How long does this program take to complete?
As few as 40 months. Realistically, working professionals completing the program consecutively should expect approximately 3–4 years, given the eight-course, 14-week-per-course dissertation sequence alone.
How much does this program cost, and what courses does it include?
$487 per credit hour and $24,837 total for 51 credit hours, with all fees included. Coursework spans a pre-doctoral core (6 hours), doctoral leadership core (24 hours) covering higher education finance, policy, law, and organizational change, and a dissertation core (27 hours).
How selective is this program, and can I complete it while working as an administrator?
Yes, this program is designed for working higher education administrators, with pay-by-course tuition and coursework built around professional schedules. Admission is competitive and holistic, with a limited class size; admission is not guaranteed even with a complete application file.
Is a GRE required for admission?
No. Admission is based on a holistic review of your master’s transcript (3.0 GPA), professional resume, two references, a letter of interest and a scholarly writing sample, not standardized test scores.
Do I need this doctorate, or is the M.S. in Higher Education enough?
If you’re aiming for a director or dean role, the MS in Higher Education may be sufficient. If you’re targeting a provost, president or chief academic officer role, most institutions require or strongly prefer a doctoral credential, and this program is designed for that transition.
What’s the difference between this program and A-State’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (K-12 track)?
Both share the same dissertation structure, tuition and format, but this track’s coursework is specific to higher education contexts, its career outcomes are university executive roles rather than superintendent/district roles, and it’s built for current or aspiring higher education administrators rather than K-12 school leaders.
What degree do I need to become a college or university president, provost, dean or chief academic officer?
A doctoral degree — typically an Ed.D. or Ph.D. — is the near-universal credential for these roles. This program is A-State’s only track built specifically for them.
Can I become a school principal with just this certificate, or do I need the full Ed.S.?
The certificate alone leads to the same Arkansas building-level administrator license as the Ed.S. You do not need the full Ed.S. to become a principal in Arkansas. The Ed.S. adds an academic degree credential on top of that same licensure outcome, which some districts recognize with different salary schedule placement.
Does this program include an internship?
Yes. The Supervised Internship is a 14-week capstone course providing hands-on clinical experience in a school setting, offered only in Fall 1 or Spring 1 terms.
Can credits from this certificate transfer toward a future Ed.S. or Ed.D.?
Coursework may be eligible to transfer, subject to A-State’s standard graduate transfer credit policy (up to 9 hours, pending official transcript review and a Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form). Contact a Student Engagement Specialist for more information on transfer credit before assuming specific courses will apply to the Ed.S.
Is this certificate valid in states other than Arkansas?
Licensure requirements vary by state. For all other states, please see our State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures page to confirm eligibility in your specific state.
Does this certificate satisfy Arkansas ADE requirements for building-level administrator licensure?
Yes. This certificate is part of Arkansas State University’s educator preparation programming, which is approved by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) for Building-Level Administrator licensure. CAEP accreditation covers the college’s educator preparation unit nationally; state-specific approval is separately confirmed through ADE’s list of approved institutions.
Is this certificate financial aid eligible?
No, certificate programs are not financial aid eligible.
What are the admission requirements, and how does the GPA floor compare to the Ed.S.?
You’ll need an education-related master’s degree, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, two years of P-12 educator experience, a mentor commitment and a self-disposition document. The Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Principalship requires a higher 3.25 GPA, one year of experience as an educator, a mentor commitment and self-disposition document.
How many credit hours does this certificate take, and how long does it take to complete?
18 credit hours, completable in approximately 12 months for full-time students, with multiple start dates per year.
Can I get this certification if my master’s degree is in an unrelated field?
Admission requires an education-related master’s degree, a 3.0 GPA and two years of P-12 educator experience.
What’s the fastest way to earn a principal’s license without getting another full degree?
If you already hold a master’s degree, this 18-credit-hour certificate adds Arkansas building-level administrator licensure without requiring a second full degree like the Ed.S.
What’s the difference between this certificate and a full Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Principalship?
Both prepare you for the same Arkansas building-level administrator license, but they differ in scope: this certificate is 18 credit hours; the Ed.S. is 30 credit hours. The certificate does not add an Ed.S. designation to your transcript, which may affect district salary schedule placement in some districts. If you want the fastest route to […]
What happens if I’m deployed or activated during a term?
You can learn more about our policy by visiting the “Students Activated for Military Service” section of our Academic Regulations page.
Do I need to reapply for the Military Scholarship every term?
Yes, you must reapply each term, and the deadline lines up with the military’s TA request deadline (seven days before the term begins). Applying before the deadline helps ensure your scholarship and TA are both applied on time.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
For questions about VA benefits, contact us at 870-972-2920 or email [email protected].
How much is tuition with A-State’s Military Scholarship?
With A-State’s Military Scholarship, tuition is reduced to only $250 per credit hour for both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Can my spouse take advantage of my military benefits for their degree program?
Yes, spouses of veterans may qualify for Chapter 35 or Transferred Chapter 33 VA benefits. Spouses of active-duty service members may qualify for A-State’s Military Scholarship. Contact A-State Online’s military and veteran representative at 870-972-2920 or [email protected] for more information.
Can I use other forms of financial aid with my GI Bill®?
Yes, you can. We are obligated to report the net tuition cost to the VA after accounting for any grants, scholarships, discounts and other applicable tuition reductions. Your VA benefits will be applied to the remaining balance under Chapter 33.
How do I apply for military benefits?
Active-duty service members should visit their installation’s education office to get their tuition assistance activated. To apply for military benefits, go to the VA’s education application page and follow their instructions.
Does A-State grant college credit for my military experience?
You may be eligible for prior learning assessment based on your previous accomplishments, reducing your tuition costs and time to graduation. Contact A-State Online’s military and veteran representative at 870-972-2920 for more information.
Does A-State accept transfer credits?
Yes. The number of transfer credits is dependent on the program. Please view our programs for more information.
Does the military pay for my online degree program?
The educational benefits you’ve earned through your military service can be utilized to pursue a college degree online. Options such as military tuition assistance, the Montgomery GI Bill® and Post-9/11 GI Bill® can help cover the costs of your education. Additionally, there are outside scholarships and federal financial aid available to provide further financial support […]
Can I take online classes while in the military?
Yes, our online programs are flexible so you can pursue your degree while working.
How often will I need to be in Jonesboro for my clinical requirements?
In person clinical rotations occur throughout the year. To get a sense of what your clinical requirements schedule could look like take a look at our Accelerated BSN Sample Clinical Schedule.