Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Central Office Administration

Department of Educational Leadership
480D Pawley Hall (map)
(248) 370-3070 • Fax (248) 370-4605
www.oakland.edu/edleadership

Coordinator:
C. Suzanne Klein
480C Pawley Hall
(248) 370-3142
csklein@oakland.edu

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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

July 15 for fall semester
November 15 for winter semester
International applicants

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

Graduate Application Requirements
Additional department application requirements

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.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to the Oakland University Graduate School, 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.

Degree requirements

The Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Central Office Administration is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 24 credits in the approved program of study as follows.

Course requirements (24 credits)

ED 8000 - Foundations of District Leadership (4 credits)
ED 8010 - Supporting Instructional Leadership: Using Data and Issues in Assessment and Program Evaluation (4 credits)
ED 8020 - Organizational Resources and Operations (4 credits)
ED 8025 - District Role in Developing Relationship with Formal/Informal Groups (2 credits)
ED 8030 - District Leadership and the Community (2 hours)
ED 8040 - District Leadership Beyond the School District: Navigating Political, Legal and Economic Environment (2 credits)
ED 8950 - Internship in District Level Leadership (2 credits)
ED 8951 - Expanding the Internship (2 credits)
ED 8952 - Reflecting on the Internship (2 credits)

Satisfactory academic progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Department requirements: No grade below 2.8 may be applied to the degree, and an overall GPA of 3.0 must be maintained.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information

Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Oakland University Graduate School.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework. (See the Graduate Student Responsibility section of this catalog.)

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.