Educational Leadership with K-12 Principal Certification

Effective leadership is needed in PK-12 education. If you’re passionate about leading school change and educational advocacy, Wilkes University's Master of Science in Education with a major in Educational Leadership with PK-12 Principal Certification prepares you to take on leadership roles within your district and advance to the next level in your career.

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Program Snapshot

Program Type	Format	Credit Hours
Master's Degree	On Campus or Online	27-36

Why Study Educational Leadership at Wilkes?

Our online master’s degree in educational leadership is designed for working educators who desire advancement in the PK-12 environment. All of our courses prepare you for success in an administrative role and empower you to effect meaningful change in your district. In a recent program review, 100% of our students passed the School Leaders Licensure Assessment on the first attempt.

Wilkes’ online master’s degree in educational leadership is approved by the PA Department of Education and is designed to meet PA Department of Education competencies for PK-12 principals.

What Will You Learn as an Educational Leadership Student?

All students begin the program by completing ED 517: The Principal as Educational Leader. This prerequisite course develops a strong foundation for your continued studies in what it means to be an effective leader within your district.
You’ll explore how administrative leadership plays a role in curriculum and instruction, special education, and evaluation of educational programs. You’ll also learn about essential laws and regulations for principals.
You’ll learn school management and communication best practices, as well as staff development and supervision techniques that can improve outcomes.
You’ll discover how technology leadership, intercultural communication, and educational research play a role in advancing the field forward.

Thank you for your interest in Wilkes University's Graduate Education programs! To learn more about our program please complete the form. If you have questions, or wish to discuss your education goals, please contact:

Erin Heffron
erin.heffron@wilkes.edu
570-408-4311

Program Highlights

Convenient Online Delivery

All coursework is online, giving our students the flexibility they need to complete the program while actively working in their districts.

Learn From Working Professionals

All of our program instructors are also practitioners who can offer real world experiences and actionable insights you can begin applying in your current position.

Embedded Fieldwork

Our coursework incorporates field experiences within your own district that introduce you to what it’s like to work as a school leader under the supervision of your instructor and a mentoring principal.

At Wilkes, I feel like a student and not a number. Even though I’m doing the majority of my classes online, I still feel like I’m part of the family.
Kyle Linko - Welding Technology Instructor

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 of our online educational leadership program are well prepared to take on administrative roles within their districts. Many go on to service in their district as administrators at the Principal or Vice Principal level while others pursue more specialized careers in technology, special education, or curriculum.

Outside of leadership within individual school districts, graduates may also explore government or nonprofit roles in policy development or advocacy that can affect meaningful change in the educational system as a whole.

Job Titles: Principal, Vice Principal, Assistant Principal, Special Education Director, Curriculum Director, Building Principal, Education Director, Instructional Coordinator

Certification and Program Completion

Consistent participation in the cohort will enable students to become eligible for PA PK-12 principal certification and to attain the Master of Science in Educational Leadership degree, which consists of 36 credits. Students who currently hold a master’s degree are eligible for the certification only option after completion of the 27 credit certification program.

Candidates will be recommended to the PDE for K-12 principal certification upon the completion of the 27-credit certification program as listed below:

Successful completion of the EDLS Online Program of study, which includes fulfilling the required 360 hours of supervised field and intern experiences in K-12 schools as embedded in the program of study
A passing score on the School Leadership Licensure Assessment for principal certification (Test Code 6990- Passing Score is 151)
Three years of professional school experience at the time of application for certification
Submission of completed TIMS online application for certification