Educational Leadership

Admission Information

Applicant Qualifications

Criteria for admission include successful completion of a bachelor's degree and relevant professional experience. To earn a certificate, students must complete 75 percent of the required coursework at USM, and earn a grade of B (3.0) or better in each course.

In addition, applicants to the assistant principal certificate are expected to have two years of teaching experience with the expectation of completing a third year of teaching during USM graduate study. The Maine Department of Education requires three years of teaching experience for administrative certification.

Application Procedures and Required Materials

Application Deadline:

Admission applications are accepted on a rolling basis with priority deadlines for the intended semester of matriculation:

• By October 15 for Spring Semester
• By March 15 for Summer Semester
• By May 1 for Fall Semester

Final deadlines: August 1 for Fall semester, December 15 for Spring semester, April 15 for Summer semester

Applicants are required to provide the following materials: 

• Application: Online Application
• Application fee: Waived for all applicants
• Transcripts: Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, excluding the seven campuses of the University of Maine System (UMS transcripts are accessible to USM). A transcript is official when sent directly from the institution.

• International College transcripts: In addition to an official copy of the transcript, an official evaluation of college-level transcripts from a NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) approved transcript analysis agency is required
• Resume: Submit a resume or CV that outlines professional, volunteer, and community experience.
• Personal statement
• Proof of teacher certification: Visit Proof of Teacher Certification webpage for how to submit evidence.
• TOEFL or IELTS: Students whose first language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and submit official scores as part of the application process. See additional information below regarding test scores.

Where to send transcripts and application materials

Official transcripts and other supporting documents can be sent to:

Application Processing Center

University of Maine System

P.O. Box 412

Bangor, ME 04402-0412

Colleges and universities that participate in the electronic submission of transcripts can send official transcripts to edocs@maine.edu. Resumes, essays, and other documents can also be sent to edocs@maine.edu.

For a transcript or recommendation to be considered official, it must be sent by the institution or the person writing the recommendation

International Applicants

The Certificate of Graduate Study programs are not eligible for a student visa (I-20) or scholarships.  International students interested in enrolling in graduate programs that are eligible for a student visa should explore the masters and doctoral options offered at the University.

English Proficiency Test Scores

• Official English proficiency examination scores are required from international applicants and/or applicants whose primary language is not English, unless the applicant has received a degree from an English-speaking institution. The University of Southern Maine accepts the following score reports sent directly from the testing agency.  TOEFL scores of 79 or higher on the internet-based test, 550 or higher on the paper-based test, or 213 or higher on the computer-based test; or IELTS scores of 6.5 or higher will be considered for a graduate program.

Acceptance to a certificate program does not constitute acceptance to a master's or post-master's certificate of advanced study program. Applications for degree status must be made under separate cover.