| Total credits | Estimated resident cost | Estimated Washington border cost | Estimated non-resident cost |
|---|
| Master's Degree - 56 | $32,494 | $35,055 | $45,206 |
| Graduate Certificate - 40 | $25,425 | $27,625 | $35,265 |
Program cost estimates are based on 2025/26 PSU tuition and fees only. This chart is provided to help you estimate the minimum tuition and fees for program completion. Additional fees may apply depending on the course of study that you choose to pursue and the specific courses for which you enroll, so you may also find it useful to review detailed tuition and fee information and the full cost of attendance for PSU programs. Financial aid and scholarship options may be available to offset program costs. Visit COE Scholarships for specific details on how to qualify and apply. |
If you already have a master’s degree and are only seeking the Principal License graduate certificate, you will need to complete the 40-credit cohort-based graduate certificate curriculum.
If you do not yet have a master's degree, you will need to complete the 16-credit master's core coursework first, prior to joining the program cohort.
Graduate certificate curriculum (40 credits)
Licensure cohort coursework begins each Spring term. Direct instruction and group problem-solving assignments will be completed throughout the program. In addition, each cohort member completes a full-year guided practicum experience during the school year.
Program of study
| Term | # of credits | Course titles |
|---|
| Spring | 8 | ELP 569 Principal Leadership: Introduction to Culturally Responsive Leadership (4 credits) ELP 586 Principal Leadership: High Leverage Practices to Promote Inclusion and Equity (4 credits) |
| Summer | 8 | ELP 571 Principal Leadership: Culturally Responsive Teaching & Learning (4 credits) ELP 506 Principal Leadership: Special Topics (4 credits) |
| Fall | 8 | ELP 570 Principal Leadership: Culturally Responsive Human Relations (4 credits) ELP 573 Principal Leadership: Clinical Practicum I (4 credits) |
| Winter | 8 | ELP 585 Principal Leadership: Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students and Families (4 credits) ELP 574 Principal Leadership: Clinical Practicum II (4 credits) |
| Spring | 8 | ELP 572 Principal Leadership: Becoming a Systems Thinker (4 credits) ELP 575 Principal Leadership: Clinical Practicum III (4 credits) |
The Principal License clinical practicum experience
The Clinical Practicum Experience is the heart of our program; through this, interns receive real world practice, access to critical decisions, and quality mentoring at their sites. The 360-hour field-based administrative practicum is the equivalent of working 120 hours per quarter or 12 hours per week in a building-level administrative capacity. During the practicum, the administrative intern, supported by their on-site supervisor, seeks opportunities to develop fully as an educational leader and to acquire proficiency in the seven areas of administrative responsibility as outlined by TSPC's Performance Standards.