Policies and Handbook
Doctoral Students wishing to obtain an L-6 Leadership Certificate
Students seeking a Georgia Leadership certificate should be aware of the following:
- The PSC no longer allows students to obtain the leadership certificate at the Masters level.
- The PSC only issues a clear-renewable leadership certificate at the Ed. S. degree or higher.
- The PSC has not approved UWG to provide a joint Ed. S and Ed. D. program in leadership. (Only UGA and Mercer have this option.)
- The PSC has very specific rules about who qualifies to pursue a leadership certificate. These can change, so it is important to seek advice from a faculty advisor in the Educational Leadership program.
There are three possible paths for students seeking an L-6 who also wish to pursue an Ed.D. in School Improvement:
- Students considering doctoral study who wish to obtain a leadership certificate can enroll in the Ed.S. in Educational Leadership (provided you meet all requirements), finish that program, and obtain the leadership certificate prior to beginning the Ed.D. program in School Improvement. 12 credit hours from the Ed.S. program will be transferred into the doctoral program as an "Area of Specialization." Note that completing the Ed.S. does not guarantee students a slot in the Ed.D. program; all students must go through the doctoral application process.
- Students already in the Ed.D. program may suspend their Ed.D. work, enter and complete the Ed. S. in Leadership, obtain their L-6 leadership certificate, and then re-enter the Ed. D. program. Again, 12 credit hours from the Ed.S. program will be transferred into the doctoral program as an "Area of Specialization."
- Students already in the Ed.D. program may complete their "Area of Specialization" in leadership courses that will count toward the leadership certificate while they are pursuing the doctorate. After completing the doctoral program, they can then complete the residency requirement of the leadership certificate. With a doctorate in hand, an Ed.S. is not needed.