Core Seminars and Electives
The curriculum combines content courses with fieldwork and electives. In your core seminars, you'll study school finance, budget, and facilities; school district leadership; education law; leadership for school improvement; politics of education; data-driven decision making and leadership development; demographic analysis and school/community planning; and additional study relevant to school improvement, teaching and learning, and community engagement and collaboration. Each course examines multiple theoretical perspectives, themes of equity and social justice, the needs and experiences of low-income urban children and youth, and implications for leadership within and outside of educational settings.
Internship Placements
You'll be required to complete an internship for this advanced certificate – a great opportunity to apply hands-on learning and put theory to practice. Full-time students have full-time internships of approximately 30 hours per week during the final semester of their programs; part-time students have part-time internships for approximately 15 hours during the final two semesters of their programs. Specific hours are arranged on site with your field supervisor, taking into account your academic responsibilities.
Portfolio
As a student in this program, you will create a portfolio that provides evidence of the competencies you've developed, reflections on field experiences, and your plans for continuous learning.