Non-degree Principal Endorsement Program

Program Overview

The non-degree Principal Endorsement Program offered at the GSE is nationally certified by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and allows certified teachers to take coursework that leads to New Jersey Department of Education certification as a principal within an elementary or secondary school setting. Students who enroll in this program typically seek to advance in their current role and demonstrate the core competencies needed to be effective leaders in public and private K-12 schools or higher education institutions. Candidates commonly continue to work for local school districts, charter schools, or other educational institutions while completing the required coursework. The program curriculum includes coursework focusing on educational law, public school finance, school-community relations, supervision of instruction, and personnel administration.

This 36-credit endorsement program is available only to individuals who hold a New Jersey Standard Instructional Certificate or Educational Services Certificate, or its out-of-state equivalent. Five years of full-time teaching experience is also required. The program is not aligned to any specific degree program, does not lead to a degree of any kind, and is usually completed at the New Brunswick campus with some online classes available. All 36 credits in the endorsement program must be completed at Rutgers University. No transfer credits will be accepted. 

Program Goals as of 2022-2023
(Last updated: 10/6/2022)

Knowledge/Understanding 

• Students will develop deep understanding of and expertise in the fundamental aspects of educational leadership. 
• Educational Administration and Supervision students will learn how to develop, advocate, and enact a shared mission, vision, and core values of high-quality education and academic success and well-being of each of their students. 
• Educational Administration and Supervision students will learn how to manage school operations and resources to promote each of their student’s academic success and well-being.   

Communication/Community Building 

• Students will participate in professional and scholarly communities through communication and collaboration. 
• Educational Administration and Supervision students will foster a professional community of teachers and other professional staff to promote each of their student’s academic success and well-being. 
• Educational Administration and Supervision students will engage families and the community in meaningful, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial ways to promote each of their student’s academic success and well-being. 
• Educational Administration and Supervision students will cultivate an inclusive, caring, and supportive school community that promotes the academic success and well-being of each of their students.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) 

• Students will understand the importance of the role of social justice in educational settings and promote educational equity by creating an environment where diverse backgrounds and perspectives (educational, cultural, personal, social, economic) are an integral part of the educational experience. 
• Educational Administration and Supervision students will strive for equity of educational opportunity and culturally responsive practices to promote each of their student’s academic success and well-being.  
• Educational Administration and Supervision students will act ethically and according to professional norms to promote each of their student’s academic success and well-being.

Research/Professional Practice 

• Students will engage with original, evidence-based research and use that research to inform their professional practice and address problems of practice that may require change in policy and programs. 
• Educational Administration and Supervision students will act as agents of continuous improvement to promote each of their student’s academic success and well-being.

Assessment 

• Students will evaluate, identify, and use models and approaches that will be effective in the successful design and implementation of educational program assessment. 
• Educational Administration and Supervision students will develop and support intellectually rigorous and coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment to promote each of their student’s academic success and well-being.   

Professional Development/Self-Reflection 

• Students will develop the skills needed to identify professional learning needs within their organization and subsequently organize and/or lead professional learning communities intended to build collective capacity building within their educational organization.  
• Educational Administration and Supervision students will develop the professional capacity and practice of school personnel to promote each of their student’s academic success and well-being. 

For more information about this program:

• Download the program guide (includes course list and application requirements)
• As required by our national accreditor, CAEP, the program publicly reports outcomes annually in an Accountability Measures report. This report can be found on our Accreditation page.
• Contact Marie Pavelchak, Senior Student Program Coordinator in the Office of Student and Academic Services

Program Details