| 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. |
A master’s degree in any subject area is required for licensure eligibility. If you already hold a master’s degree, you will only need to complete the Principal License graduate certificate. If you do not yet hold a master's degree, you will need to complete the Master’s Degree plus Principal License graduate certificate in order to be eligible for the Principal license.
Curriculum
The Principal License program curriculum prepares future administrators to lead with vision, purpose, and a deep commitment to equity. Through courses such as Introduction to Culturally Responsive Leadership, High Leverage Practices to Promote Inclusion and Equity, and Culturally Responsive Teaching & Learning, participants gain the knowledge and tools to create schools where every student thrives. They learn to lead with cultural responsiveness at the center of their practice, put equity into action through proven strategies, build meaningful partnerships with linguistically and culturally diverse students and families, and cultivate collaborative school climates rooted in trust. By adopting a systems-thinking approach, graduates are equipped to address inequities, inspire lasting change, and transform the challenges of school leadership into opportunities for equity, excellence, and belonging.
Course descriptions
For course descriptions, please consult the Bulletin or Class Schedule.
Program format
Modality
Online, scheduled meetings (licensure cohort only): This program is held entirely online with synchronous class meeting times via zoom.
Online, scheduled meetings and no scheduled meetings (master’s core courses only): These courses are offered entirely online. Some classes have required meeting times, others have no required meeting times.
Part-time
Time to completion (graduate certificate): 5 terms - 1.25 years
Time to completion (master’s plus graduate certificate): 7 - 9 terms - 1.75 - 2.25 years
Scheduling
Evening: Classes are held primarily in the later afternoon and evening. Practicum requires daytime hours at your site/district.
Weekly Estimated Time Commitment
The PSU Credit Hour Policy defines 1 credit hour as requiring a minimum of 3 hours of student time per week over the course of the term. PSU operates on the quarter system, and terms last 10 weeks.
Graduate school is a big commitment; please consider this information as a starting tool to help you gain a sense of the time commitment. Students learn differently and you may find that it takes you more time to complete the coursework on a weekly basis. Generally, a graduate program is more intensive and should require more time on homework than undergraduate courses; therefore, we recommend planning for more time than the minimum.
Most students in this program are balancing full-time work alongside their studies, and our instructors keep this in mind. However, students take 8 credits per term, which means planning for at least 24 hours each week outside of class for studying, assignments, and related activities.
As the program progresses, students engage in less coursework but more experiential learning through the practicum experience and related project, which takes additional time to complete. Generally, practicum requires 12 hours per week.
Program of Study - Graduate Certificate
| Year 1 | CR |
|---|
| Spring |
| ELP 569 Principal Leadership: Introduction to Culturally Responsive Leadership | 4 |
| ELP 586 Principal Leadership: High Leverage Practices to Promote Inclusion and Equity | 4 |
| Summer |
| ELP 571 Principal Leadership: Culturally Responsive Teaching & Learning | 4 |
| ELP 506 Principal Leadership: Special Topics | 4 |
| Year 2 | CR |
| Fall |
| ELP 570 Principal Leadership: Culturally Responsive Human Relations | 4 |
| ELP 573 Principal Leadership: Clinical Practicum I | 4 |
| Winter |
| ELP 585 Principal Leadership: Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students and Families | 4 |
| ELP 574 Principal Leadership: Clinical Practicum II | 4 |
| Spring |
| ELP 572 Principal Leadership: Becoming a Systems Thinker | 4 |
| ELP 575 Principal Leadership: Clinical Practicum III | 4 |
| Total Program Credits | 40 |
Program of Study - Master’s Degree plus Graduate Certificate
| Year 1 - Master’s Core coursework* | CR | Terms offered |
|---|
| ELP 511 Principles of Education Research & Data I | 4 | Fall, winter, spring |
| ELP 520 Developmental Perspectives of Adult Learning | 4 | Fall, spring |
ELP 551 Social Foundations of Education OR
ELP 554 Philosophy of Education | 4 | Fall, spring OR
Summer, Winter |
| ELP 568 Educational Organization and Administration | 4 | Fall, spring |
| Year 1 - Graduate Certificate/Licensure cohort | CR | |
| Spring |
| ELP 569 Principal Leadership: Introduction to Culturally Responsive Leadership | 4 |
| ELP 586 Principal Leadership: High Leverage Practices to Promote Inclusion and Equity | 4 |
| Summer |
| ELP 571 Principal Leadership: Culturally Responsive Teaching & Learning | 4 |
| ELP 506 Principal Leadership: Special Topics | 4 |
| Year 2 | CR |
| Fall |
| ELP 570 Principal Leadership: Culturally Responsive Human Relations | 4 |
| ELP 573 Principal Leadership: Clinical Practicum I | 4 |
| Winter |
| ELP 585 Principal Leadership: Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students and Families | 4 |
| ELP 574 Principal Leadership: Clinical Practicum II | 4 |
| Spring |
| ELP 572 Principal Leadership: Becoming a Systems Thinker | 4 |
| ELP 575 Principal Leadership: Clinical Practicum III | 4 |
| Total Program Credits | 56 |
*Master’s core coursework can be completed at your own pace but must be completed prior to starting the licensure cohort coursework in spring term. Please refer to the ELP Prefix Course planning guide to see when the Master's Core courses are offered throughout the year. (Be sure to choose the correct year tab at the bottom.) Please note that you will not be eligible to be licensed until the master's degree has been awarded and appears on your transcript.