility and application procedures as follows:
Under the provisions of Senate Bill #77 and state regulations, WKU established procedures for the alternate route program as follows:
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Candidates must first apply to WKU Graduate Studies for admission to the university - https://www.wku.edu/graduate/
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Following university admission, candidates should contact the School of Leadership and Professional Studies (SLPS) for program-specific admissions guidelines and application requirements by calling 270-745-4890.
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After program admission, the candidate will work with an advisor to submit a program of study to the Office of Professional Educators Services (OPES) for approval.
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A letter is then issued by WKU stating that the student is currently enrolled in the principal program; at this time, the candidate may be offered a principal or assistant principal position by a district and is then eligible to participate in the alternate route program.
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If the candidate is offered the position, the district superintendent must provide verification of employment to WKU and the candidate.
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The candidate will submit the verification of employment to the SLPS and a CA-TP to OPES. SLPS will issue a mentor agreement to the student, which must be completed by the student, their university mentor, and their district mentor. This can be emailed along with the completed CA-TP application to teacher.certification@wku.edu.
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OPES will sign and verify the candidate's enrollment in the alternate route to principal certification program. The completed application will be uploaded to EPSB, and the student will be notified when it has been processed and their certificate is ready for download or printing.
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The student must request that an electronic transcript be sent directly to EPSB. The transcript request can be completed through TopNet. All transcript request questions need to be directed to the registrar's office.
Program Admission
Admission to the Master of Arts in Education, Educational Leadership and Administration program is tailored to the selected concentration, listed in parentheses below.
Director of Pupil Personnel Services (KDP1 and KDP2)
- Current, valid Rank II teaching certificate
- Three years of full-time appropriate teaching experience
- 3.0 GPA or above for all graduate coursework
- Reference from the supervisor
- Resume and cover letter
Director of Special Education (KDS1 and KDS2)
- Current, valid Rank II teaching certificate
- Three years of full-time appropriate teaching experience
- 3.0 GPA or above for all graduate coursework
- Reference from the supervisor
- Resume and cover letter
School Principal (KP1 and KP2)
- Current, valid teaching certificate
- Three years of full-time appropriate teaching experience
- 3.0 GPA or above for the highest degree, undergraduate GPA for bachelor's degree holders or graduate GPA for previous graduate coursework
- Reference from the supervisor
- Resume and cover letter
Supervisor of Instruction (ILV1 and ILV2)
- Current, valid Rank II teaching certificate
- Three years of full-time appropriate teaching experience
- 3.0 GPA or above for all graduate coursework
- Reference from the supervisor
- Resume and cover letter
Program Requirements (30 hours)
Requirements for the Master of Arts in Education, Educational Leadership and Administration program are tailored to the selected concentration, listed in parentheses below. A minimum of 30 semester hours is required; at least 15 hours must be WKU credit.
Filing a TC-1 requesting Rank II requires completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit. A Rank I requires the completion of a 30-semester-hour program beyond the Rank II. Within these total hours, the student must complete the required professional courses as outlined in a planned program designed to provide the student with appropriate administrative competencies and courses required for certification.
Director of Pupil Personnel (KDP1 and KDP2)
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| LEVEL 1 | ||
| EDAD 602 | Introduction to School Leadership | 3 |
| EDAD 603 | School Law and Policy | 3 |
| EDAD 604 | Creating a Culture of Achievement | 3 |
| EDAD 608 | Resource Management for Equitable Outcomes | 3 |
| EDAD 631 | Leading Learning | 6 |
| EDAD 583 | Accounting for Pupil Personnel | 3 |
| EDAD 686 | District-level Supervision | 3 |
| LEVEL 2 | ||
| EDFN 576 | Issues and Trends in Education | 3 |
| EDFN 613 | Action Research in Education Administration | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Director of Special Education (KDS1 and KDS2)
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| LEVEL 1 | ||
| EDAD 602 | Introduction to School Leadership | 3 |
| EDAD 604 | Creating a Culture of Achievement | 3 |
| EDAD 608 | Resource Management for Equitable Outcomes | 3 |
| EDAD 686 | District-level Supervision | 3 |
| SPED 518 | Seminar: Contemporary Challenges in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED/EDAD 630 | Special Education Law and Finance | 3 |
| SPED/EDAD 612 | Collaboration between Schools and Stakeholders for Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 625 | Practicum in the Administration of Special Education | 3 |
| LEVEL 2 | ||
| EDFN 576 | Issues and Trends in Education | 3 |
| EDFN 613 | Action Research in Education Administration | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
School Principal (KP1 and KP2)
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| LEVEL 1 | ||
| EDAD 602 | Introduction to School Leadership | 3 |
| EDAD 603 | School Law and Policy | 3 |
| EDAD 604 | Creating a Culture of Achievement | 3 |
| EDAD 608 | Resource Management for Equitable Outcomes | 3 |
| EDAD 631 | Leading Learning | 6 |
| EDAD 632 | Collaborative Approaches to School Improvement | 6 |
| LEVEL 2 | ||
| EDAD 597 | Problems in Educational Administration and Supervision | 3 |
| EDAD 610 | Clinical Experiences in Educational Administration | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Supervisor of Instruction (ILV1 and ILV2)
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| LEVEL 1 | ||
| EDAD 602 | Introduction to School Leadership | 3 |
| EDAD 603 | School Law and Policy | 3 |
| EDAD 604 | Creating a Culture of Achievement | 3 |
| EDAD 608 | Resource Management for Equitable Outcomes | 3 |
| EDAD 631 | Leading Learning | 6 |
| EDAD 686 | District-level Supervision | 3 |
| EDAD 594 | Leading Innovative Educational Programs | 3 |
| LEVEL 2 | ||
| EDFN 576 | Issues and Trends in Education | 3 |
| EDFN 613 | Action Research in Education Administration | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |