Mission
The Graduate Certificate program is intended for practicing school personnel who aspire to be educational leaders. Students must have a teaching license or be eligible for a teaching license at the start of program enrollment.
Certificate Courses (18 credit hours total, including 3 hours of internship)
If you already have a Master's Degree, you may complete the Leadership Concentration and the internship, to satisfy the Certificate Program in Educational Leadership offered through SPCE. If you do not already have a Master’s degree should complete the Master of Education with a concentration in Educational Leadership program.
The Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership includes 18 Graduate credit hours and is broken into two components: A set of key leadership courses and a practicum or internship experience.
Program Length and Modalities
Many students complete the required coursework in less than two years. The Educational Leadership program is completed with a cohort, comprised of both M.Ed. and Certificate seeking students. Cohorts that meet on-site (in-person) for the Leadership Concentration courses are available in Harrisonburg and Roanoke. Hybrid (defined as in-person sessions occurring <50% of the course work) cohorts are offered for the Winchester Area, Prince William Area, Augusta/Waynesboro/Staunton Area, and the Albemarle/Charlottesville areas. Fully online synchronous (live) cohorts service students from all regions.
Licensure/Certification
This program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the Commonwealth of Virginia. While it might meet requirements in other U.S. states or territories, JMU makes no guarantees or promises that it does and thus cannot enroll a prospective student who intends to seek licensure and employment outside of Virginia. However, per Federal Department of Education regulation 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32), if you will be located in a state other than Virginia while participating in the program, and attest that upon successful completion of this program you plan to pursue licensure and employment in Virginia in a related field, you will be eligible for enrollment.
In accordance with VDOE Regulations, a candidate who has the appropriate teaching license, who completes the Educational Leadership program and who achieves a passing score on the School Leader's Licensure Examination is eligible for endorsement in PK-12 administration and supervision in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
