School District Leadership Syracuse Campus

Advanced Certificate (post-baccalaureate)

School District Leadership Syracuse Campus Adv Crt

Earn your New York State School District Leader certificate through SUNY Oswego. Our program assists school district professionals in advancing their careers to superintendency and other district leadership roles.

Overview

The goal of the New York State School District Leadership program is to acculturate the associates to the incredible challenges and rewards of superintendentships and other school district leadership positions. Graduates are prepared to lead districts and serve children and school communities throughout New York State.

Two Ways to Earn Your SDL

Enroll in our Superintendent Development Program (SDP). To be admitted to SDP you must:
- Be a sitting school leader with experience and hold New York State School Building Leader (SBL) certification (formerly known as SAS).
- Be recommended by SUNY Oswego for your SDL certification once you successfully complete SDP.
- Have a minimum of 60 graduate hours (Enrollees can earn 9 graduate level college credits by completing SDP).
Complete the Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in Educational Leadership program.
- CAS is the appropriate path if you need both School Building Leadership and School District Leadership.
- CAS is a 33 credit program that takes approximately 2 years to complete.

Curriculum

Advanced Certificate

Depth & Experience

Our candidates are well prepared and consistently score above the state average on the required New York State School Building Leader assessments and School District assessments.

Outcomes

Graduates are qualified to pursue a New York State Department of Education Certification as a School District Leader, which will allow them to work in a range of administrative and supervisory positions.

Make District-wide Decisions
Manage Fiscal and Human Resources
Address the Management of Legal and Equity Issues
Facilitate Organizational Change
Build Strategic Plans
Lead Partnerships with Community Stakeholders

Career Opportunities

District Superintendent
Superintendent
Deputy Superintendent
Associate Superintendent
Assistant Superintendent
District Curriculum Coordinator
District Special Services Coordinator
Directorship (Athletics, Instructional Support, Pupil Services, Special Programs, etc.)

You can earn 9 credit hours by completing the SDP program. If you will not meet the minimum of 60 graduate credits after completing SDP, SUNY Oswego will work with you to develop a personalized learning program involving additional coursework. We will carefully review your transcripts and gradulate level coursework to determine the appropriate educational plan for you.

Angela Perrotto

Department Chair, Educational Administration

Program Resources

Information Sessions

Learn about our graduate programs through our information sessions today!

RELATED PROGRAM

Educational Leadership

Join a network of over 1,000 district-level leaders who have earned their school district and school building leadership certification from SUNY Oswego. Our coursework is based on authentic learning experiences in real schools, working with experienced administrators solving real issues.

Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation

AAQEP Accredited

This program has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.

The Power of SUNY Tuition

Achieving your long-term career goals shouldn’t come at the expense of your immediate financial security. Oswego offers low tuition compared to many private colleges. Never sacrificing quality for affordability, our graduate students are receiving a nationally accredited program that will translate into effective knowledge and opportunities.

Application Requirements

Official Transcripts

Submit official transcripts confirming your bachelor’s or master’s degree/advanced certificate. This includes graduate-level coursework or post-baccalaureate degree/certificate. U.S. transcripts must be sent directly from the granting institution (electronic or mail).

For credentials earned outside of the United States, we require students to provide a World Education Services (WES) Course by Course (ICAP) evaluation, an IEE Education Course Report (US), or TEC (formally known as SpanTran) Divisional Course Analysis. This evaluation ensures that we can provide quality assessment of coursework from all countries where various grading scales and languages may exist.

GPA of at least 3.0

A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better is required for applicants. (Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 are welcome to apply, but should explain in the purpose statement what skills and experiences you will bring to the program or any special circumstances that affected your GPA.) If you have questions regarding your GPA, please speak to the department advisor for further information.

Master's Degree

Your official transcript must indicate that you have earned your master’s degree from an accredited university.

Professional NYSED Certification

Individuals will satisfy the Professional NYSED Certification requirement after successfully completing a graduate teaching education program from an accredited institution, and obtaining a master’s or higher degree program in their specialization or related field or in any area as long as the individual has completed 12 hours of study in their specialization. New York State requires this entry-level certificate for classroom teachers with specific areas of interest. Submit a copy of your NYS initial teaching certificate in area of interest during the application process.

Purpose Statement

In 500 words or less, describe your personal achievements relating to your academic interests, and detail your educational and professional objectives with reasoning for applying to SUNY Oswego. This statement will help the review team better understand and evaluate your application.

Resume

Include a professional resume or curriculum vitae that includes your academic history, professional background and any accomplishments of note. This document should provide details that support your admittance to the program.

Two letters of recommendation

Indicate two names with valid email addresses. We will send an email request directly to the references on your behalf. These references should be able to speak to your character, work ethic and abilities. (At least one of these recommendations must be from your school district.)

International Admissions

All international transcripts must be verified using one of the following methods as part of your application process:

WES Course by Course (ICAP) evaluation,
an IEE Education Course Report (US), or
TEC (formally known as SpanTran) Divisional Course Analysis.

English Language Proficiency: Submit official TOEFL (79 overall, MBA 83) or IELTS (6.5) scores, unless exempt.

Visa and I-20 Documentation: After acceptance, upload your financial documents and passport copy to receive your Form I-20 for your visa application.

For more details, please visit Application Requirements for International Graduate Students.

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Tuition and Costs

Superintendent Development Program Fee + graduate rate of tuition per necessary credit hour to reach required 60 credits. Total credits required will be determined through individual educational plan. Total cost will be unique to each participant. For graduate credit hour cost please see Financial Aid and Cost.

View tuition and costs

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Next Steps to Apply

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