Education professionals with a related master’s degree can further advance their educational leadership careers with a post-master’s K-12 certificate. The program is designed for current and aspiring educational leaders who want to expand their knowledge and skills in educational administration.

What Are the Benefits of a Post-Master’s K-12 Certificate?

Eastern Michigan University offers a Post-Master’s Certificate in K-12 Basic School Administration Online program. The EMU program covers relevant topics that will help students in their careers as leaders. Those who have not held administrative leadership roles will have an opportunity to gain hands-on experience while in this program.

Students who complete the certificate will be able to:

  • Manage school operations and resources.
  • Create and implement a shared mission, vision and core values for a high-quality education.
  • Cultivate a professional community of teachers and staff.
  • Foster a school community that is inclusive, supportive and caring.
  • Ensure equity in education and culturally responsive practices.

EMU’s course Community Education and Community Relations explores the basic principles and philosophy of community education and the relationship of education to a diverse community.

This is an important topic today because community engagement is a critical success factor for schools. Studies like the PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships show that schools partnering with the community see improved student success, teacher morale and parent involvement.

Students will also delve into the role of a school principal as a leader. They will learn how to nurture and sustain school improvement processes. The Organization and Administration of K-12 Schools course will have students comparing concepts, issues, ideas and theories for leading people, dealing with conflict, making decisions, and managing staff to work toward improving learning.

Other courses cover budgeting and economics, instructional leadership, culturally pluralistic educational environments and human resources principles. Students who lack administrative leadership experience will have the opportunity to receive training in administration through a supervised experience as part of a two-credit-hour educational leadership internship.

What Is Involved in a Post-Master’s K-12 Certificate?

Although prospective students most likely have a teaching certificate, you don’t need one to apply for the program. Applicants are required to have a master’s degree in education or a similar field from an accredited university with at least a 3.3 GPA. Applicants will also need to provide a current resume, two professional or academic recommendations, and a personal statement.

The instructors in EMU’s program are the same faculty who teach on-campus courses. Students can choose from six start dates with each course lasting 7.5 weeks.

EMU’s program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the Michigan Department of Education. It also aligns with the Professional Standards for Educational Leadership (PSEL) set by the National Policy Board for Educational Administration.

The program requires 18 to 23 credit hours and can be completed in 12 to 24 months. The number of credit hours depends on the student’s work experience and previous education. An academic adviser provides students with one-on-one guidance through the program to ensure they get the most out of it.

Learn more about EMU’s online Post-Master’s in K-12 Basic School Administration Certificate program.