Online Master of Arts in Education Leadership – Principal Licensure

Lead Diverse Schools With Confidence
Generous transfer options
TSPC and AAQEP accredited
Rewarding network
Rural schools focus
Learn More Today
Complete the form to learn more about this program.
- Duration 12 months
- Cost per Credit $559
- Credit Hours 40
Program Benefits
- Continue working while completing your online, asynchronous coursework
- Meet TSPC principal licensure requirements in as little as one year online
- In some cases, on-site fieldwork may be completed at your current school site
School Administrator Preparation Online
- Apply By: 06/15/26
- Start Class: 06/22/26
Graduate ready to apply for Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) principal licensure with Eastern Oregon University’s online Master of Arts in Education Leadership – Principal Licensure. Designed for experienced educators, this career-focused program helps you grow as a leader who strengthens teaching, builds collaborative school cultures and leads meaningful system improvement.
Learn how to network in isolated communities and explore best practices for high-impact school leadership, especially in small, rural schools where you may be the sole administrator. This program’s practicum experience requires 300 hours of fieldwork.
More Information About This Program
Click on each tab below to learn additional details regarding the program requirements and features.
Curriculum
Progress From the Classroom to Schoolwide Leadership
8 Courses
40 Credit Hours
This TSPC-accredited program is delivered through our AAQEP-accredited College of Education. You will explore systems improvement, student success, instructional leadership, and more while building expertise in reflective practice, equity-centered leadership and data-informed decision-making.
Your Path to Principal Licensure
Clinical Practice
Gain real-world leadership experience through 300 hours of on-site fieldwork which can often be completed at your current school site.
School Leadership Portfolio
Create a portfolio that showcases your mastery of the standards required for Oregon principal licensure.
Qualify for Principal Licensure
Graduate qualified to apply for Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) principal licensure.
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
Application Deadline 06/15/26 Summer 2026
Start Date 06/22/26 Summer 2026
Applying to Eastern Oregon University is straightforward. Create an EOU Online account, complete your application online, and then check your email for status updates. If you have questions at any point, our support teams are ready to help.
| Online Application Form | Apply Now |
|---|---|
| Degree and Minimum GPA | 3.0 GPA undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below a 3.0 are encouraged to apply and must provide a letter of explanation or district endorsement for consideration. |
| Transcripts | A transcript from the degree granting institution showing the undergraduate degree awarded and cumulative GPA is required for admission. Applicants are required to submit any additional transcripts from the posting of the last degree forward. These will be evaluated for transfer credits or can be used to demonstrate recent academic success. |
| Transfer Credits | Up to 12 credits from previous graduate-level coursework can be transferred |
| Additional Requirements | Minimum of 1 year teaching experience before entering the program |
Tuition & Aid
Online Principal Licensure Master’s Program Tuition Details
We are committed to equitable tuition and opportunities for financial support for your degree. EOU offers budget-friendly tuition, often lower than comparable universities. In fact, about 92 percent of EOU online students receive financial aid and scholarships. Funding options may include federal financial aid as well as a variety of scholarship opportunities.
Tuition Details
Get Principal-Ready While You Work
About 20,800 openings for elementary, middle, and high school principals are projected each year, on average, over the decade.1 Prepare to fulfill K–12 principal roles in as little as one year with asynchronous online coursework you can complete while you continue working.
Explore CareersWhat You’ll Learn
In the principal licensure master’s program, you will learn to lead schoolwide improvement by developing and enacting a mission, vision and core values centered on equity, inclusion and student success. You will build the skills to support rigorous curriculum, strengthen school culture, engage families and manage operations.
Program Outcomes
When you complete Eastern Oregon University’s principal licensure master’s program online, you will be able to:
- Act ethically and according to professional norms to promote each student’s academic success and well-being
- Develop and support intellectually rigorous, culturally responsive and coherent systems of curriculum, instruction and assessment
- Cultivate an inclusive, caring and supportive school community that promotes the academic success and well-being of each student
- Foster a professional community of teachers and other professional staff
- Engage families and the community in meaningful, reciprocal and mutually beneficial ways to promote each student’s academic success and well-being
- Manage school operations and equitably distribute resources
- Act as an agent of continuous improvement
Faculty Spotlight: Amanda Villagómez, Ed.D.
Program Coordinator, Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
Amanda Villagómez is a Professor in the College of Education and coordinates the MS in Education program. Her professional expertise includes: curriculum and program development, instructional design, narrative inquiry, qualitative research and adolescent literacy. As an EOU alumni, after teaching in K-12 schools, Amanda was happy to return to EOU and serve within the College of Education.
What It’s Like to Study Online
Earning your degree online from Eastern Oregon University is a great opportunity because there are no on-campus requirements. You will have access to the same professors, content and opportunities as on-campus students while learning online in a creative digital format. Our professors work on campus and are experts trained to deliver innovative, engaging online education.
Explore the Online ExperienceFrequently Asked Questions
Explore our FAQ page to find answers to questions you may have about the online programs.
Yes. EOU’s online M.A. in Education Leadership – Principal Licensure is a TSPC-accredited program designed to qualify graduates to apply for Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) principal licensure. The program is offered through EOU’s AAQEP-accredited College of Education and is built specifically around the standards required to obtain an Oregon principal license.
The program is designed to be completed in one year. It is delivered entirely online, making it ideal for working educators who need to balance coursework with their current teaching responsibilities.
Yes. The program includes a clinical practice component requiring 300 hours of on-site fieldwork. This may be completed at your current school site, minimizing disruption to your existing role while building career-relevant, hands-on leadership experience.
The curriculum covers school ethics, operations, finance, systems improvement, student success, and instructional leadership — with an emphasis on reflective practice, equity-driven leadership, and data-informed decision-making. The program is tailored especially for small and rural school settings where graduates may serve as the sole administrator.
Graduates are prepared to step into K–12 principal roles where they can strengthen teaching practices, build collaborative school cultures, and drive meaningful, system-wide improvement. The degree and associated TSPC principal licensure are the primary credentials required for school principal positions in Oregon.
Source
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals.” Retrieved April 8, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/elementary-middle-and-high-school-principals.htm.