K-12 Principal Cohort

This program of study has been developed to prepare effective K-12 principals. Using a hybrid delivery model, it seeks to meet the needs of students unable to routinely visit the Bozeman campus or those seeking the convenience of online learning.  Courses will be delivered using distance educational methods during the school year and some instructors may require students to attend a face to face instructional session held in conjunction with various administrator association meetings once during the semester. During the summer, students will meet on the Bozeman campus for a full week of face to face instruction. The face to face instruction will usually take place during the latter weeks of June.

Rural Leadership Cohort

The Rural Leadership Cohort has been developed in close cooperation between Montana State University’s Educational Leadership Program and the Montana Rural Education Association.  This programof study seeks to prepare effective leaders to work in rural communities. Principal licensure and Superintendent Licensure courses are blended into a curriculum designed to best prepare school leaders in single administrator school districts located throughout Montana and the Northwest region of the United States.

Successful candidates will graduate with a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and licensure as a K-12 Montana principal, and will also be eligible for superintendent licensure, upon meeting state experiential requirements Students for this program are selected during the admissions process and invited to join the program.  Selection criteria include an expressed interest in rural leadership and/or experience working in rural schools. Those interested in being selected for thisprogram should clearly indicate their interest in rural education in the self-nomination letter, highlight rural education experiences in their resume’, and/or seek a letter of recommendation from a rural school leader.

Billings Cohort

This program of study was developed for aspiring leaders who currently live in the Billings area. Courses are held on the MSU-Billings Campus weekly during each semester of the school year using a face to face delivery model. During the summer, courses are offered in two 2-week sessions.

Post-Masters Principal Licensure

Students who have already earned a Master’s Degree in Education may be able to complete the academic requirements for licensure as a K-12 principal in as few as 27 credits compared to the 36 credits required for M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. Students selecting this option must be admitted into the Educational Leadership program and will begin their studies with a K-12 principal cohort.

Board of Public Education/OPI Internship

Students who have been hired into a school administrative position in Montana requiring an administrative license, but have not met the academic requirements for a Class 3 license; may be eligible for Class 5 license which will allow them to practice as an administrator while obtaining the required coursework.  While holding a Class 5 license they must be enrolled in a Board of Public Education/OPI Internship program and be supervised by a university faculty member licensed at the appropriate level.  Candidates interested in the Board of Public Education/OPI Internship need to contact Gerry Pease at (406) 994-5655 or Gerald.Pease@montana.edu.

K-12 Principal Cohort
Overview of Program Delivery

Courses will be delivered using distance educational methods during the school year and some instructors may require students to attend a face to face instructional session held in conjunction with various administrator association meetings once during the semester. During the summer, students will meet on the Bozeman campus for a week, 5 days, of face to face instruction. The face to face instruction will usually take place during the latter weeks of June.

Rural Leadership Cohort
Overview of Program Delivery

Courses in this option will be delivered using a blended model of online instruction, distance delivery methods, and face-to-face instruction.  During the school year, online instruction and distance delivery methods will be used; however, students should expect to attend one on-campus face-to-face, weekend class session each semester attend professional conferences. During the summer session, online instruction and distance delivery methods will be used; and students should plan to attend the Montana Rural Education Association meeting usually held in mid-June and stay at the conference location for 3 days before or after the conference for face to face instruction. 

Billings Cohort
Overview of Program Delivery

All courses will be conducted face to face on the MSU-Billings Campus during the school year.  These classes will normally meet for 3 hours one evening a week. During the summer, two 2-week sessions will be held.  Within each block, courses will meet for 4-hours a day, Monday through Friday during the 2-week period.

Post-Masters Principal Licensure
Course Sequence and Delivery

Students who already have a Master’s Degree in Education and are qualified for a Montana Class I license may elect to take only those courses required for K-12 Principal licensure and endorsement.  The courses listed below are the required courses.  These courses will be taken in the sequence listed for the K-12 Principal Cohort.

Post-Master's Licensure candidates who have not taken a graduate-level educational research course in their previous Master's degree program must also take EDLD 526, Evaluation of School Programs (3 credits).

Post-Master's Licensure candidates who have not taken a graduate-level statistics course in their previous Master's degree program must also take EDLD 534, Data Driven Decisions (3 credits).

Board of Public Education/OPI Internship
Course Sequence and Delivery

Board of Public Education (BPE)/Office of Public Instruction (OPI) Internship only pertains to those students who are currently working in an education administrative position requiring licensure, and are more than 6 credit hours away from having met the academic requirements for licensure and endorsement at the appropriate level. 
In order to qualify for the BPE/OPI Internship, candidates must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in the following courses during their first semester of the internship.

The University Intern Supervisor will provide the most appropriate course sequence based upon previous principal licensure and endorsement, where principal preparation took place (in or outside of Montana), and other considerations.