Specializations · Texas
Educational Leadership Pathways in Texas
Educational Leadership in Texas is a graduate award, not Principal as Instructional Leader (standard Principal certificate). This table lists 102 institutions with matching IPEDS completions. Completions are not approval to recommend candidates for the license. Use the Texas principal checklist for the credential.
Educational leadership is graduate study aimed at school and district leadership roles. Programs commonly sit inside an M.Ed., EdS, or EdD. Completing a leadership degree is not the same as earning a principal or administrator credential. States issue that license after an approved preparation sequence, experience, and any required exams.
Reviewed by Brittnie Vargas, School principal, M.Ed.Editorial processHow this degree relates to the Texas principal credential
The Texas license is Principal as Instructional Leader (standard Principal certificate). Read the principal checklist for steps, exams, and the board source — this page is the IPEDS inventory for Educational Leadership, not a second copy of that checklist.
Texas names the building-level certificate Principal as Instructional Leader, and TEA’s becoming-a-principal page treats it as an additional certification rather than an entry-level license. The five-part list is rigid: a master’s degree from a university accredited by an agency the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recognizes, a valid classroom teaching certificate, two years of creditable teaching as a classroom teacher, completion of an approved principal educator preparation program, and the required examinations. Skipping the creditable-teaching step is the most frequent self-assessment error among counselors, instructional coaches, and district specialists who have spent years in schools but not as classroom teachers of record.
Testing is a two-instrument sequence. The TExES Principal as Instructional Leader examination (268) is the knowledge test; Pearson’s official Texas page publishes a passing score of 240 and an exam fee of $200. Candidates also complete the Performance Assessment for School Leaders. Registering for 268 without scheduling PASL—or treating PASL as optional enrichment—leaves the certificate incomplete even when the multiple-choice score posts. Chapter 241 of Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code is the rule text that sits behind the TEA landing page, and program faculty typically map coursework to those standards rather than to a generic leadership syllabus.
Institutions with Educational Leadership programs in Texas
Rows come from IPEDS awards by CIP and award level. This extract reported no completion counts, so none are shown. An institution that conferred awards is not automatically approved to recommend candidates for Principal as Instructional Leader (standard Principal certificate).
| Institution | CIP | Award level |
|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian University (Abilene, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Abilene Christian University (Abilene, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Angelo State University (San Angelo, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Baylor University (Waco, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Baylor University (Waco, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Dallas Baptist University (Dallas, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Dallas Baptist University (Dallas, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Dallas Baptist University (Dallas, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| East Texas A&M University (Commerce, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| East Texas A&M University (Commerce, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| East Texas Baptist University (Marshall, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Houston Christian University (Houston, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Houston Christian University (Houston, TX) | 13.0411 Superintendency and Educational System Administration | Doctorate (research) |
| Huston-Tillotson University (Austin, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Lamar University (Beaumont, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Lamar University (Beaumont, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| LeTourneau University (Longview, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Lubbock Christian University (Lubbock, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Nelson University (Waxahachie, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Nelson University (Waxahachie, TX) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Master’s |
| North American University (Stafford, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Prairie View A & M University (Prairie View, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Prairie View A & M University (Prairie View, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Saint Edward's University (Austin, TX) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Doctorate (research) |
| Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, TX) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Master’s |
| Schreiner University (Kerrville, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) | 13.0410 Urban Education and Leadership | Master’s |
| Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) | 13.0411 Superintendency and Educational System Administration | Doctorate (research) |
| St. Mary's University (San Antonio, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Stephen F Austin State University (Nacogdoches, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Stephen F Austin State University (Nacogdoches, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Strayer University-Texas (Farmers Branch, TX) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Master’s |
| Sul Ross State University (Alpine, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Tarleton State University (Stephenville, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Tarleton State University (Stephenville, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Texas A & M International University (Laredo, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi (Corpus Christi, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi (Corpus Christi, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi (Corpus Christi, TX) | 13.0409 Secondary School Administration/Principalship | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi (Corpus Christi, TX) | 13.0411 Superintendency and Educational System Administration | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Texas A&M University-Central Texas (Killeen, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Texas A&M University-College Station (College Station, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Texas A&M University-College Station (College Station, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Kingsville, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Kingsville, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Kingsville, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Texas A&M University-San Antonio (San Antonio, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Texas A&M University-Texarkana (Texarkana, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Texas A&M University-Texarkana (Texarkana, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Texas Lutheran University (Seguin, TX) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Master’s |
| Texas Southern University (Houston, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Texas Southern University (Houston, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Texas State University (San Marcos, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Texas State University (San Marcos, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Texas Wesleyan University (Fort Worth, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Texas Wesleyan University (Fort Worth, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Texas Woman's University (Denton, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| The University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| The University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| The University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| The University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| The University of Texas at El Paso (El Paso, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| The University of Texas at El Paso (El Paso, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio (San Antonio, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio (San Antonio, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| The University of Texas at Tyler (Tyler, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| The University of Texas at Tyler (Tyler, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| The University of Texas Permian Basin (Odessa, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Edinburg, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Edinburg, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Edinburg, TX) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Master’s |
| Trinity University (San Antonio, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Dallas (Irving, TX) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Master’s |
| University of Houston (Houston, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Houston (Houston, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Houston-Clear Lake (Houston, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Houston-Clear Lake (Houston, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Houston-Downtown (Houston, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Houston-Victoria (Victoria, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Belton, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Belton, TX) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Master’s |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Belton, TX) | 13.0411 Superintendency and Educational System Administration | Doctorate (research) |
| University of North Texas (Denton, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of North Texas (Denton, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of North Texas at Dallas (Dallas, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of St Thomas (Houston, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of St Thomas (Houston, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Wayland Baptist University (Plainview, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Wayland Baptist University (Plainview, TX) | 13.0411 Superintendency and Educational System Administration | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Wayland Baptist University (Plainview, TX) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Master’s |
| West Texas A & M University (Canyon, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| West Texas A & M University (Canyon, TX) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
Frequently asked questions
Is educational leadership the same as principal certification?
No. Educational leadership is an academic concentration. Principal certification is a state-issued administrative credential. Many candidates earn both through the same approved program, but you must satisfy the state’s credential rules, not only complete graduate courses.
Which degree should I pursue for school leadership?
Many educators start with an M.Ed. in educational leadership. Some continue to an EdS for post-master’s depth, or an EdD for terminal practitioner study. Match the degree to your state’s credential checklist and your timeline, do not choose based on ranking lists.
Can I complete educational leadership online?
Many programs offer online or hybrid coursework, but internships and field experiences are usually local. Confirm that the program can place you in an approved setting in the state where you intend to hold an administrative license.
Which leadership exam will I take?
The exam is set by the state board. This site sources SLLA 6990, TExES 268 and PASL, FELE, CalAPA/CPACE, PAL, OAE 015, and other state instruments on the SLLA page and each principal checklist. Confirm the current test code and cut score on the board testing page.