Instructional Leadership Graduate Programs
Preparing Administrators for 21st Century Schools
Admission to Instructional Leadership Program
- Applicant must be admitted to the University Graduate Program;
- Hold a Class B Professional Educator Certification in a teaching field or a Class A Professional Educator Certificate in a teaching field or instructional support area;
- Have a minimum of three full years of full-time, satisfactory professional educational experience in a P-12 setting;
- Pass review through the Office of Teacher Certification at UNA;
- Submit an admission portfolio for committee review;
- Participate in an individual interview with University faculty and partner school districts; and
- Agree to participate in pre-, ongoing, and post-program evaluations and assessments.
Portfolio
Individuals wishing to apply for the Instructional Leadership Program shall submit a professional portfolio to the department chair on or before the established deadline for each enrollment cycle. The portfolio shall contain the following items: (See Handout for Specifics required in items.)
a. Letter of Application
b. Current Resume or Vita
c. Professional Growth Plan
d. Copies of Transcripts
e. Copies of Teaching Certificate(s)
f. Three letters of recommendation
g. Evidence of ability to improve student achievement
h. Evidence of leadership and management potential
i. Other Areas of Leadership
The contents of the portfolio will be reviewed and scored by faculty members of the Instructional Leadership Department. The portfolio will count for 32% of the final score for the acceptance into the program.
Interview
Candidates are expected to demonstrate appropriate oral communication skills. Each candidate who makes a minimum score of 20 points on the portfolio will be invited to participate in an interview as the final step in the application process. The interview will be approximately 30 minutes in length and will be designed to acquire information regarding the candidate’s potential in a number of leadership areas. Each candidate must have a minimum score of 22 points on the interview. A final score of 42 points is necessary for acceptance into the program.
Course of Study
Candidates will benefit from a combination of classroom-based instruction and practical experience. A total of 33-36 semester hours of classroom instruction and internship will be taught by and in combination with filed-based professionals serving as coaches and mentors. Course topics will include:
- Principal Leadership
- Development of Human Resources
- Financial and Material Resources
- Planning and Management for School Improvement
- Differentiated Instruction for Diverse Student Learning
- Legal and Ethical Issues
Candidates will derive the remainder of academic credit from school-based days of internship/residency in one of the program's partner school district school settings. The residency is a minimum of 10 consecutive days. The internship will provide field-based experiences that integrate academic knowledge through observing, participating and leading various learning experiences while working side by side with successful school leaders.
Residency is the uninterrupted service at an active school, with students present, for no less than ten (10) consecutive full days.
Candidates with a Class A professional Educator Certificate will have a transcript review to determine the course of study for certification only.Those applicants who already have a previously earned Master's Degree from a regionally accredited institution (other than the University of North Alabama) must have catalog course descriptions sent to the program coordinator of courses that may apply to the core area of the UNA Master's Program.
Instructional Leadership Program of Study Checksheet
Transfer
Credit
A student may transfer up to six
semester hours of "B" grade or higher credit from
other regionally accredited institutions if the courses are
approved by the Dean of Education.
Correspondence courses are not accepted for graduate credit.
Admission to Graduate Study
*Students must
complete the following prior to unconditional admission to
graduate study:
1 . Possess a
bachelor's or higher degree in an appropriate field of
2.
Submit a graduate application
form and application fee to the Admissions Office.
3.
Submit official transcripts of
undergraduate and graduate credit from each institution
previously attended.
4.
Submit satisfactory test scores.
Applicants
will submit scores on either the Graduate Record Examination
or the Miller Analogies Test. The minimum scores for
admission are 800 on the combined Verbal (minimum 400) and
Quantitative portion of the Graduate Record Examination and
388 on the Miller Analogies Test.
5.
Achieved a minimum overall
scholastic average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) on undergraduate work.
6. Students applying for the M.A. in Education program must have satisfied requirements for the Alabama Class B Professional Certificate or equivalent in any field and three years of educational experience of classroom teaching.
*Students whose credits have been earned entirely at the University of North Alabama need not submit transcripts.
Degree Requirements
1. Submit a
Proposed Program of Study for approval during the first
semester of
attendance.
2. Submit an application for Admission to Candidacy after
earning 12 hours of
graduate credit.
3. Maintain a grade average of 3.25 or higher on all work
attempted, with not more
than six semester hours of "C" or lower.
4. Complete a comprehensive portfolio.
5. Apply for graduation two semesters prior to graduation.
6. Complete all courses within an eight-year period.
Application for Admission to Candidacy form
