University of Wisconsin–Madison

K-12 Administrator Certification

The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis offers two programs to obtain both a Master’s Degree and endorsement for Principal Licensure. Our K-12 Leadership MS program is a face-to-face program taught on the UW–Madison campus. The Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation MS program is a fully online program.

The programs emphasize:

  • Development of knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are essential for leaders who support learning for all students.
  • General themes of individual socialization, instructional leadership, and integrative leadership clusters.
  • Knowledge and skills in the DPI administrative standards with a strong instructional leadership focus.
  • Training in data-based decision-making, resource reallocation, instructional and cultural leadership, professional development and evaluation, and legal aspects of administrative practice.

Students in our Master’s programs develop a portfolio of their work throughout their program that is used formatively to help shape learning opportunities and summatively to assess readiness for administrative work. Graduates serve as administrators in public and private schools throughout the state in diverse settings. They also serve in state and national leadership roles to strengthen and enhance learning outcomes for all students.

Additional courses are offered for the Director of Instruction and the Director of Special Education and Pupil Services Licensure.

The requirements for Superintendent Licensure are also available.

Additional Resources: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Principal Certification

The principalship provides the foundational coursework for all administrative licenses and focuses on instructional leadership and data-based decision-making. The requirements for a principal certificate are built into the degree requirements of two of our master’s degree cohort programs.

If seeking certification only, the same program requirements are required.

|

The Director of Instruction Licensure requires the following courses and practicum:

  1. ELPA 860: Organizational Theory and Behavior in Education
    Theoretical constructs and empirical research relating to administering organizations in education. Emphasis on administrative behavior with special attention to planning and organizational improvement.
    • Offered Fall Semesters in a hybrid format (face-to-face and online)
    • Offered Summer 2027 in an online weekend format session
  2. ELPA 875: Theory and Practice of Educational Planning
    Theory, research, and practice in advanced program planning and evaluation involving elementary, secondary, and higher and post-secondary education.
    • Offered Spring Semesters in a hybrid format (face-to-face and online)
    • Offered Summer 2027 in an online weekend format session
  3. Enrollment in 2 credits of ELPA 900-004: Internship in Educational Administration (Practicum) is required when adding each additional administrative license beyond a principal license.

The Director of Special Education and Pupil Services Licensure requires the following courses and practicum:

  1. ELPA 835: Leadership for Inclusive Schooling
    Examines historical and organizational context of special education administration at the federal, state, and local levels. Includes policy implementation, constituency management, coordination, communication, and current issues.
    • Offered Fall Semesters in a hybrid format (face-to-face and online)
    • Offered Summer 2028 in an online weekend format session
  2. ELPA 842: Legal Foundations of Special Education and Pupil Services
    Legal requirements and issues relative to special education and pupil services programs; special education, juvenile justice, programs for English language learners, programs for children who are homeless; examination of applicable federal and state statutes and case law.
    • Offered Spring Semesters in a hybrid format (face-to-face and online)
    • Offered Summer 2028 in an online weekend format session
  3. Enrollment in 2 credits of ELPA 900-004: Internship in Educational Administration (Practicum) is required when adding each additional administrative license beyond a principal license.

Superintendent Licensure

Superintendent licensure requires completion of a PhD qualifying paper/exam, specific coursework for the superintendent license, and the minimum 75-hour practicum.

The requirements for a superintendent license are built into the degree requirements of our Wisconsin Idea Executive Educational Leadership Preparation Program, PhD.