Educational Administration

Admissions Process

PreLEAD Letter and Application Forms

The PreLEAD Program is designed primarily for working adults who wish to pursue graduate study in educational administration. The program includes 36 semester credits of coursework and clinical field experiences leading to principal licensure. For those interested in pursuing an advanced degree, PreLEAD coursework may be applied to one of the following degree programs:

1. Master of Education

2. Doctor of Philosophy (if a master’s degree has already been earned)

The PreLEAD Course Sequence consists of ten three-credit courses, divided into two areas: the Leadership core and Teaching, Learning, and the Assessment core. In addition, students complete a 400-hour clinical field experience, 3 credits at the elementary level and 3 credits at the secondary level, under the guidance of administrative mentors and ISU supervising professors.

Students begin the program together as a cohort and enroll in a minimum of five credits per semester, with the exception of the first semester. New cohorts are begun each academic year in Ames, Des Moines, and other designated sites throughout Iowa. The program sequence takes seven semesters to complete for a total duration of 28 months.

The clinical field experiences are woven throughout the program in multiple courses and in varied settings, providing opportunities for participation in diverse leadership activities within realistic contexts. Each student develops a Personal Intern Plan with his/her mentor administrator to delineate and document the 400-hour clinical field experience.

A variety of tools are used to document and assess student competencies of the ISSL Standards, including self-assessments and rubrics, as well as reflective papers, projects, examinations, and clinical activities that provide authentic artifacts for the portfolio required for the PreLEAD Program. In addition to the portfolio, the MEd Degree requires an oral examination, while the MS Degree requires a thesis or non-thesis/creative component and an oral examination.

New PreLEAD cohorts will be forming in the following areas:

• Greater Des Moines Area for classes to begin fall semester 2004 and fall semester 2005
• On campus classes to begin spring semester 2005 and spring semester
• Creston area for classes to begin Fall 2005

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