Principals provide leadership to their school community with a focus on student needs, school climate, and personnel development. Principal licensure programs at PSU prepare you to feel confident making strong decisions when it matters most, and to move cutting-edge educational practices forward. Our approach integrates anti-racist teaching practices and prepares you to become a culturally-responsive leader.
To become a principal, you will first need to work in a school – in a licensed role – for at least three years. Depending on your educational background, we offer two pathways to becoming a school principal. If you are not already a teacher, school counselor, or other school professional, check out our become a teacher page to get started.
Principal Master’s + License: This path is for you if you earned a teaching license with your bachelor’s degree. The master’s degree is integrated into the principal license coursework.
Principal License: If you already have a master’s degree, follow this shorter path to licensure as you prepare to become a principal.
PSU’s Principal master’s and license programs prepare school leaders to meet the highest professional standards and has regularly earned local and national accolades for its equity focus.
Graduates become licensed school administrators with strong anti-racist leadership in public K–12 settings.
Our faculty are committed to promoting social justice, equity, and cultural competence. We ensure that students are connected with field experiences that provide profound and transformative learning experiences for our candidates allowing them to put their learning into action throughout the 3-year program.
We have excellent community partnerships and school counseling students complete their own individual action research projects at one of their field placements along with a professional portfolio.
- Program fulfills requirements to be licensed as a school counselor in the state of Oregon
- Learn how to develop and implement a Comprehensive School Counseling Program according to the ASCA National Model and Oregon Framework
- Individualized program of study based on your previous education and work experiences and professional goals
Our graduates are leaders who give back to the community by co-teaching with our faculty, advising in our program, and building a strong network of support for our interns and graduates. Our students and instructors are racially, linguistically, geographically, and culturally diverse, and our network provides personalized support through coursework, mentoring, practicum experiences, and networking throughout your leadership career.
- Job-embedded experiences and projects, focused on leadership for equity
- Culturally responsive leadership strategies
- Change leadership strategies, focused on equity, using Improvement Science
- Emotional intelligence with an anti-racist, equity focus
- Job application and placement support, even beyond your graduation
- Networking with our vast network of seated administrators
- Experienced Oregon school administrators teach our courses
- Flexible course format options, at an accessible price
- You engage in a rigorous and relevant practicum experience
- University and site supervisor mentorship
- Emphasis on leadership for change
- Job-application and placement support, post-graduation
- Equity focused instruction to serve diverse stakeholders
- Networking with experienced current and retired administrators