Superintendent Certification

The student must complete the 15 credit hours outlined below. After completing the program courses and the practicum, the student must pass the superintendent credential exam (TExES) in order to be certified.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the superintendent credential program, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley.

1. Master’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a recognized international equivalent in a similar or related field.
2. Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
3. Copy of Educator Certificate showing Principal Certificate.
4. Two letters of recommendation with at least one from a superintendent or assistant superintendent.
5. Resume.
6. A Personal Statement of Leadership and career aspirations.
7. A photocopy of the student’s Teacher Service Record.
8. Two years administrative experience.
9. Personal Interview.

Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.

Program Requirements

Required Courses (15 Credits)

EDUL 7312	Socio-Political Problems of the Superintendent	3
EDUL 7313	Ethics and Decision Making	3
EDUL 7314	The Superintendent	3
EDUL 7315	Texas School Finance and Facilities Administration	3
EDUL 7398	Superintendent Practicum	3

Total Credit Hours: 15

Probationary Certificate

The department will only recommend for probationary certificate those students who are formally admitted to the program and who have been offered a position of superintendent by a school board. In order to hold the probationary certificate, the student must be enrolled in coursework, including the internship at UTRGV. The term of the Probationary Certificate is for a one year period, renewable for a total of two years.

Certification

Once program requirements have been completed and students have taken a benchmark exam, students will be eligible to take the state Superintendent TExES exam. Program finishers who have passed the certification exam should pursue certification immediately. If TEA certification standards change between the time you complete the program and the time you apply for certification, you will be required to meet the new standards before being certified. This may mean taking additional courses or completing additional requirements.