Ph.D. in Educational and Community Leadership
Program Overview
Recognized by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) as a national model for creating equity-oriented leaders, the program emphasizes the improvement of PK-12 teaching and learning through the development of systems-level processes and structures and prioritizes educational leadership as a practice integrating school and community contexts.
Course Work
The program takes an interdisciplinary approach to educating equity-oriented scholar-practitioners who view education through a variety of lenses. Students have the opportunity to incorporate international research into course work.
Students are admitted to one of two PhD cohorts that begin in fall semester of each year. There is a San Marcos based cohort that is face-to-face and a Round Rock based cohort that is hybrid (80% online/20% in person). All classes are offered in the evenings or on weekends for the convenience of working professionals. The program consists of 48 hours of course work and 12 hours of dissertation for a total of 60 hours.
- core (foundational) courses
- major (Educational and Community Leadership) courses
- doctoral electives
- dissertation proposal development
- research courses
- dissertation courses
| Degree | Course Work | Dissertation | Total Hours | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. | 48 hours | 12 hours | 60 hours | San Marcos/Round Rock |
Principal Certification
Program Overview
Recognized by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) for preparing equity-oriented leaders, the program focuses on situating school-based leaders within societal contexts and teaches students how to engage school and community assets as the foundation for improvement efforts.
This certification program requires 18 hours to complete.
Course Work
Educators who have already earned a master’s degree in education and have a minimum of one year of teaching experience in K-12 schools can take the 18-credit-hour post-master principal certification program. This program can be completed in three semesters with summer admission. Candidates who have not yet earned a master’s degree should apply to the Educational Leadership (M.A./M.Ed.) program.
| Certification Program | Total Hours | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Principal | 18 hours | San Marcos |
| Principal (Accelerated Online) | 18 hours | Online |
100% Online
This program is offered completely online. If you are not a Texas resident and will not relocate, please visit the Office of Online and Extended Programs. International applicants to the online program will not be eligible to receive a Form I-20 or DS-2019 for an F-1 or J-1 visa from Texas State and may review the eligibility requirements of enrolling in online programs and contact the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) with questions.
Superintendent Certification
Program Overview
The Texas State University superintendent certification program prepares educators to serve as school district superintendents and in other central office leadership positions. The program offers courses taught by experienced superintendents, central office leaders and university faculty and provides an exceptional opportunity to build professional networks.
This certification program requires 15 hours to complete.
Course Work
The non-degree program consists of:
- 15 semester hours of graduate course work that may be completed in one year
- collaborative instruction by experienced university faculty and district administrators
- course content aligned with state and national standards for district level leadership
- a flexible schedule of monthly seminars combined with online learning
- a field-based internship during the fall and spring semesters
- preparation for the TExES examination, which students must pass for full certification
- candidates who wish to earn a doctoral degree + superintendent certification can apply to the Ph.D. in Educational and Community Leadership
| Certification Program | Total Hours | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Superintendent | 15 hours | San Marcos |