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Program Admission

• Complete a graduate school application.
• Submit all official undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts. Minimum undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 required.
• Submit a Statement of Goals that explains the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a principal certification.
• Submit a current resume.
• Submit a copy of a current PA Instructional Certificate.
• Submit three letters of recommendation that address the applicant’s leadership ability, capacity to be a successful school principal, academic suitability, and professional demeanor.

Academic Requirements

Candidates for the M.S. in Special Education, Special Education Supervisory Certification program are typically required to complete 30 credits in order to earn their Master's degree, while 21 credits are required for those candidates seeking the Special Education Supervisory Certification only. Prior graduate work can be evaluated for transfer credit.

Retention

Graduate students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students who do not take classes in either the fall and/or spring semesters will be considered inactive in MyCommonwealth. Students are required to contact their Academic Advisor or Graduate Program Coordinator with their request to be reactivated. Their request is then forwarded to the Graduate Office, who will process the reactivation. Students have six calendar years to complete their chosen degree or certification program.

Transfer Credits

Upon acceptance, students desiring to transfer credits may make this request upon application to their chosen program. Upon approval, degree students may transfer up to a maximum of nine semester hours or parallel courses (determined by CU) from accredited institutions. These courses will be applied towards completing the degree requirements of the program. However, no courses will be transferred in which a grade less than a B was earned. Pass/fail grades are not accepted.

Pennsylvania Requirements for Certification

• Provides verification of three years of relevant professional experience. For the purpose of this section, relevant professional experience is “professional experience in an educational setting that is related to the instructional process.”
• Completes a Pennsylvania-approved, graduate-level principal certification program that includes an internship/practicum or an equivalent out-of-state program. A 3.0 program Grade Point Average (GPA) is required.
• Provides evidence of satisfactory achievement on the Pennsylvania required test.

Please see the PDE website for additional requirements for PDE certification and for any updates as certification requirements may change over time.

Certification Requirements

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, .

• Demonstrate central concepts of organizational leadership, tools of research and inquiry, and principles of evidence-based instruction
• Apply effective communication strategies with various stakeholders
• Contributes to school effectiveness by collaborating with professionals and families, shares community resources, and works as an advocate to improve the outcomes of students with disabilities
• Utilizes a variety of assessment tools to inform the diagnostic process and supports the outcomes of students with disabilities