Principal Licensure

Master of Science in Education - School Supervision and Instructional Leader

Director of Instruction Certification

Quality school administrators will help shape the future of education. Become a leader by enrolling in the Principal Licensure program at UW-River Falls. Graduates earn a Master of Science in Education in School Supervision and Instructional Leader. You may also elect to earn a Director of Instruction license with one additional class.

Who Should Enroll

• Educators and current administrators who want to be school principals in private or public schools in Wisconsin
• School administrators who want to become curriculum directors for their school districts
• Anyone interested in a leadership role in school administration

Key Features

• Earn a master's degree, required for certification as a principal in Wisconsin.
• With one additional course, earn certification as a Wisconsin Director of Instruction.
• Curriculum is based on the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders and the Wisconsin Administrator standards for successful principals.
• Includes both theoretical and practical experiences based on a reflective practice model.
• Approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
• Classes meet online, evenings and weekends.

Degree Program Curriculum

Students will complete 33 credits together in cohort fashion, finishing their degree in two years. Candidates who already hold a master's degree may complete 30 credits to be eligible for licensure in Wisconsin. In some cases, previously completed courses may count toward licensure requirements.

Director of Instruction Certification

Students also have the option to take an additional three-credit course that is offered during the summer term. This course, in combination with the coursework required for the Principal Licensure degree, will qualify graduates to earn the Wisconsin Director of Instruction licensure. After completion of the required coursework, a portfolio providing evidence of the skills needed to meet Wisconsin Administrator standards is presented to a review panel of faculty and an area administrator.

TED 768 Curriculum of the Secondary School, 3 credits

If students have previously completed a Wisconsin Principal Licensure certification program, they should contact the program director for details about additional coursework that may be required to receive the certification.

Admission Process

All documents are submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office, 112 South Hall, 410 S. 3rd St., River Falls, WI 54022.

• A completed, online graduate application and payment of the processing fee.
• An earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
• An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 (on a four-point scale) or an average of at least 2.90 based on the last 64 semester credits (90 quarter credits) of the undergraduate program;
• At least three years of experience in an educational setting
• A one-page personal letter of intent indicating the reasons for your interest in this program
• Two letters of support describing leadership ability
• Resumé

Apply online.