School of Education

Graduate Certificate in Instructional Leadership

A Graduate Certificate in Instructional Leadership is for students who already have a master's degree and want to take the necessary courses approved by the State of Tennessee to earn an Instructional Leadership License to serve in a leadership role in P-12 schools.

Featured Coursework

Faith and Ethics in Educational Leadership
Leadership Issues I: Theories and Strategies
Teacher Leadership
Leadership Practicum Summer
Leadership Practicum Fall

Organizational Decision Making
Curriculum and School Improvement
Supervision
Leadership Practicum Spring
Leadership Issues II: Planning and Finance

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Program Details

Prerequisites

Master's degree, current teaching license, and 2 years of teaching experience.

Admission Information

Candidates for admission to the Instructional Leadership Certificate Program must have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree and two years teaching experience, as more specifically stated in the following admission criteria:

Teacher Licensure;
A minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate credits combined);
Writing Sample. All candidates, regardless of GPA, must successfully complete the M.Ed. writing sample, demonstrating adequate graduate level writing skills;
An interview with the Director of the M.Ed. program;
Application to Graduate Studies in Education along with the non-refundable application fee;
Official transcript(s) showing all coursework, completion of baccalaureate degree(s), and all graduate credit previously attempted. Even if withdrawal occurred prior to earning credits and even if those credits do not apply to the current degree being sought, official transcripts must be sent from each institution. Send transcripts directly to the Office of Graduate Studies in Education;
Recommendation forms (provided) from 4 persons: One must be completed by the applicant's current principal or supervisor; two must be completed by fellow teachers/colleagues; and one by a character/ personal reference (non-family member);
Certificate of Immunization.

In addition to the criteria above, candidates for admission to the Instructional Leadership Certificate program must submit the following:

Professional Resume;
Copy of most recent state-approved performance appraisal;
Verification of Experience form completed by applicant's school system documenting at least 2 years of teaching experience;
Recommendation form completed by the Director of the school system where the applicant is employed;
Interview with Instructional Leadership Screening Committee. The candidate is interviewed by an admission screening committee comprised of university and public school personnel who will make a recommendation to the Dean and Graduate Admission Committee concerning admission to the Instructional Leadership Certificate program.

Up to six semester hours of graduate credit from a regionally accredited college or university may be transferred into the Instructional Leadership Certificate Program, provided the grades received in those courses are a B or higher.

Program Costs & Financial Aid

2025-2026 Tuition & Fees (starts Fall 2025): The cost is $527 per credit hour plus $33 per hour student service fee. Estimated Financial Aid Budget
2026-2027 Tuition & Fees (starts Fall 2026): The cost is $543 per credit hour plus $34 per hour student service fee. Estimated Financial Aid Budget
Financial Aid is available by application and through the FAFSA process. For more information visit Union's Office of Student Financial Aid

The Estimated Financial Aid Budget (also known as the Cost of Attendance) is used in part to help determine a student's financial aid eligibility and to estimate costs associated with attending college. It is not meant to be the exact costs every student will pay, but a standard estimate that is used for all categories of students for financial aid purposes. Some costs are Direct Costs, meaning they are charged to a student as part of your bill through the University. Other costs are Indirect Costs, meaning a student would not be billed for them — but they are costs to consider when evaluating what is needed to attend for a given period of time. Your costs may vary based on your individual decisions or circumstances.

COA for Graduate Certificate in Instructional Leadership students during 2025-2026
Direct Costs (these are the costs that would be part of your student bill as an off-campus student)
Tuition	$9,486	Based on 6 credits each semester over Fall, Spring, and Summer
Mandatory Fees	$594	Based on fees for 18 credits total
Total Direct Costs	$10,080	This is prior to any applied financial aid — but GREAT news, financial aid is available!

Indirect Costs (these are costs you may incur in attending college but are not billed to you by the university)
Housing	$13,956	This is a standard allowance for the cost of off-campus rent or other housing costs over the course of the academic year. Your actual costs may vary.
Food/Meals	$5,976	This is an allowance for off-campus food/meals over the course of the academic year. Your actual costs may vary.
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment	$450	This is an estimate; your costs could differ depending on how you obtain your books and required course materials or supplies.
Transportation	$4,056	This is an estimate for transportation fees you may incur over the year for items such as traveling to class or trips home; your costs could vary greatly depending on your situation.
Loan Fees	$650	This is an estimate for the average cost of Federal student loan fees such as origination fees; your costs could vary based on your decisions to borrow, contact SFP for more information.
Personal Expenses	$12,912	This is an estimate of costs for day-to-day expenses you may have over the next academic year. Your costs could vary greatly based on your situation and financial decisions.
Total Indirect Costs	$38,000

Total COA	$48,080	Total allowable Cost of Attendance for Graduate Certificate in Instructional Leadership students (prior to application of any financial aid eligibility)

COA for Graduate Certificate in Instructional Leadership students during 2026-2027
Direct Costs (these are the costs that would be part of your student bill as an off-campus student)
Tuition	$9,774	Based on 6 credits each semester over Fall, Spring, and Summer
Mandatory Fees	$612	Based on fees for 18 credits total
Total Direct Costs	$10,386	This is prior to any applied financial aid — but GREAT news, financial aid is available!

Indirect Costs (these are costs you may incur in attending college but are not billed to you by the university)
Indirect Costs are Coming Soon

Catalogue & Schedules

Graduate Catalogues

2025-2026

Course Schedules

Spring 2026: EDR | EDU