Overview

This 15 credit hour advanced certificate is intended primarily for principals, assistant principals, and other school administrators seeking central office positions such as superintendent, assistant superintendent, school business official and/or director of personnel, as well as those administrators in an increasing number of school systems that have decentralized many school business and human resource functions down to the school site.

This Advanced Certificate in not intended to be used as a pre-service program for individuals seeking New York State Certification as a School Building Leader (SBL), School District Leader (SDL) or School District Business Leader (SDBL).  Individuals interested in any of these three New York State administrator certifications are encouraged to apply to the Leadership Initiative For Tomorrow’s Schools (LIFTS) at the University at Buffalo.  Once accepted into a LIFTS program, courses within this Advanced Certificate can be taken as electives subject to the policies and guidelines of the Graduate School of Education.

For more information, please contact:

Of the 15 credit hours required for this Advanced Certificate, the following three courses are required of all students:

• ELP 604: Law and Public Education
• ELP 629: Personnel Administration in Education
• ELP 649: Public School Finance  

Students specializing in School Business Administration are also required to take:

• ELP 646: School Business Administration  

Students specializing in Human Resource Administration are also required to take:

• ELP 605: Collective Negotiations and Contract Administration in Education

Additional courses available to complete the program include:

• ELP 638: Leading and Managing People
• ELP 643: Reforming Teacher Compensation
• ELP 691: Advanced Issues in School Business Administration

Charles (Corrie) Giles, assistant professor
Stephen Jacobson, professor
Thomas Ramming, adjunct assistant professor

Potential students will be selected on the basis of compatibility between their goals and the coursework offered in the program. Students will also have to demonstrate sufficient verbal and written English proficiency to participate meaningfully in graduate level lectures and seminars. Please note that the deadline for fall admission is March 1.

Students currently enrolled in a graduate program at UB must submit a paper application for review (click here for the application).

In addition to the online application, students must also submit the following by March 1:

• Application fee of $50US.
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended.
• Three recommendation letters.

For questions related to the application process, please contact:

Ms. Mary Carroll
Office of Graduate Admissions and Student Services
Graduate School of Education
366 Baldy Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260
Phone: (716) 645-2110
Fax: (716) 645-7937
email: mec6@buffalo.edu