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Post Master’s Certificate in School Administration

The state-approved Post-Master’s Certificate in School Administration is based on the belief that effective leadership is learned by the content of the courses and the field experiences that are offered throughout the program. This program is practitioner-oriented, offering opportunities to apply theoretical learning with practical and authentic assignments. The learning laboratory for the program is the school or school district where assignments are completed and internships are conducted. The program utilizes a cohort model that develops a sense of community like that which is developed in a school; in this sense, the same practices that build capacity in an organization are cultivated and modeled in the program.

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The Certificate program includes a one-year Internship in which the students work with a mentor of their choice, developing practice in leadership experiences that serve students, faculty, and the larger educational community. The students complete the required 240 hours for the State of Michigan and are eligible for K-12 Administrative Certification and Building Level Endorsement after satisfactory completion of the 24 credits of the program, and this Internship in addition to passing the MTCC test for ES Endorsement in School Administration.

Program delivery

The Post-Master’s Certificate (PMC) in School Administration requires 24 credits, all of which are taken within the 11-month, cohort-structured program. Prescribed courses are generally scheduled one night per week for fall and winter semesters, with some courses scheduled for selected Saturdays throughout the semester. Summer semester requires some class meetings twice a week for the 4-credit courses.

The PMC is offered as a hybrid design at on-ground locations in Oakland, Macomb, and Genesee counties.  The course delivery is hybrid, with some class meetings on ground and others online. Also available is a fully online program that offers both synchronous and asynchronous formatting.

Additional Information
Christine Abbott
480A Pawley Hall
(248) 370-2636
[email protected]

A Master's degree is required for entry into this program. Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Admissions by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

  • Rolling admissions until the cohorts are filled to a maximum of 15 students for fall semester
  • Rolling admissions until the cohorts are filled to a maximum of 15 students for winter semester
  • International applicants

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

  1. Graduate Application Requirements
  2. Additional department application requirements
    • Evidence of a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
    • Requirements for recommendations
      The recommendation forms must be from supervisors familiar with the candidate’s current or recent position
    • A statement indicating willingness to make a one-year commitment to the program and a statement of personal goals after completing the educational leadership program
    • Curriculum Vitae or Resume
    • Candidates may be interviewed by the program coordinator, who will make admission recommendations to Graduate Admissions. 

Degree requirements

The Post-Master’s Certificate in School Administration is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 24 credits in an approved program of study as follows. All program participants select a mentor who is a practicing administrator. The Internship begins during the initial semester and continues throughout the entire program. Goals and activities are mutually agreed upon and reflect the state approved NELP Standards. The students complete the required 240 internship hours for State of Michigan and are eligible for building level certification after satisfactory completion of the 24 credits of the program, and this Internship in addition to passing the MTCC test for ES Endorsement in School Administration.

Upon completion of the Post Master’s Certificate program, students may choose to apply to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education: Educational Leadership program or the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership program. Twenty-eight (28) credits from the PMC can transfer as a cognate in the Ph.D. program and Twenty (20) credits can transfer as a cognate in the Ed.D. program.

Department of Organizational Leadership

Pawley Hall, Room 480B
456 Pioneer Dr.
Rochester, MI 48309-4482
(location map)
(248) 370-2730

Educational Leadership
Pawley Hall, Room 480D
(248) 370-3070
fax: (248) 370-4605

Human Resource Development
Pawley Hall, Room 475E
(248) 370-4109
fax: (248) 370-4095