Students remember their teachers, but teachers remember their principals. Our school districts need well-trained administrators. You can help make this happen.
The Master of Education program equips you with the leadership, financial and administrative skills needed to excel as a principal. Work with renowned faculty as you explore the risks and rewards of educational administration. Our program is designed with you in mind. This program is offered either completely online or face-to-face. Our kids need remarkable teachers, and our teachers need accomplished leaders. Let your passion for leading begin here.
Where It Is Offered
Online
Duration1-1.5 years
Foreign LanguageNo foreign language credits required
Earn your principal certification while completing your master’s degree in educational administration. If you already have a master’s degree, you can earn your principal certification by completing our 21-hour program. Learn more about our certification-only option below.
SEE YOURSELF SUCCEED WITH A master’s DEGREE IN Educational Administration
Career Readiness
Participate in excellence-driven programs that empower you with the knowledge of professionalism and leadership skills to help you in administrative roles.
Accomplished Faculty
Enjoy the opportunity of learning from home with guidance and mentorship from world-class faculty who are well-respected researchers in their fields.
Hands-on Training
Gain the experience you need. As part of the master’s degree program, you’ll engage in real-world learning experiences by completing our semester-long practicum.
Education Success
Join the ranks of our graduates who have gone on to become high school principals, superintendents and administrators.
Guidance You Need
Located in the Frank Young Education North Building, our Mentor Center provides the information and support you need to reach your career goals.
Life, for me, has been an opportunity of service in the fields of education and ministry; 56 years in pastoral ministry and 48 years in education. A&M-Commerce has been a tremendous influence in my life, and I have many A&M-Commerce role models whose influence lives on.
There is a growing need for educational administrators in Texas. Job outlook continues to rise, opening doors to new positions. Gain the experience you need to stand out through our competitive, nationally-recognized program.
Career Possibilities and Current Median Salaries
Elementary, Middle and High School Principals
$96,400
US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2019
This introductory course provides an overview of school administration in Texas, which includes roles, functions, and duties of those who are charged with supervising schools in Texas. Critical review and analysis of principles of effective school leadership and organizational theories aligned to SBEC Principal Standards are examined and applied to the current challenges of leading 21st-century schools in Texas.
Law in Educational PracticeEDAD 526
The scope of this course is designed to equip highly effective school leaders though an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of state and federal laws. The novice principal will learn to assess and apply legal issues and rulings that advance the operation of public schools, while gaining an understanding of the legal impact on education.
Building Capacity for Powerful LearningEDAD 556
Develops your knowledge and skills of human resources, the budgetary process, and the financial accounting system. The human resources section will focus on personnel management and instructional supervision skills needed to create an effective learning environment for all students.
Earn your master’s degree in educational administration. Our flexible program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals. Offered fully online, you’ll work with experts in the field who are committed to helping you reach your professional goals. We also offer this program face-to-face at our Dallas site, located at 8750 North Central Expressway.
This program is intended for Texas educators. It is not recommended for out-of-state applicants.
Face-to-face courses for this program are only offered at our Dallas site.
Applicant must have a bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher OR 3.0 in last 60 hours of bachelor’s degree or a conferred master’s degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”
Select “Educational Administration, MED” as your “Major.”
Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Step 2. Submit Documents
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
Undergraduate degree in a related discipline from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 overall or 3.0 on last 60 hours or 3.0 overall from a master’s degree.
Official Transcripts
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to [email protected].
We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
Postal Alternative
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce Attn: Graduate School PO Box 3011 Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
Resume or CV
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
Teacher Certificate
Submit proof of current valid Texas teacher certification.
Service Record
Submit a teaching service record including a minimum of 1-year teaching experience.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Once your application to the Graduate School is complete, you can submit your Principal Certification Program Application right away using TK20. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
You will need to have the following documents ready for upload in order to submit the application:
Certification fee receipt
TEA Assessment fee receipt
Teaching service record
A minimum of one year of experience is required for admission to the master’s degree-seeking path for principal certification.
Standard Texas Teaching Certificate
Note: Candidates on emergency permits, intern or probationary certificates will not be admitted.
Official transcripts from the Graduate Office will be reviewed by the certification office.
Official transcripts from all institutions must be submitted to the Graduate School in order to satisfy TEA certification admission requirements.
Two written screening activities will be completed as part of the application in TK20. Please write your essay and answer the short-answer questions carefully, as these screening activities will be used in determining admission to the program.
If applicable:
TEA Transfers
If you have previously been admitted to another educator preparation program for principal certification.
Contact [email protected] for any questions about TEA requirements for transcripts from outside the United States.
If your official transcripts are from institutions outside the United States and the country of origin is not exempt by TEA, send the following documentation to [email protected]:
Minimum scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT). Please note that TOEFL scores are only valid for a period of two years. Required minimum scores are 24 for Speaking, 22 for Listening, 22 for Reading and 21 for Writing.
As of 3/4/2022, a valid standard Texas educator certificate will be accepted in lieu of TOEFL iBT scores.
