This program prepares individuals to become leaders such as principals and assistant principals in Kentucky’s schools.  Students who enroll in this program may complete the requirements for the principalship with either a Master’s or Specialist Degree.  The faculty in the Department of Educational Leadership Studies aligned the curriculum for principal certification with the Interstate Leadership Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards.  The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board adopted these standards in November 1998, as criteria concerning knowledge, values, and performances that beginning administrator should be able to demonstrate.

Requirements for Admission

Individuals applying for admission must meet all requirements for admission to the University of Kentucky Graduate School, as defined by The Graduate School Bulletin current at the time of application, and requirements for admission of the Department of Educational Leadership Studies, including but not limited to:

Curriculum

Principal Program Schedule
Level I (21 credit hours):

EDL 601 Introduction to School Leadership & Administration
EDL 625 School Safety & Discipline Leadership
EDL 634 Leadership for Human Resources Development in Schools
EDL 627 School Finance & Support Services
EDL 628 School Law & Ethics
EDS 613 Legal & Parental Issues in Special Education
EDL 610 School Leadership Practicum (1 credit hour)
EDL 611 School Leadership Practicum (1 credit hour)
EDL 612 School Leadership Practicum (1 credit hour)
(EDL 610, 611, and 612 must be taken in sequence beginning in the summer session)

Level II (12 credit hours):

EDL 646 Leadership for School-Community Relations
EDL 650 Leadership for School Program Improvement
EDL 669 Leadership for School Problem Solving

One of the following (If EDC 616, 712, or 714 is taken, the selected course must focus upon a school level different from that of the student’s primary teaching experience).

EDC 732 Principles of Curriculum Construction
EDC 616 The Middle School
EDC 712 The Elementary School
EDC 714 The Secondary School
EDC 724 Guiding & Analyzing Effective Teaching

NOTE: The Kentucky Principal Internship Program (KPIP) is discontinued for the 2003-04 academic year. 

It should also be noted that should they care to do so, students enrolled under the Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.), Rank 1 program option may file a Rank 1 program plan upon completion of 30 approved graduate credits of study, and prior to the completion of their degree program. 

As a part of the “continuous assessment” plan for this program, students are required to prepare a Program Portfolio during the period of time when program courses are taken; each student must submit his or her Program Portfolio to the Director of Graduate Studies when all program courses are completed.  The Director of Graduate Studies appoints an assessment panel comprised of three program faculty members to assess each Program Portfolio that is submitted; composition of this assessment panel will vary from student to student.  Two faculty members on the assessment panel must rate the Program Portfolio as “acceptable” in order for the student to successfully complete the Program Portfolio assessment.  In the event that a student does not receive two “acceptable” ratings, the student may do additional work to enhance the Program Portfolio and then re-submit the document for a second assessment.  A student may only re-submit a Program Portfolio for review two times, for a total of three assessment reviews.  Upon completion of the third assessment resulting in an assessment of “unacceptable,” the student is dropped from the certificate program.

Department of Educational Leadership Studies

Updated on November 27, 2006 12:00 by the Webmaster - Content by Dr. Lars Bjork