Post Master’s Programs in Graduate Education

Principal Licensure/Instructional Supervisor Admissions Requirements

Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree Requirements

School Superintendent State Certification Program Admissions Requirements

Principal Licensure / Instructional Supervisor Program 

This program is a post-Master’s certification, offered as an Ed.S. Degree, and includes 37 hours above the Master’s degree of intensive research and field work. There are no electives.
The graduate educational leadership model is a hybrid format with weekly synchronous sessions. Level I provides initial certification, and an additional 6 credit hours of coursework are available to achieve Level II certification. Completion of a 1-credit hour research project course, LDG 781 , is required for the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree.

Program Application Requirements and Admission to Principal Licensure and Ed.S. Degree Status

Admission to the Graduate Education Program for Principal Licensure / Instructional Supervisor includes the requirements and protocols outlined below:

Pre-requisites: Master’s Degree; teaching certification; 3 years’ teaching experience

   A. Completed online application at apply.asbury.edu at no charge.

   B. Applicant portfolio–must include the following supporting documents for admission:

1. Final official transcripts are required from institutions that granted any and all undergraduate or graduate degrees. In addition, transcripts from all graduate-level programs attended are required even if a degree was not granted. Graduate admissions may request additional transcript(s) as necessary to fulfill admissions or state certification requirements.
2. Master’s degree from a college or university accredited by WASC, NWCCU, HLC, SACS, MSCHE, or NECHE (previously regional accreditation) with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.

*NOTE: Transcript of undergraduate degree-granting institution and any graduate work transcript(s) must be sent directly from the credit-granting institution to Asbury University Graduate Education Admissions. Hand-carried transcripts, even in sealed envelopes, will not be accepted. Electronic transcripts are acceptable only if, when printed, they do not show watermarks.

Transcripts from non-US institutions must be submitted through World Education Services (WES). 

Submit all transcripts/correspondence to:
    Graduate Education Admissions
    Asbury University
    One Macklem Drive
    Wilmore, Kentucky 40390
For further information, contact Graduate Education Office: 859-858-3511 (x2502)

3. Copy of current teaching license
4. Letter of application outlining:
   1. skills and understanding related to his/her ability to improve student achievement
   2. evidence of ability to exhibit both leadership and an advanced knowledge of curriculum, instruction, and assessment
   3. personal statement of career goals
   4. resume or CV showing at least three years’ successful teaching experience
5. Character and Fitness form
6. Professional Recommendations (choose at least 2) from applicant’s:
   1. principal
   2. superintendent, designee, or other supervisor OR Master’s program professor
   3. colleague
7. Principal Candidate Interview

   C. District/University Screening Committee Review. All above required admission submissions will be reviewed to determine if applicant meets requirements for entry into program.

Students may be provisionally accepted to a program after all documents are submitted, pending further review and full acceptance into a degree program. Provisionally accepted students may register for certain recommended classes while they await full admission.

Admission to Principal Licensure Level I/Ed.S. and M.A. Principal Licensure Level I Degree Status (Gate 7)

The student must meet all of the following requirements to be admitted into degree status and/or certification-only programs.

1. Successful completion of 9 semester hours at Asbury University.
2. A minimum of 3.00 grade point average on all graduate coursework completed.
3. Minimum grade of C or better on all coursework.
4. Successful submission of Program Entry Professional Portfolio.

Post Master’s Completions and Ed.S. Degree Requirements

Exiting the Masters or Post-masters Principal Licensure Program, Level I (Gate 8)

Exit from Level I of the Principal Licensure Program includes the following requirements:

1. Successful completion of all coursework in a maximum of 6 years from the first date of enrollment for the M.A. degree, or 8 years from the first date of enrollment for the EdS degree.
2. 3.00 GPA
3. Minimum grade of C or better on all coursework
4. Satisfactory Clinical Performance
5. Successful completion of Action Research/Capstone Project
6. Successful completion of Key Assessments
7. Successful completion of SLLA

In conjunction with completion of the Principal Licensure Program Level I, candidates in the post-master’s program acquire licensure for Level I in

• Instructional Supervisor
• Director of Pupil Personnel

Note: M.A. Principal Licensure program does not result in licensure for Instructional Supervisor or Director of Pupil Personnel.

Exiting the Principal Licensure Program, Level II (Gate 9)

Exit from Level II Program includes the following requirements:

1. 3.00 GPA
2. Minimum grade of C or better on all coursework
3. Satisfactory Clinical Performance
4. Work Samples demonstrating application of Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) and impact on student achievement

In conjunction with completion of the Principal Licensure Program Level II, candidates also acquire licensure for Level II in

• Instructional Supervisor

Note: Level II Director of Pupil Personnel certification is available with additional coursework.

Granting the Ed.S. Degree

The actual granting of the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree requires completion of the following:

1. Successful completion of LDG 781 - Ed.S. Research Project (1)  
2. Approval for graduation by the program faculty
3. Submission of a Graduation Application showing course plan for final requirements in the Registrar’s Office by posted deadline for the commencement year and their expected graduation date (Oct. 15 for December graduation or Feb. 15 for May graduation.
4. Be approved at the vote of the Faculty Assembly for degree conferral.
5. The Degree Application link will be emailed from the Registrar’s Office based on student’s remaining requirements and graduation date. Students may email Registrar’s Office for degree application information when reaching fulfillment of all requirements.

Post Master’s Non-Degree Programs

Programs for State Administrative Certifications Only*

Additional routes are available for educators to meet state certification requirements in Director of Pupil Personnel , Instructional Supervisor , and School Superintendent . Applicants for these non-degree programs will follow similar admissions requirements as outlined above for Post Master’s Degree programs. Contact Graduate Admissions for more information. Candidates in state certification programs are considered non-degree and are not eligible for Federal financial aid. *Federal financial aid eligibility is available only for degree-seeking (Ed.S.) candidates.

School Superintendent Certification*

Admission to the Graduate Education Program for the Superintendent Certification Program includes the requirements and protocols outlined below:

Admission to the Superintendent Program Requirements:

1. Master’s Degree (3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale)
2. Current qualifications for KY Teaching Certification
3. Completion of Levels I and II preparation and certification for the position of school principal, or instructional supervisor; OR for a candidate who completed preparation for principal prior to 1988, completion of the assessments for administration; and completion of at least three (3) years of full-time teaching experience, including at least 140 days per year. 
4. Applicant portfolio, which must include the following supporting documents for admission:
   1. Written letter of recommendation from a supervisor/education agency representative attesting to applicant’s suitability for school leadership
   2. Completed online application at no charge (apply.asbury.edu)
   3. Final official transcripts are required from institutions that granted any and all undergraduate or graduate degrees. In addition, transcripts from all graduate-level programs attended are required even if a degree was not granted. Graduate admissions may request additional transcript(s) as necessary to fulfill admissions or state certification requirements.
   4. Master’s degree from a college or university accredited by WASC, NWCCU, HLC, SACS, MSCHE, or NECHE (previously regional accreditation) with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.

*NOTE: Transcript of undergraduate degree-granting institution and any graduate work transcript(s) must be sent directly from the credit-granting institution to Asbury University Graduate Education Admissions. Hand-carried transcripts, even in sealed envelopes, will not be accepted. Electronic transcripts are acceptable only if, when printed, they do not show watermarks.

Transcripts from non-US institutions must be submitted through World Education Services (WES). 

Submit all transcripts/correspondence to:
    Graduate Education Admissions
    Asbury University
    One Macklem Drive
    Wilmore, Kentucky 40390
For further information, contact Graduate Education Office: 859-858-3511 (x2502)

5. Character and Fitness Form
6. University Screening Committee Interview
7. All above required admission submissions will be reviewed to determine if applicant meets requirements for entry into program.

Admission to Superintendent Certification (Gate 10)
The student must meet all of the following requirements to be admitted into certification-only program.

• Successful completion of 6 semester hours at Asbury University.
• Minimum of 3.00 grade point average on all graduate coursework completed.
• Minimum grade of C or better on all coursework.
• Successful submission of Program Entry Professional Superintendent Portfolio.

Exit from the Superintendent Program Requirements:

1. Complete the four-course sequence with a minimum 3.0 GPA and no individual class grade below a C.
2. Complete a minimum of 60 clinical hours with an experienced superintendent.
3. Obtain a minimum score of proficient (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) on the Portfolio and presentation (Gate 11).
4. At least 2 years administrative experience as a principal, instructional supervisor, guidance counselor, DPP, DoSE, school business administrator, local district coordinator of vocational education, or a coordinator, administrator, or supervisor of district-wide services. Other administrative experience may be substituted for this requirement with the approval of the Educational Professional Standards Board.
5. Receive a cumulative passing score of 3 or above on a 5-point scale on the faculty dispositions evaluations.

*Federal financial aid eligibility is not available for state certification-only programs.