Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility

Earn your Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility in a convenient hybrid format.

Program Snapshot

Program Type	Format	Credit Hours
Letter of Eligibility	Low-Residency/Hybrid	21

Why Earn Your Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility at Wilkes?

Our PDE-approved post-graduate program is designed for K-12 administrators seeking certification to excel in a superintendent role. The program emphasizes leadership skills while providing theoretical knowledge and practical instruction.

PDE-required field hours are distributed throughout the program and include a focus on research-based leadership development. A culminating internship to experience the role of the superintendent is also required.

Upon successful completion of the program, in addition to meeting PDE requirements, students will be recommended for the Letter of Eligibility.

What Will You Learn?

You will explore professional development and supervision strategies, effective change leadership and strategic planning, and how to build an ethical and research-driven leadership practice.
You will learn the essentials of school finance and facilities, advanced educational law, and special education administration.
You will discover how to apply best practices in curriculum, instruction, and assessment throughout your district.
You will connect with leadership faculty and spend time learning with your peers, an essential element of the program that offers both support and perspective.

To learn more about this program, please complete the following form.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss your education goals, please contact Kristin Donati at kristin.donati@wilkes.edu.

Program Highlights

Online Low-Residency Format

Classes are conducted in an engaging hybrid format, blending virtual face-to-face sessions with online learning. Students also will complete a four-day low residency on-campus twice during the program as part of an integrated field requirement. These enriching residencies offer an authentic learning experience that satisfy the course field hour completion.

Start Your EdD

Accepted students may elect to apply for admission to Wilkes University’s Doctor of Education (EdD) during or at the conclusion of the program. The successful completion of this 21-credit certificate program completes 21 of the 60 credits required for the EdD in Educational Leadership with a specialization in K-12 Administration.

Advance Your Career

Our program is designed for educators who already hold a graduate degree in an education-related field and wish to advance their careers in leadership roles as a superintendent or assistant superintendent in a K-12 district.

Tuition & Aid

Tuition for graduate programs in education for the 2024-25 academic year is $571 per credit, or $1,713 per course. Deferment is available for employers who reimburse tuition and financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Careers & Outcomes

Graduates go on to pursue administrative leadership roles within their districts, particularly at the Superintendent level. Some graduates continue their education by enrolling in a doctoral program in education, such as Wilkes' EdD program.

Admissions Requirements

Admissions requirements for the Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility:

Master’s degree in education or related field from an accredited institution
At the time of application for the letter of eligibility, the candidate must have completed six years of satisfactory school experience, of which three must be in a supervisory or administrative role

Prior Graduate Coursework

Prior graduate-level coursework may be applied from an accredited institution to the superintendent certification program. This coursework must be equivalent to courses in the program and be completed within the last six years with a grade of 3.0 or better. Official transcripts must be provided.

Graduate credits taken in Wilkes Graduate Education programs must also be reviewed; an official Wilkes transcript is not needed. Pass/fail grades are not transferable unless the "pass" can be substantiated in writing as a grade by the former institution. You may be asked to provide a course description and course syllabus to make a final determination of course equivalency. A review form to evaluate previous graduate coursework is available upon request.

All courses taken in the Wilkes program require a minimum grade of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.