Preliminary Administrative Services Credential

Program Details

Department: Educational Leadership
Modality: Online and Hybrid 
Units: 18

Contact Information

• Academic Program Director: Manuel N. Ponce, Jr.
• Academic Advisor: Terri Taylor

Introduction/Overview

This program is for any educators who are interested in furthering their understanding of educational leadership to acquire the skills and dispositions needed to lead schools effectively. LMU’s Preliminary Administrative Services Credential program is specifically designed to prepare candidates for educational administration positions in public, private, charter, and Catholic schools. All academic coursework for the Administrative Services Credential program (with the exception of CalAPA fieldwork) applies towards the M.A. in School Administration program. The Preliminary Administrative Services Credential is a requirement in many districts as well as for many higher-level district positions.

All LMU School of Education credential programs meet the California State requirements as specified by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). This credential program does not meet the requirements of states outside of California.

The Preliminary Administrative Services Credential is delivered in two modalities dependent on need and partnerships.  One modality is completely online (100% of coursework offered online through synchronous (via Zoom) and asynchronous session.  The other is a hybrid model where 51% of the course sessions are offered in-person and the other 49% are offered as online sessions. 

Program Outcomes

Through the study of relevant leadership theory and participation in residency/fieldwork experiences designed to facilitate the application of theoretical concepts in practical settings, candidates will:

• Acquire the skills, knowledge, and dispositions to serve as an Education Leader in California
• Demonstrate the ability to be moral and ethical leaders for social justice who respect differences, value reflective practice, understand change facilitation, build learning communities, and work effectively in diverse settings
• Identify, develop, and articulate a clear and purposeful vision for leadership that enables an environment that inspires a shared vision and enlists the active participation of all stakeholders
• Develop an understanding and a theory of action regarding the political, financial, legal, and operational aspects of school leadership through investigation of leadership theory
• Develop a vision for instructional leadership and a theory of action that includes a strong emphasis on cultural and linguistic diversity, special education, the successful development of English Learners, and the parent-school relationship

Program Admission Requirements

• Online Graduate Application

• Graduate Application

• 2 Letters of recommendation

• One from the applicant’s school principal
• Verification of prior teaching experience
• Verification of employment
• Resume
• Two sealed official transcripts from each college/university attended
• CBEST passing scores (or equivalent)
• Copy of valid teaching and/or service credential
• Bachelor’s degree from accredited institution 
• Statement of Intent addressing:
  • Applicants understanding of diversity, social justice, and student achievement. Discuss its implications for leadership and how it intersects with your leadership in your current school setting, as well as future administrative leadership roles.
• A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0, or a 3.05 in the last 60 undergraduate units, or a 3.0 in at least nine graduate units
• For applicants who completed an undergraduate/graduate degree outside of the U.S.A.:
  • Transcript evaluations
  • TOEFL or IELTS minimum score

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Program Requirements

Credential Requirements

Program Requirements / Credential Requirements

• A minimum of five years of experience working under a valid California Base Credential (Teaching or Pupil Personnel Services) by the end of the program.
• A Clear California Base Credential is needed before applying for a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential. . For this reason, it is recommended that eligible applicants have at least three years of experience at the time of applying.
• Individuals must satisfy all of the following requirements in addition to their program of study in order to be eligible for credential recommendation:
  • Possess a valid prerequisite credential.
  • Complete a Commission-approved program of specialized and professional preparation in administrative services resulting in the formal recommendation of the program sponsor (LMU’s Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program)
  • Basic Skills Requirement (BSR)
  • Five Years of Full-Time Experience
  • Employment in an Administrative Position
  • Satisfy the requirements of the California Administrative Performance Assessment (CalAPA)
    • A passing score on each of the three cycles of the assessment

Required Coursework

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
EDLA 6200	Foundations of Leadership	3
EDLA 6203	School Finance and Human Resources	3
EDLA 6207	Governance, Law, and Policy	3
EDLA 6423	Instructional Leadership	3
EDLA 6441	Fieldwork/CalAPA Cycle 1	0
EDLA 6442	Fieldwork/CalAPA Cycle 2	0
EDLA 6443	Fieldwork/CalAPA Cycle 3	0
Total Semester Hours		12

The course requirements listed here meet the program standards required for a credential recommendation to the CTC for this academic year.   The CTC’s standards are subject to change in the future.  A candidate being recommended for a credential/authorization at a later year is held to the standards required by the CTC at that time and may need to take additional coursework to meet any new standards required for that credential/authorization.