Program description
The Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Central Office Administration is designed to be a 24-credit non-degree program meeting the standards for state school administrator certification. It may also serve as part of the course sequence for the Education Specialist Program and a cognate for the Ph.D. program.
This standards-based program reflects the best of what we know about preparing superintendents and other central office administrators to meet the educational challenges of the 21st century. Based on a strong theoretical foundation, it is a program designed for practitioners by practitioners, and it a valuable complement to the other graduate programs that prepare teacher leaders, principals, and central office administrators.
Program delivery
Using the design model of an executive school leadership academy, candidates proceed through the 12-month, 24-credit program as a cohort. To accommodate busy practitioners, courses follow a hybrid format with monthly Saturday classes and weekly online discussion. The required internship experience, designed as a complement to formal coursework, begins the first semester and continues throughout the program. Using state and national leadership standards as a guide, Oakland University’s Central Office program of study balances the explanatory power of theory with the relevance of practice.
Admission terms and application deadlines
Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.
Current Deadlines
Application requirements
To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:
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- Additional department application requirements
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- Evidence of a master’s degree in education or related field from a regionally accredited institution
- Requirements for recommendations
- The two Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms, listed above under University graduate application requirements, must be from supervisors familiar with the candidate’s current position and their professional effectiveness
- A statement indicating willingness to make a two-year commitment to the program and a statement of personal goals after completing the Central Office Administration program.
- Curriculum vitae or resumé
- Applicants may be interviewed by the program coordinator, who will make admission recommendations to Graduate Admissions.
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Admission review and assessment
Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate and graduate records, goal statement, recommendation forms, curriculum vitae or resume, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements or procedures.