Principal Preparation

About the Program
Curriculum – including courses
Admission Requirements
Start Dates and Application Deadlines
Tuition

About the Program

The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in Principal Preparation program meets the requirements specified by the state of New Jersey, including a 300-hour internship, and is designed to serve the person who has already earned a Master's degree in some field and a Supervisor Certificate, and who wishes to qualify as a principal in the public schools. There are two tracks available:

Track I is for those candidates with a Masters Degree, Supervisor's Certificate, and 5 Years or More of Supervisory Experience. Track I students are required to complete 7 courses.

Track II is for those candidates with a Masters Degree, Supervisor's Certificate, 5 Years of Full-Time Teaching Experience, and 0-5 Years of Supervisory Experience. Track II students are required to complete 8 courses.

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Curriculum - Program Code: .COCAG-PRIN / Major Code: G628

Track I: Total semester hours required graduate work for program completion: 21 s. h.
Thesis Requirement: None

Track II: Total semester hours required graduate work for program completion: 24 s. h.
Thesis Requirement: None

Coursework

The graduate-level courses listed here are not official and are subject to change. For an official list of available courses please visit the CGCE section tally. Click on the courses below to view available course descriptions.

Course Number	Course Title	Semester Hours
EDAM 27521	Introduction to the Principalship The essence of school administration is the ability to supervise and manage the school organization, including its personnel, resources, and operations. In this course, students learn and demonstrate the supervisory and management skills necessary to use data-driven decision-making strategies to create an effective school culture and climate, supervise and manage school personnel and plant, supervise the application of instructional and informational technology, supervise scheduling and business procedures, and advocate for school resources among community and service agencies in ways that give priority to student learning, safety and security, and curriculum and instruction. Effective communications skills are emphasized.	3
EDAM 27559	Law & Ethics for School Leadership Students study and understand and demonstrate the ability to identify legal issues involved in personnel administration, school district government and operation, state aid, handicapped children and student rights. Includes a study of the legal structure of the New Jersey school system.	3
EDSU 28522	Instructional Leadership & Supervision (Track II only) In this course, students focus on the knowledge, skills, and dispositions essential for instructional leadership and the supervision of educational activities and programs. Topics include program planning, staff selection and mentoring, curriculum development and evaluation, analyzing teaching and interpersonal supervisory strategies, collaborative program development, practicing value-added leadership and supervision, reflective practice, understanding the need for diversity in teaching and learning, and communication. This course also includes a field experience component of approximately 25 clock hours in which students apply theory to practice.	3
EDSU 28523	Building Organizational Capacity This advanced course in school leadership enables students to practice the cyclical and recursive approached to action research. Student will engage in reflective practice and will complete an action research project in an appropriate educational setting related to the teaching and learning process. This course is offered annually and includes a field experience component.	3
EDAM 27535	School Finance & Records Students learn and demonstrate the ability to develop budgets, apply principles of financial management, budget management. Students study how schools are supported financially. This course includes a field experience component.	3
EDAM 27510	Change for School Improvement This advanced course in school leadership enables students to better understand the change process, further developing their analytic skills for improving the teaching and learning process. This course is offered annually and includes a field experience component.	3
EDAM 27600	Practicum/Seminar I in Administration & Supervision An administrative internship to reinforce and practice administrative and supervisory competencies, in cooperation with a school district, is required. Students apply human relations skills, apply decision-making skills, articulate ethical beliefs and values and apply various leadership theories. Students also demonstrate group process abilities such as shared decision-making, group motivation, conflict resolution, and planning and conducting effective meetings. A project report is required integrating research findings with selected field projects. Written and oral communication and community relations skills are emphasized.	3
EDAM 27601	Practicum/Seminar II in Administration & Supervision An administrative internship to reinforce and practice administrative and supervisory competencies, in cooperation with a school district, is required. Students apply human relations skills, apply decision-making skills, articulate ethical beliefs and values and apply various leadership theories. Students also demonstrate group process abilities such as shared decision-making, group motivation, conflict resolution, and planning and conducting effective meetings. A project report is required integrating research findings with selected field projects. Written and oral communication and community relations skills are emphasized.	3
Total Semester Hours: 21-24

Note: The classes in this program are imbedded within the MA in School Administration schedule so it is important for all applicants to know that the Principal Preparation program will only run if the School Administration program matriculates at least 20 students for Spring 2012. Due to this possibility, we have waived the application fee.

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Admission Requirements

The following is a list of items required to begin the application process for the CAGS in Principal Preparation program. There may be additional action or materials required for admission to the program. Upon receipt of the materials below a representative from the CGCE Admissions Processing Office will contact you with confirmation or indicating any missing items.

Completed Graduate-level CGCE Application Form. Download the PDF or click here to apply online.
Master's degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution of higher learning
Official transcripts from all colleges attended (regardless of number of credits earned)
Current professional resume
Two letters of recommendation (Letters should be from the candidate’s superintendent, supervisor, or professional colleague attesting to his/her potential as a principal)
Typewritten statement of professional objectives
Standard teaching certification
Copy of current NJ state supervisor certificate
Copies of current NJ (or other state) teaching or educational services certificate
- Only the Standard Certificate is acceptable

CGCE CAGS in Principal Preparation Track Declaration Form (pdf)

Track I: Official documentation (e.g., a letter from the applicant’s district superintendent) attesting that the applicant has a minimum of 5 years full-time experience in a position that requires the supervisor’s certificate

Track II: Official documentation (e.g., a letter from the applicant’s district superintendent) attesting that the applicant has successfully completed:

a minimum of 5 years in full-time teaching
0-5 years of full-time experience in a position that requires the supervisor’s certificate

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Start Dates and Application Deadlines

Below is a list of Principal Preparation CAGS anticipated start dates. The start dates indicated are based on the university calendar or the CGCE schedule. Your actual first day of class will depend on the course sequence which will be provided by a CGCE Enrollment Advisor once you have matriculated in the program.

Entry Term & Module	Start Date(s)	Application Deadline(s)
Fall 2012 – Module 2	10/23/2012	08/01/2012

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Tuition and Costs

$680 per semester hour
(this rate applies to academic year 2011/2012 and is subject to change)

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About the Program

Curriculum - Program Code: .COCAG-PRIN / Major Code: G628

Coursework

Admission Requirements

Start Dates and Application Deadlines

Tuition and Costs