Specializations · Wisconsin
Educational Leadership Pathways in Wisconsin
Educational Leadership in Wisconsin is a graduate award, not Principal license (PK–12; historically license code 5051). This table lists 41 institutions with matching IPEDS completions. Completions are not approval to recommend candidates for the license. Use the Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin principal credential
The Wisconsin license is Principal license (PK–12; historically license code 5051). 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.
Wisconsin’s building credential is a Principal license for PK–12, historically stored as license code 5051 in DPI systems. The Department of Public Instruction’s administrator-types and administrator-pathways pages are the paired sources. Preparation must be a state-approved administrative program in the principal licensure area, not a generic leadership certificate from a campus that lacks DPI approval for 5051. A master’s or equivalent sits beside that program; DPI does not treat an unrelated graduate degree as a substitute for approved principal preparation.
The underlying educator status is a Professional Educator License in teaching or pupil services, or eligibility for that license. Administrators who let a teaching license lapse while finishing a leadership program can stall in Educator Licensing Online because the Principal license expects that professional status to be valid or eligible. Emergency or substitute credentials are not the Professional Educator License the pathways page describes.
Institutions with Educational Leadership programs in Wisconsin
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 license (PK–12; historically license code 5051).
| Institution | CIP | Award level |
|---|---|---|
| Alverno College (Milwaukee, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Alverno College (Milwaukee, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Alverno College (Milwaukee, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Alverno College (Milwaukee, WI) | 13.0411 Superintendency and Educational System Administration | Doctorate (research) |
| Carroll University (Waukesha, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Carthage College (Kenosha, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin (Mequon, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin (Mequon, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin (Mequon, WI) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Master’s |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin (Mequon, WI) | 13.0411 Superintendency and Educational System Administration | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Edgewood College (Madison, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Edgewood College (Madison, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Edgewood College (Madison, WI) | 13.0411 Superintendency and Educational System Administration | Doctorate (research) |
| Edgewood College (Madison, WI) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Doctorate (research) |
| Edgewood College (Madison, WI) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Master’s |
| Marian University (Fond Du Lac, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Marian University (Fond Du Lac, WI) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Master’s |
| Marian University (Fond Du Lac, WI) | 13.0411 Superintendency and Educational System Administration | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Marian University (Fond Du Lac, WI) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Master’s |
| Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI) | 13.0411 Superintendency and Educational System Administration | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Ottawa University-Milwaukee (Brookfield, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (La Crosse, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI) | 13.0410 Urban Education and Leadership | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Oshkosh, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (professional) |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Oshkosh, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls (River Falls, WI) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Master’s |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior (Superior, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (Whitewater, WI) | 13.0411 Superintendency and Educational System Administration | Master’s |
| Viterbo University (La Crosse, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Viterbo University (La Crosse, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Viterbo University (La Crosse, WI) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Viterbo University (La Crosse, WI) | 13.0411 Superintendency and Educational System Administration | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Viterbo University (La Crosse, WI) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College (Milwaukee, WI) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College (Milwaukee, WI) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | 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.