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K-12 Principal Graduate Certificate
Step up to leadership as a principal and embrace the role you were meant for
Discover a path beyond the classroom and elevate your career by joining the administrative licensure program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota designed specifically for individuals seeking the Minnesota K-12 Principal license. With a master’s degree in any field and a minimum of three years of teaching experience, you possess the foundation needed to embark on this transformative journey.
At Saint Mary’s, we empower you to develop practical management skills and explore innovative approaches to enhance learning outcomes for all students.
Guided by our Lasallian Catholic identity and a strong emphasis on character and virtue education, you will navigate daily operations with integrity and contribute to student success. In less than two years, you’ll be prepared to pursue licensure as a K-12 principal in Minnesota. Meet your obligations — and career goals — in our immersive and fully online graduate certificate program.
Take the next step and unlock the doors to leadership possibilities in this online program. Your journey toward professional growth and making a lasting difference starts now.
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K-12 Principal Certificate Program Highlights
- Our program offers immersive experiences, including a 320-hour field internship. Engage with elementary to high school levels, gaining real-world insights to shape your leadership journey.
- Summer Institute unites students to delve into character education, hear inspiring speakers, and grasp educational leadership. Graduates can return for continual inspiration and growth.
- Courses led by active Minnesota administrators offer authentic, timely learning experiences rooted in current school system challenges.
- You will have a dedicated university advisor with experience in education that supports you from admission to completion, assistingwith academics, field experiences, and program-related queries. Your success is our priority.
- Discover scholarships available through our partnerships with several regional and national employers. See if your employer is part of our Trusted Partnership Program.
Things You’ll Learn in Our K-12 Principal Certificate Program
- Collaborative, visionary planning, and decision-makingto lead educational institutions
- Organizational operations including human, financial, and physical resources
- Effective learning
- Effective learning environments and experiences for all students
- Practical ethical leadership to ensure the best interest of all learners
- School and district-wide literacy and numeracy systems
- Inclusiveness and effective communication
Information Session
Apply for Admission
Ready to apply? Take the next steps here.
- Applicants must possess a master’s degree in any field.
- Applicants may apply for admission at any time during the year. A master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, for which applicant maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, is required for admission.
Students with transcripts from universities outside the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada (except for the Quebec Province) must take and pass English proficiency testing.
Saint Mary’s accepts:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 72
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.0
- International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP) with a minimum score of 4.0 or Pearson Test of English with a score of 51
- Duolingo with a minimum score of 100.
Please see our academic catalog for a list of all approved waiver countries.
Applicants must submit the following:
- Completed application form.
- An official transcript(s) issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor’s degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution.)
- Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, One Earth International Credential Evaluators or any approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards.
- Saint Mary’s can order and cover the cost of transcripts from institutions that allow third-party requests for eligible degree-seeking applicants. Contact your enrollment counselor for more information.
- Official Transcripts should be sent to Office of Admission
- Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
2500 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404 - Or electronically: tcadmission@smumn.edu
- Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
- A personal statement which includes:
- brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience; and,
- statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and his or her reasons for seeking admission to the program and,
- personal information the applicant wishes to share.
- Names of two people (including title, organization, email, phone number) who could serve as professional references, if needed, during the application review process. The best references are those who know you in a professional capacity, such as current or former supervisors.
- A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.
- Fall 2024: August 2, 2024
- Spring 2025: December 2, 2024
- Fall September 3, 2024
- Spring: January 6, 2025
You can expect to be notified about your acceptance approximately two weeks following your application completion date.
Explore options to finance your education.
At Saint Mary’s, we are committed to making your investment as accessible and affordable as possible. Learn more about tuition, fees, financial aid, and scholarships.
Course Catalog
You’ll take courses such as:
- Principal as Building Leader
- Financial Management
- Legal Issues in Education
The course catalog provides complete information about course requirements.
Careers & Salary
Today's complex world of education needs leaders with the skill set and ethical mind frame to help all learners thrive. That's why jobs as principals are projected to grow by 8 percent from 2020 to 2030.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Saint Mary’s, we want you to succeed, and we help you do so, inside and outside of the classroom:
Student Central: Your one stop for student services
Library: Resources and services are available 24/7 to all students.
Writing Center: Offers virtual and face-to-face services to support students.
Career Services: Can help you develop your career-readiness skills at any point in your education.
The only thing virtual about your online experience is the classroom. Our flexible online programs offer the rigor and reputation you expect from Saint Mary’s.
If you are in a degree-granting program and enrolled at least half time, you may be eligible for financial aid.
Life gets busy. Whether you’re raising a family, pursuing your career, or playing an active role in your community, we know you want to keep up with what you love while you take the next step in your career. That’s why Saint Mary’s online programs are flexible and designed to fit your demanding life.
The annual Summer Institute, held on Saint Mary’s Minneapolis Campus, enhances the curriculum of the Ed.S. program with an emphasis on character, virtue, and ethics. The Summer Institute features speakers and formation activities aimed to equip you to become a leader of character and lead schools of character. It’s a transformative experience that is professionally and personally rewarding.
News and Information from the School of Education
How to Become a Teacher in Minnesota
Why Adult Learners Feel at Home at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Sources and Disclaimer
- ZipRecruiter, School Superintendent Salary in Minnesota at https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/School-Superintendent-Salary–in-Minnesota (accessed April 13)
- All other career data on this page can be found at Lightcast (lightcast.io) Q1 2023 Data, September 2022-February 2023.