The UMD School Improvement Leadership Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC) is a 18-credit graduate program which leads to ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ Administrator I certification. This fully on-line program provides a part-time, state-wide cohort-based professional learning experience which supports teacher leaders who aspire to become school leaders in meeting the requirements for state certification.
To learn more about this program, please download and watch this pre-recorded webinar.
Pre-recorededAdmin1InfoSession_Spring2022.pptx
We are currently accepting applications for our next cohort that starts fall
2026. The deadline to apply is August 4, 2026 ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½“ no GRE or admission testing required.
Please be in touch with Dr. Pamela Shetley, Program Coordinator, for more information about becoming a member of the next cohort at: pshetley@umd.edu.
Program Features
- 3-semester (+summer) cohort program = 16 - 20 months from start to completion
- 5-course leadership development sequence, including leadership for continuous improvement, instructional leadership, family and community engagement, and school operations management
- Integration of the tools of Improvement Science throughout coursework, including Problem of Practice, Fishbone Diagram, and Driver Diagram
- 6-month supervised Internship, w/faculty advisor
- Emphasis on equity-driven leadership throughout program
- Culminating Leadership Portfolio
Course Schedule
| Semester | Courses | total credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | -EDUC 640 Introduction to Educational Leadership -EDUC 670 Learning Communities | 6 |
| Semester 2 | -EDUC 646 Leading Instructional Excellence -EDUC 645 Leading Instructional Improvement | 6 |
| Semester 3 | -EDUC 671 Education Law, Finance, and Policy -EDUC 689 Practicum/Internship | 4 |
| Semester 4 | -EDUC 689 Practicum/Internship | 2 |
Program Costs
To see the UMD Graduate School tuition and fee rates, please click . To learn more about alternative financial aid and loan options for the UMD Admin 1 Certificate program, please click , or to learn more about the UMD monthly tuition payment plan, please click .
Eligibility
All candidates should be experienced and highly qualified teachers who meet all of the UMD and state driven eligibility requirements:
- A master's degree from an institute of higher education
- 27 months of satisfactory teaching performance or satisfactory performance
on a professional certificate or satisfactory performance as a certified
specialist as defined in COMAR 13A.12.03 from any state - Three (3) semester hours or state-approved Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) credits in special education coursework - Proven teacher leadership roles or responsibilities
- Active support from your current school principal or central office supervisor
- A minimum of 3.0 undergraduate GPA and a 3.5 graduate GPA
Admissions
To apply to the UMD "School Improvement Leadership PBC/Admin 1 Program, please follow the "Step by Step" guide to applying to the UMD Graduate School linked .
Please apply to the Z138 online Certificate program (not Z052)!
All candidates will need to provide copies of their transcripts from all institutions through which a degree or certification has been conferred. For candidates who do not hold a degree from a U.S. Institution, or a university from one of the approved English-speaking countries, the TOFEL is required. Please see UMD's English proficiency requirements in full detail .
Applicants are required to submit a personal statement and a current resume which indicates their active certifications and earned degrees. Additionally, all applicants must provide a letter of recommendation from their current principal through which they indicate their full support for the candidate's pursuit of Admin 1 certification and their commitment to mentor them through the Internship.
No GRE, Praxis, SLLA, or other test scores are required to apply to this Certificate program.