Admissions Information, Principalship Graduate Certificate

1. To be considered for admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

2. Applicants must have at least three years of relevant professional experience in an educational setting that is related to the instructional process and hold a current PDE–issued state certification.

3. Prior to submitting an application for the program, please be aware of the following:

• At this time, only Pennsylvania-certified educators are eligible to apply for the Graduate Certificate for Principalship.

• You must have the capacity to complete a required, (calendar) year-long internship with a qualified mentor principal (who has been, and still is serving as, a principal for at least three years).

The Graduate School at Penn State uses an online platform to begin the admission process, which includes a nonrefundable application fee. You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:

1. Official transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State, but must list Penn State as part of your academic history. If you are admitted, you will be asked to send an additional official transcript. You will receive instructions at that time.

2. GPA - Applicants must present evidence of at least a 3.0 grade-point average in the last two years of undergraduate work. A grade-point average of 3.50 in prior graduate work is required of those desiring admission to the graduate certificate program.

3. Three references - You will need to initiate the process through the online application by entering names and email addresses of three references. Upon submission of your application, an email will be sent to each reference requesting they complete a brief online recommendation regarding your commitment for success in an online program.
   Ask for recommendations (completion of an online form and an attached recommendation letter) well in advance of the application deadline. Notify all recommenders that they must submit their recommendation in order for your application to be complete.
   List the names and contact information of recommenders who can make a strong case for your commitment to success in an online program of graduate study. At least one of these recommenders should be your current school principal/supervisor. Remaining references should include individuals who have supervised you in an academic or professional setting, who can speak to your intellectual ability, communication and problem-solving skills, creativity, sensitivity to others, and educational leadership potential.

4. Current Résumé or Curriculum Vitae - Upload your résumé to the online application.

5. Statement of purpose - Write a brief statement of about 1000 words explaining your interest in the Penn State University Educational Leadership program, why you are interested in pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Principalship, and your academic and professional goals.

6. Writing Sample - Select an article from a current education journal or peer reviewed journal, such as Education Policy/EPX (Sage), Educational Administration Quarterly (UCEA), International Journal of Educational Policy and Leadership (electronic journal), Educational Leadership (ASCD), or a similar option. Briefly summarize, in a maximum of three pages, the main points of the article and then critique the content from the vantage point of your experiences as an educator. Your critique can include agreement as well as disagreement with author's perspective. Include a complete citation for the article in your writing sample.

7. International Applicants Only: English Proficiency - The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.