Graduate Catalog 2023-2024

School Administration, Rank 1 (121)


Program Coordinator

Stacy R. Leggett, stacy.leggett@wku.edu, (270) 745-2942

The School Administration, Rank I program is specific to the concentration selected (concentration codes shown in parentheses below). The 30-hour programs align with Kentucky EPSB requirements and may not be recognized by other states. 

Director of Pupil Personnel Services (KDP1)

This program leads to eligibility for administrative certification as a Level 1 Director of Pupil Personnel (DPP) and a Rank I. 

Director of Special Education (KDS1)

This program leads to eligibility for administrative certification as a Level I Director of Special Education (DOSE) and a Rank I.

Supervisor of Instruction (ILV1)

This program leads to eligibility for administrative certification as a Level I Supervisor of Instruction (SOI) and a Rank I.

School Principal (KP1)

This program leads to eligibility for administrative certification as a Level I Principal and a Rank I. 

Option 6 Alternative Route

WKU also offers an EPSB-approved alternative route to principal certification, with eligibility and application procedures as follows:

1. Candidates must apply to the WKU Graduate School for admission to the university -  https://www.wku.edu/graduate/.

2. Candidates should contact the School of Leadership and Professional Studies for program-specific admissions guidelines and applications by calling 270-745-4890.

3. After admission to the graduate school and program, the candidate will work with an advisor to submit a program of study to the Office of Professional Educators Services for approval.

4.  A letter is then issued by WKU stating that the student is currently enrolled in the principal program; at this time, the candidate may be offered a principal or assistant principal position by a district and is then eligible to participate in the Option 6 alternative route program. 

5. If the candidate is offered the position, the district superintendent must provide verification of employment to WKU and the candidate. 

6. The candidate will submit the verification of employment to the School of Leadership and Professional Studies and a CA-TP to the Office of Professional Educator Services. 

7. The School of Leadership and Professional Studies will issue the student a mentor agreement that must be completed by the student, the student's university mentor, and the student's district mentor. This can be emailed to teacher.certification@wku.edu

7. The Office of Professional Educator Services will sign and verify the enrollment of the candidate in the Alternate Route to Principal Certification program. The completed application will be uploaded to EPSB and the student will be notified when it has been processed and their certificate is ready to download/print.  

8.  The student must request that an electronic transcript be sent directly to EPSB.  The transcript request can be completed through TOPNET.  All transcript request questions need to be directed to the registrar's office.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the School Administration, Rank I program is specific to the concentration selected (concentration codes shown in parentheses below). 

Director of Pupil Personnel Services (KDP1)

  • Current, valid teaching certificate

  • Three years of full-time appropriate teaching experience

  • Master's degree or Rank 2 from an accredited institution

  • 3.0 GPA or above for all graduate coursework

  • Letter of reference and support from supervisor

  • Program admissions application

Director of Special Education (KDS1)

  • Current, valid teaching certificate for exceptional children or as a school psychologist

  • Three years of full-time teaching experience with exceptional children or as a school psychologist

  • Master's degree or Rank 2 from an accredited institution

  • 3.0 GPA or above on all graduate coursework

  • Letter of reference and support from supervisor

  • Program admissions application

School Principal (KP1)

  • Current, valid teaching certificate

  • Three years of full-time, appropriate teaching experience

  • Master's degree or Rank 2 from an accredited institution

  • GPA of 3.0 or higher on all graduate work

  • Letter of reference and support from supervisor

  • Program admissions application including leadership statement and essay

Supervisor of Instruction (ILV1)

  • Current, valid teaching certificate

  • Three years of full-time appropriate teaching experience

  • Master's degree or Rank 2 from an accredited institution

  • GPA of 3.0 or higher on all graduate work

  • Letter of reference and support from supervisor

  • Program admissions application

Program Requirements (30 hours)

Program requirements for the School Administration, Rank I program are specific to the concentration selected (concentration codes shown in parentheses below). 

Completing a planned Fifth/Sixth-Year program may not be counted by states other than Kentucky in determining pay status.  The Director of Pupil Personnel Services position is unique to Kentucky, and Kentucky's manifestation is not found in other places. Other states seek a counseling or social work background for student services, not a Director of Pupil Personnel Services with attendance duties as in Kentucky.

Filing a TC-1 requesting Rank I requires completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate credit including the master's degree. Within these total hours, the student must complete the required professional courses as outlined in a planned program designed to provide the student with appropriate administrative competencies and courses required for certification.

Director of Pupil Personnel (KDP1)

Required Courses
EDFN 576Issues and Trends in Education3
EDAD 602Introduction to School Leadership3
EDAD 603School Law and Policy3
EDAD 604Creating a Culture of Achievement3
EDAD 605Leading a Community of Learners3
EDAD 606Leading Learning Systems3
EDAD 610Clinical Experiences in the Principalship3
EDAD 583Accounting for Pupil Personnel3
EDAD 686Principles of Supervision3
SPED 516The Exceptional Child: Perspectives and Issues3
or SPED 533 Seminar: Curriculum for Learning and Behavior Disorders
or SPED 535 Curriculum for Individuals with Moderate and Severe Disabilities
Total Hours30

Director of Special Education (KDS1)

Required Courses
EDAD 602Introduction to School Leadership3
EDAD 603School Law and Policy3
EDAD 604Creating a Culture of Achievement3
EDAD 605Leading a Community of Learners3
or SPED 532 Families, Professionals and Exceptionalities
EDAD 606Leading Learning Systems3
EDAD 610Clinical Experiences in the Principalship3
EDAD 686Principles of Supervision3
SPED 501Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis3
SPED 630Special Education Law and Finance3
SPED 625Practicum in the Administration of Special Education3
Total Hours30

School Principal (KP1)

A minimum of 30 semester hours is required; at least 15 hours must be WKU credit.  Students must have previously completed a master's degree program, which would qualify for Rank II salary classification.

Required Courses
EDAD 602Introduction to School Leadership3
EDAD 603School Law and Policy3
EDAD 604Creating a Culture of Achievement3
EDAD 605Leading a Community of Learners3
EDAD 606Leading Learning Systems3
EDAD 607Developing Teacher Capacity3
EDAD 608Resource Management for Equitable Outcomes3
EDAD 609Leading School Improvement3
EDAD 610Clinical Experiences in the Principalship6
Total Hours30

Supervisor of Instruction (ILV1)

Required Courses
EDAD 594Seminar on Leadership: Auxiliary Programs in Education3
EDAD 602Introduction to School Leadership3
EDAD 603School Law and Policy3
EDAD 604Creating a Culture of Achievement3
EDAD 605Leading a Community of Learners3
EDAD 606Leading Learning Systems3
EDAD 610Clinical Experiences in the Principalship3
EDFN 576Issues and Trends in Education3
EDAD 686Principles of Supervision3
SPED 516The Exceptional Child: Perspectives and Issues3
or SPED 533 Seminar: Curriculum for Learning and Behavior Disorders
or SPED 535 Curriculum for Individuals with Moderate and Severe Disabilities
Total Hours30