Educational Leadership License
Advance to the next level of leadership
Are you ready to take the next step in responsibility and earning power? Our educational leadership license prepares educators to advance within school administration.
The Educational Leadership Program at IU Southeast offers interested candidates a licensure program to receive their principal license. The program consists of ten (10) courses for thirty (30) credit hours. It is a licensure program and not a degree program, but it can be used for Rank 1 or Plus 30 requirements.
Additionally, Candidates may choose to use this program as a Concentration for a Masters of Science in Elementary or Secondary Education. Educators must have a Masters in addition to the licensure program and must pass the appropriate state exam to receive a license. Candidates who are accepted into the program may begin their coursework either in the spring, summer or fall semesters.
Upgrade to a master's degree
You can choose to add your EDLP course work to a master’s degree (MSED) as a concentration. See our MSED programs.
Required Courses
Candidates must complete the following courses and meet the program requirements as required by Indiana and Kentucky, if applicable.
All candidates must be admitted to the Educational Leadership Program at IU Southeast.
- Hold a valid classroom teaching license.
- Completed the following course requirements:
All coursea are 3 credit hours unless otherwise noted.
Course Requirements
30 credit hours
- EDUC-A 500 - Introduction to Educational Leadership
- EDUC-A 510 - School and Community Relations
- EDUC-A 608 - Legal Perspectives on Education
- EDUC-A 625 - Administration of the Elementary School
- EDUC-A 627 - Secondary School Administration
- EDUC-A 635 - Public School Budgeting and Accounting
- EDUC-A 638 - Public School Personnel Management
- EDUC-A 695 - Practicum in School Administration (3 one-hour sections)
- EDUC-H 520 - Education and Social Issues (section for Educational Leadership)
- EDUC-J 500 - Instruction in the context of School Curriculum
(section for Educational Leadership)
Attention Kentucky candidates: All coursework must be post-Master's.
Upgrade to a master's degree
Indiana candidates can choose to add your educational leadership license to your M.S.Ed. degree, and/or you can add/take those courses while you are pursuing your M.S.Ed. degree.
Admission Process
- Attend a program group advising session, meet with an Educational Leadership program faculty member, or have a telephone advising meeting with an Educational Leadership program faculty member.
- Complete online application. A $40 application fee is assessed when applying to program. If a previous application fee was paid the fee should be waived. To determine if fee is to be waived, please contact our Records Specialist at (812) 941-2388.
- On the Uploads Tab, upload an essay that explains why you want to be a building level administrator, how you have impacted student learning and how you have served as a school leader.
- Three letters of recommendation that address your leadership skills must be submitted. One must be from a current or recent supervisor. Use the Recommendation Tab on the online application to request electronically. If desired, letters may be mailed directly to Records Specialist.
- Submit official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work completed at institutions other than an IU school. A minimum 3.0 GPA must be reflected on all transcripts.
- Also on the Uploads Tab, upload a copy of current teaching license. (Emergency license and statement of eligibility are not acceptable.)
- Applications are due at least ten days prior to the beginning of the Summer, Fall, or Spring terms.
- A500 Introduction to Educational Leadership must be taken as one of the first courses. It is offered each term. Contact Dr. Robin Fankhauser rfankhau@ius.edu for more information.
Important Information:
- Indiana application’s must hold a master’s degree or be enrolled in the M.S.Ed. program at IU Southeast.
- Kentucky applications must hold a master’s degree to be considered for acceptance. Kentucky candidates may apply hours toward a Rank I upon completion of the program.
A two-year gap in coursework will require a new application for re-admission into any graduate program, and a mandatory meeting with a program advisor. The re-admitted candidate must then comply with any new program requirements, if any.
Graduate admission application deadlines:
- Summer Session 1: Rolling application. Review up until ten days before the term begins.
- Summer Session 2: Rolling application. Review up until ten days before the term begins.
- Fall: Rolling application. Review up until ten days before the term begins.
- Spring: Rolling application. Review up until ten days before the term begins.
Advising
For individual advising for the Educational Leadership license, please contact:

Doyin Coker-Kolo Ph.D.
Professor, School of Education
Educational Leadership Program
Hillside Hall 12
Phone: (812) 941-2206
ecokerko@ius.edu
View biography
Resources
Handbooks
Practicum Information
- NELP Key Assessment/ SPA 3a in A625: Developing School Culture and Climate Project
- NELP Key Assessment/SPA 3b: Teacher Orientation and Induction Project in A638
- NELP Key Assessment/SPA 3c: School Curriculum Design Project in J500
- NELP Key Assessments/SPA 4:
- NELP Key Assessment/SPA 5: Supporting Student Learning Project in J500 and A627
- NELP Key Assessment/SPA 6a: School Community Relations and Engagement Project in A510
- NELP Key Assessment/SPA 6b: Service Learning and Social Justice Project in H520
All ten required courses completed with average 3.25 GPA; nothing below a B
Online disposition assessment completed in A 500 and in A695
Participate in the exit interview, end of program and disposition reflection in A695