About the Program
The fully online Superintendent Certificate Program was collaboratively developed by The University of Texas at Arlington and area school district personnel to ensure that program participants acquire the skills and background information needed to become practicing superintendents. This non-thesis certificate program (15 semester credit hours, 6 courses) is fully aligned with the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) standards and designed for administrators who already have principal certification and a conferred master’s degree who want to advance in the K-12 education arena.
Program Advantages:
- Courses taught by active and retired superintendents
- NCATE accredited
- Committed professors who actively communicate with students
- Program offers relevant field experience in district-level leadership
- Students can complete the program in two long semesters (fall and spring or spring and fall).
- Strong alumni network
- No thesis
Students should refer to the course syllabus for textbook information.
Certificate Information
Texas Residents
The Superintendent Certificate program is an approved educator preparation program in Texas. To be eligible to receive the Standard Superintendent Certificate, you must:
- hold, at a minimum, a master's degree from an institution of higher education that is accredited by an accrediting agency, as recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
- hold, at a minimum, a principal certificate or the equivalent issued under this title or by another state or country;
- currently serve in an administrative position or have 2 years of administrative experience at building or district level;
- successfully complete a Texas approved superintendent educator preparation program and be recommended for certification by that program; the program includes a supervised practicum in an accredited Texas public school or other school approved by the Texas Education Agency and be recommended for certification by that program;
- satisfactorily complete an exam based on the Texas Standards Required for the Superintendent Certificate; and
- any other Texas Education Agency (TEA), State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) requirements, and Department requirements
Out of State Residents
Out of state students seeking certification in their home state must review the requirements for licensure with their home state education agency to determine if completion of the Superintendent Certificate at UTA will lead to licensure in their home state.
[close-]Online Courses
Students should refer to the course syllabus for textbook information. Please note that textbook requirements may be subject to change. You will be notified by the course instructor if there are additional textbook requirements.
Students in this program must also purchase Tk20 as part of their course materials for a one-time non-refundable cost of $100 plus tax and fees. It may be purchased online.
Additional program fees include: $750 for three (3) field-based supervision/practicum observations during the program (three fees of $250 each) and a one-time $55 TEA technology processing fee for Texas certification seeking candidates.
EDAD 6279: Superintendency Internship
Duration: Entire Semester | Credit Hours: 2
This course provides experiences in the various roles and responsibilities of a superintendent of schools under the direction of a school district mentor and a university supervisor. An internship project will be developed in consultation with public school and university personnel.
EDAD 6179: Superintendency Internship
Duration: Entire Semester | Credit Hours: 1
This course provides experiences in the various roles and responsibilities of a superintendent of schools under the direction of a school district mentor and a university supervisor. An internship project will be developed in consultation with public school and university personnel.
EDAD 6378: Advanced Curriculum and Program Assessment
Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the processes of implementing district-wide curriculum, programs, and other innovations in school systems. Topics include: recent research on the implementation of change in curriculum and instruction, trends in education, strategic and contextual planning, program and student assessment and accountability, and national curriculum projects.
EDAD 6373: The Superintendency
Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces candidates to the many facets of the superintendency with a focus on the challenges facing the superintendent today. Topics include: exercising collaborative leadership, developing a strong organizational culture, dealing with the politics of education, building strong superintendent-board relations, managing the problems of school reform, and planning. Instruction is problem-oriented and included field-based experiences.
EDAD 6371: Administration of Staff, Personnel & Advanced School Law
Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on understanding the relationship between motivation and the management of human resources; articulate the basics of team management and group facilitation; identify proper procedures for recruiting, assignment, and inducting personnel; and recognize the legal requirement for suspension, transfer, reduction in force and dismissal of professional personnel.
EDAD 6374: Advanced School Business Administration
Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course surveys the principles of public school finance at the local, state, and federal levels. It examines the school budgeting process, methods of school funds accounting and techniques of school business management from a district perspective.
Admissions
Out of state students will not qualify for Texas educator certification. Therefore, students should review their state's requirements to determine if completion of the Superintendent Certification program at UTA will lead to certification in their state.
- Certified Administrator in state of residence (if applicable)
- Currently serving in an administrative position or 2 years of administrative experience at building or district level
- Master's GPA of 3.75 or 3 professional recommendation letters if Master's GPA is under 3.75 but not lower than 3.0.
- Other documents required for TEA reporting
- As required by Texas HB1508, applicants need to be aware of the following:
- In order to receive a teacher certification in Texas, you must pass a criminal history background check.
- If you have been convicted of an offense that is considered not appropriate for an educator, you could be ineligible to earn this certification from the state of Texas.
- You have a right to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation letter from the Texas Education Agency prior to admission into this program. The Texas Education Agency currently charges a $50 fee for this criminal history evaluation. View more information on Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation
Costs
Affordability You Can Count On at UTA
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course* | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superintendent Certificate | $273.33 | $819.99 | $4099.95 |
The tuition deadline is the Friday (by 11:59 PM CT) before the course begins. If tuition is not paid before the deadline, you will be dropped from your course(s).
For more information about registration and tuition deadlines, please visit Registration and Payment information for Accelerated Online Programs.
If you plan to use the UTA website to make payment, please note that it may be down for maintenance at any time. You may also contact Student Accounts at 817.272.2172 for additional information regarding payment.
Program Fees
Additional program fees include: $750 for three (3) field-based supervision/practicum observation during the program (two fees of $250 each in the Spring semester and one fee of $250 in the Fall semester); purchase of Tk20 software ($100 plus tax purchased online) at the start of the program and other textbooks and materials throughout the program; and a one-time $55 TEA technology processing fee for Texas certification seeking candidates. All degrees are subjected to application and graduation fees.
Application Fees
A non-refundable fee as indicated below is required:
- US Citizen and US Resident Alien Applicants with NO foreign college or university course work: $40
- US Citizen and US Resident Alien Applicants WITH foreign college or university course work: $90
- H1B International Applicants: $90
Reactivation Fees
To read the Reactivation/Readmission policy, visit the Admission Requirements.
Payment Options
- Pay by term
Refund Policy
Students wishing to drop a course and maintain no financial responsibility must do so by 11:59 PM CT before the first class day. The official class day begins at 12:00 AM CT.
The refund policy for sessions greater than five weeks but less than 10 weeks is as follows:
- Before the first class day: 100 percent.
- First class day through the third class day: 80 percent.
- Fourth day through the sixth class day: 50 percent.
- After the sixth day: No refunds.
The refund policy for sessions 10 weeks or greater is as follows:
- Before the first class day: 100 percent.
- First class day through the fifth class day: 80 percent.
- Sixth day through the tenth class day: 70 percent.
- Eleventh day through the fifteenth class day: 50 percent.
- Sixteenth day through the twentieth class day: 25 percent.
- After the twentieth day: No refunds.
The Academic Calendar indicates the deadlines to drop a course with a "W."
[close-]Student Profiles
“The program was excellent...I would recommend it to anybody.”
Edward Woolcock
UTA 2012 Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Graduate
