The students will participate in a multi-day leadership style assessment program. Areas of strengths and areas to address will be identified during the assessment and written feedback provided to the student. The student will use the information when addressing program portfolio related components. Prerequisite: admission to the Educational Leadership program.

Students will gain an understanding of leadership theory and its application to the principalship. Participants in this course will also examine the relationship between leadership and learning, the value of learning communities, decision processing and decision making, and systematic planning. Site based related activities will be included in this course. Prerequisite: admission to the educational leadership program.

Students will focus on building level organizational related issues at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Topics addressed include staffing patterns, academic and non-academic schedule development, school budgets, facility management, the principals role in staff development, curriculum development and instructional improvement, and technology applications related to the principalship. Site based-related activities will be included in this course. Prerequisite: admission to the educational leadership program.

Students will gain an understanding of the formal and informal political forces that are present in school administration as well as the role that internal and external publics play at the building and district levels. Students will gain an understanding of the development and analysis of public relations programs and will examine successful public relations program models. Site based-related activities will be included in this course. Prerequisite: admission to the educational leadership program.

Students will gain an understanding of the legal aspects of education with a focus on administration related applications. Knowledge will be acquired in the areas of education and the legal system, employee rights and obligations, student rights and discipline, tort liability, and public-private school related legal issues. Prerequisite: admission to the educational leadership program.

School, Family, and Community Relations provides aspiring administrators with knowledge, skills, and demonstrated performances to engage parents, families, and communities in supporting student achievement. The candidates will develop an action plan for increased parent/family/community engagement that addresses student learning. Restricted to IA PRIN students only.

This course provides independent reading and/or research, at the post-baccalaureate or master degree level, under the direction of a faculty member. Refer to the academic policy section for independent study policy. May be repeated for credit.

Provides aspiring administrators with an understanding of their leadership style through self-assessment; leadership theory and its application to the principal; its impact on achievement; leading in a culture of change; decision processing, decision making and systematic planning; and ethical practices.

Provides aspiring administrators with knowledge, skills, and demonstrated performances around the learning needs of young learners, adolescent learners, high school learners, and adult learners. Emphasis will be placed on factors impacting motivation, types of organizational change, research-based change models, and components of effective change leadership. Restricted to IA PRIN students only.

Provides aspiring administrators with the knowledge, skills, and demonstrated performances in current curriculum instruction and assessment practices; the design and implementation of curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices; and their impact on student achievement. Restricted to IA PRIN students only.