Admission

Application Deadlines for the 2025-2026 Cohort

Admission Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
• A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale). Applicants not meeting this requirement must provide GRE scores (see below), as well as other qualifications, such as long-term experience or expertise in a related specialized field as justification for consideration for admission
• For applicants with a GPA below 2.5: Scores from the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), taken within the last five years. To ensure that we receive your GRE scores, please use the institution code 6660. For the GRE taken after August 1, 2011: Preferred scores are 144 or higher for Quantitative Reasoning, 153 or higher for Verbal Reasoning, and 4.5 or higher for Analytical Writing
• Copy of valid Texas teacher certification
  
• Copy of service record reflecting one year teaching experience in an accredited public, private or charter school

• Applicants must be able to communicate, listen, read, write, and comprehend the English language sufficiently to use it easily and readily in daily communication. English language proficiency will be evidenced by one of the following:
  
  1) Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States; or
  
  2) Verification of minimum scaled scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) of 24 for speaking, 22 for listening, 22 for reading, and 21 for writing; or
  
  3) An undergraduate or graduate degree that was earned at an institution of higher education in a country outside of the United States from the following list: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grand Cayman, Grenada, Guyana, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Singapore, Trinidad/Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, U.S. Pacific Trust.
  
  4) An educator who has received a State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)-issued standard certificate is not required to demonstrate English language proficiency.
  
  

• Recommendations and evidence of a high degree of support from the school of employment, including a commitment on the part of the applicant's principal (or an equivalent supervisor) to serve as a mentor for internship activities
• Evidence of leadership capacity and demonstration of leadership role in the applicant's school
• The application includes essays, recommendations, and an interview with the Admissions Committee
• Official copies of all graduate and undergraduate transcripts where a degree has been conferred or you have received 9 or more credit hours.*

Electronic transcripts should be sent to:
gradappmaterials@smu.edu

Paper transcripts should be sent to: 
Graduate Application Processing
PO Box 518
Dallas, TX 75275-0518

Principal Certification

Any candidate seeking TEA certification must obtain the conferred degree for the program along with the completion and passing of the required TEA exams (268 and PASL). 

Transfer Credit

While applicants may request consideration for transfer of up to six hours of graduate credit, please note that this is a cohort program with a tightly structured and integrated design, and it is not likely that courses will be accepted for transfer.

Frequently Asked Admission Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When does the program begin? The program begins in June of each year.
2. How do I apply? The Department of Education Policy and Leadership has an online application. The application fee is $40, and a schedule of courses is available for review on the Curriculum & Modules webpage.
3. When can I apply for scholarships? Newly admitted applicants will be sent a link to apply for departmental scholarships after receiving their admissions decision.