Principal Certificate online

Gain leadership capabilities that positively impact students, teachers, and staff on a broader scale.

Apply Now
Apply by 12/16/24
Start Class 1/6/25

Program Overview

Learn why you should consider our online Principal Certificate program

$9,960* In-State Tuition
As few as 14 months Program Duration
24 Credit Hours
$9,960* In-State Tuition
As few as 14 months Program Duration
24 Credit Hours
$9,960* In-State Tuition
As few as 14 months Program Duration
24 Credit Hours

The online Principal Certificate program at Youngstown State University prepares you to be a highly qualified, versatile, and culturally responsive educational leader. You will be equipped with essential knowledge and advanced expertise in policy, administration, and management that lead you on the path toward principal licensure.

The innovative curriculum for the principal certification online program meets the National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) standards. In the 100 percent online coursework, you will develop leadership competencies that set you up to be a catalyst for change, growth, and success of students, teachers, and staff. You will learn to make positive impacts through instructional supervision, data-based school improvements, ethical public decision-making, school funding analysis, and much more. Plus, our immersive clinical experience within a school environment enables you to apply administrative and leadership theories, concepts, and best practices in real-world settings.

The Principal Certificate program is an additional pathway to Ohio principal licensure for experienced teachers who already have a master's degree. Graduates will be academically prepared for the Ohio principal licensure exam.

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

In this online Principal Certificate program, you will:

  • Gain an understanding of instructional leadership for building coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment
  • Examine educational policy, politics, and change theory
  • Learn to become a culturally responsive leader
  • Analyze school and state funding and budgeting through a research project
  • Complete one substantial, school-based competency over the four clinical terms that associates with each of the seven NELP standards, including School Mission, Vision & Improvement; Legal, Ethical, and Professional Norms; Equitable and Responsive Culture; Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment; Community Engagement and Collaborative Partnerships; Management Systems and Operations; and Capacity Building and Human Resources
  • Gain an understanding of instructional leadership for building coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment
  • Examine educational policy, politics, and change theory
  • Learn to become a culturally responsive leader
  • Analyze school and state funding and budgeting through a research project
  • Complete one substantial, school-based competency over the four clinical terms that associates with each of the seven NELP standards, including School Mission, Vision & Improvement; Legal, Ethical, and Professional Norms; Equitable and Responsive Culture; Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment; Community Engagement and Collaborative Partnerships; Management Systems and Operations; and Capacity Building and Human Resources
  • Gain an understanding of instructional leadership for building coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment
  • Examine educational policy, politics, and change theory
  • Learn to become a culturally responsive leader
  • Analyze school and state funding and budgeting through a research project
  • Complete one substantial, school-based competency over the four clinical terms that associates with each of the seven NELP standards, including School Mission, Vision & Improvement; Legal, Ethical, and Professional Norms; Equitable and Responsive Culture; Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment; Community Engagement and Collaborative Partnerships; Management Systems and Operations; and Capacity Building and Human Resources

The online Principal Certificate program prepares you for a variety of elevated roles, including:

  • Principal
  • Assistant Principal
  • Vice Principal
  • Education Administrator

In this online Principal Certificate program, you will:

  • Gain an understanding of instructional leadership for building coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment
  • Examine educational policy, politics, and change theory
  • Learn to become a culturally responsive leader
  • Analyze school and state funding and budgeting through a research project
  • Complete one substantial, school-based competency over the four clinical terms that associates with each of the seven NELP standards, including School Mission, Vision & Improvement; Legal, Ethical, and Professional Norms; Equitable and Responsive Culture; Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment; Community Engagement and Collaborative Partnerships; Management Systems and Operations; and Capacity Building and Human Resources
  • Gain an understanding of instructional leadership for building coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment
  • Examine educational policy, politics, and change theory
  • Learn to become a culturally responsive leader
  • Analyze school and state funding and budgeting through a research project
  • Complete one substantial, school-based competency over the four clinical terms that associates with each of the seven NELP standards, including School Mission, Vision & Improvement; Legal, Ethical, and Professional Norms; Equitable and Responsive Culture; Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment; Community Engagement and Collaborative Partnerships; Management Systems and Operations; and Capacity Building and Human Resources

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Tuition

Choosing our online certificate program is cost-effective

YSU offers students affordable, pay-as-you-go tuition.

Tuition breakdown:

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$415* Per Credit Hour
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$9,960* Total Tuition

*In-state tuition.

Note: No payment plans are available for accelerated online students.

Program Per Credit Hour Per Course Per Program
In-State Out-of-State In-State Out-of-State In-State Out-of-State
Principal Cert $415 $420 $1,245 $1,260 $9,960 $10,080

Calendar

Know important upcoming deadlines

At YSU, we offer multiple start dates throughout the year so you never have to wait long to get started on your online degree program. The chart below shows upcoming start dates, along with important deadlines, such as when your application should be submitted and when payments are due.

Next Start & Application Due Dates:

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12/16/24 Next Application Deadline
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1/6/25 Start Classes
First StartsProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlineTuition DeadlineLast Class Day
Fall 210/21/249/30/2410/7/2410/16/2410/18/2412/8/24
Spring 11/6/2512/16/2412/23/241/1/251/3/252/16/25
Spring 23/10/252/17/252/24/253/5/253/7/254/20/25
Summer 15/12/254/21/254/28/255/7/255/9/256/22/25
Summer 26/30/256/9/256/16/256/25/256/27/258/9/25

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from YSU?

Admissions

Find out what it takes to enter the online Principal Certificate program at YSU

YSU's online Principal Certificate program has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.

Application Icon Online application
GPA Calculator Icon Minimum 2.5 GPA
Application Icon Online application
GPA Calculator Icon Minimum 2.5 GPA
  • Complete online application for admission
  • Pay $45 application fee ($90 International). Waived for active/veteran military members or for applicants who have attended the College of Graduate Studies in the past.
  • Minimum 2.5 GPA
  • Names and contact information for 3 professional references (in online application)
  • A master's degree from a college or university certified by a regional accrediting agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education
  • Submit official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework from regionally accredited institutions
  • Submit official scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (waived for applicants who have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher)
  • Valid teaching certificate
  • Documented proof that a supervising principal, superintendent, or other licensed administrator is willing to support the student’s candidacy and serve as clinical supervisor in accordance with YSU’s policies and procedures

Transcripts must be mailed from the granting institution or sent electronically through a secured server vendor.

Mailing Address:

YSU College of Graduate Studies
1 Tressel Way
Coffelt Hall
Youngstown, OH 44555

Email Address:

[email protected]

Courses

Discover what you will learn in your online Principal Certificate program

For the Principal Certificate online program, you are required to take eight courses for a total of 24 credit hours, including two core courses (six credit hours) and six leadership core courses (18 credit hours).

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Provides an introduction to schools as political systems and the values that shape educational politics and policymaking. Examines the concept of educational change, the role of school leaders including the importance of implementation in attaining outcomes intended when introducing new initiatives. Uses special education law as vehicle for exploring change in educational policy and practice. Reviews the rights of pre and elementary and secondary students with disabilities to a free and appropriate education through an examination of state and federal laws, regulations, guidance documents and judicial interpretations of the Individual with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Explores issues of eligibility and evaluation; IEP development and student placement in LRE settings; related, assistive technology, and transition services; student discipline and behavior management; means of conflict or dispute resolution including mediation and due process hearings; as well as remedies available to parents for non-compliance under IDEIA and 504 RA of 1973. Clarifies the role of the building principal in implementing the law and supporting staff in its implementation.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Leadership behaviors and expectations intended to build teacher commitment, increase teaching competence, and improve the learning climate of students. The importance of and role that adult development and learning play in teacher leadership regarding curriculum and instruction decisions are stressed.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on an analysis of school funding on a state and local level. School budgeting, site-based management and school business practice are major topics. An action research project is part of the course requirement.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Reviews the legal foundation of schools and educational policy through the review of cases, statutes, and constitutional provisions affecting the operation of elementary and secondary schools in the United States and explores the relationship between legal, ethical and political issues in public administration. Acquaints educators with professional norms and ethical as well as legal standards, and means of identifying, evaluating and making legal and ethical decisions, and modeling such behavior communicating and cultivating legal and ethical behavior in others.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Significant theories, research, and professional practices in the leadership of schools and school systems. Detailed analysis of primary sources and application of sources to reflection on issues and problems of administrative practice. This course reviews the main research, theories, and practices that have been proven to facilitate effective organizational leadership. Change theory and processes will be studied to acquire knowledge and skills related to develop, implement and evaluate a continuous, responsive, sustainable, data-based school improvement process to achieve the mission of the school.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP), which is a philosophy to facilitate student engagement and academic success by incorporating student cultures, experiences, and identities into the curriculum so that students and teachers can become co-creators of classroom knowledge.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides an in-depth examination of policies and practices designed to reconcile the interests of organizations (schools) and stakeholders (staff, faculty, and community). Topics include professional and staff development, equal employment, positions description, recruitment, selection, performance appraisal, removal, compensation, and emerging human resource issues.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Completed in a school covered by teaching certificate or license. Second administrative clinical experience designed to highlight tasks. May be repeated for credit to fulfill program requirements.

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