Graduate Certificate in Instructional Leadership

A Graduate Certificate in Instructional Leadership is for students who already have a master's degree and want to take the necessary courses approved by the State of Tennessee to earn an Instructional Leadership License to serve in a leadership role in P-12 schools.

Prerequisites

Master's degree, current teaching license, and 2 years of teaching experience.

Admission Information

Candidates for admission to the Instructional Leadership Certificate Program must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and two years teaching experience, as more specifically stated in the following admission criteria:

Teacher Licensure;
A minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate credits combined);
Writing Sample. All candidates, regardless of GPA, must successfully complete the M.Ed. writing sample, demonstrating adequate graduate level writing skills;
An interview with the Director of the M.Ed. program;
Application to Graduate Studies in Education along with the non-refundable application fee;
Official transcript(s) showing all coursework, completion of baccalaureate degree(s), and all graduate credit previously attempted. Even if withdrawal occurred prior to earning credits and even if those credits do not apply to the current degree being sought, official transcripts must be sent from each institution. Send transcripts directly to the Office of Graduate Studies in Education;
Recommendation forms (provided) from 4 persons: One must be completed by the applicant’s current principal or supervisor; two must be completed by fellow teachers/colleagues; and one by a character/ personal reference (non-family member);
Certificate of Immunization.

In addition to the criteria above, candidates for admission to the Instructional Leadership Certificate program must submit the following:

9. Professional Resume;

10. Copy of most recent state-approved performance appraisal;

11. Verification of Experience form completed by applicant’s school system documenting at least 2 years of teaching experience;

12. Recommendation form completed by the Director of the school system where the applicant is employed;

13. Interview with Instructional Leadership Screening Committee. The candidate is interviewed by an admission screening committee comprised of university and public school personnel who will make a recommendation to the Dean and Graduate Admission Committee concerning admission to the Instructional Leadership Certificate program.

Up to six semester hours of graduate credit from a regionally accredited college or university may be transferred into the Instructional Leadership Certificate Program, provided the grades received in those courses are a B or higher.

Financial Information

Tuition	$527/semester hour
Application Fee	$25
General Student Fee	$28/hour