Become a Transformative Education Leader
Principal Administrator Licensure (PAL)
MSEd in Education Leadership
Principal Administrator License (PAL)
The vision of SOU’s Principal Administrator License (PAL) program is to develop leaders prepared to lead educational transformation and cultivate equity, excellence, and well-being.
SOU’s PAL program offers meaningful opportunities to connect the theories of educational change with the day-to-day practice of educational leadership. Classes are experiential and include case studies, authentic projects that allow students to participate in school improvement at their own sites, and extensive opportunities to learn from and engage with practicing school leaders.
A distinct advantage of the SOU PAL program is its culture of collegiality. PAL students develop supportive relationships with one another and with instructors who respond to the needs and interests of each cohort. Students work with regional administrators, building a professional network and making job placement easy to navigate. Support and coaching are available to you even after completing the program.
The PAL Program for Working Educators Throughout Oregon and Beyond!
Ready to make a real impact on student learning? Ready to succeed in a leadership role that is challenging, stimulating, and rewarding? Ready to support families, expand educational opportunities, and help create meaningful systemic change?
SOU’s Principal Administrator License (PAL) program prepares inspired, creative educators to become effective school leaders, with a strong emphasis on relationships, real-world experience, and connections with the people who will hire you and a cohort of peers you will work alongside for years to come.
The program is designed for aspiring and current administrators working in public and private schools, charter schools, holistic education settings, and other innovative learning communities. Already serving in an administrative role? Your current placement can count toward practicum requirements while giving you an opportunity to strengthen your leadership practice with support from faculty and peers.
For Oregon educators considering out-of-state online programs, there is another important advantage: SOU’s PAL program leads directly to an Oregon administrator license without additional coursework, testing, or licensure fees.
Credits, Practicum, Licensure, and Meeting Times
SOU’s School of Education offers the Principal Administrator License (PAL) issued by the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC). The 40-credit, cohort-based program begins each June and continues for six quarter terms, ending a year and a half later in December. The program combines online learning with in-person and synchronous distance-learning opportunities.
PAL coursework is highly experiential and project-based, making learning immediately relevant to your work as an educator and emerging leader. Through 300 required practicum hours, you will move from leadership theory into practice across multiple school levels while gaining experiences that strengthen your skills and your résumé! Throughout the program, you will also meet and work with practicing administrators and develop professional relationships that can support your transition into leadership.
SOU’s PAL is designed for working educators throughout Oregon and beyond. During the first summer, the cohort typically meets for nine days in June, including a five-day in-person retreat focused on learning and cohort connection, followed by six online days in July. By the end of the first summer, you will have already completed nearly one-quarter of the entire PAL program and be prepared to begin your practicum.
During the school year, PAL meets approximately one weekend each month, with Friday evening sessions online and Saturday classes in person (9am – 3pm). NEW THIS YEAR! Students outside the Southern Oregon ESD region can participate at a distance for Saturday coursework, expanding access to the same high-quality SOU PAL experience for educators across Oregon and beyond.
Program Prerequisites and Requirements
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Teaching license or eligibility to hold a license
- Three years of teaching experience (preferably)
- A master’s degree in education,OR enrollment in the SOU MSEd with PAL concentration program
Students who do not already have a master’s degree, or who desire a second master’s degree, may enroll concurrently in SOU’s Master of Science in Education (MSEd) program, with all 40 PAL credits applying toward the degree and just one additional 5-credit course required for a total of 45 credits, making the PAL program a swift route to earning a master’s degree.
Cost and Financial Benefits
Southern Oregon educators may have access to funding that helps greatly reduces tuition costs. Many of the 13 school districts partner with Southern Oregon University to offer tuition vouchers available to help educators offset the cost of their SOU coursework. For local educators, these supports can make SOU’s PAL the most affordable pathway to an Oregon administrator license.
For educators throughout Oregon and beyond, SOU’s PAL also offers the advantage of including all coursework required for Oregon licensure. Whereas, out-of-state distance-learning programs have the hidden costs of adding thousands of dollars in additional coursework, testing, or licensure costs before candidates can obtain an Oregon administrator license, and delaying the time to earn an Oregon license.
In many Oregon school districts, completion of graduate-level PAL coursework may also help licensed teachers advance on their salary schedule, increasing income even while teaching, depending on district contract requirements.
To learn more about the PAL program and potential funding opportunities, contact PAL Coordinator Dr. Renee Owen at owenr@sou.edu.
How You’ll Demonstrate Leadership Proficiency
Proficiencies for students are demonstrated through:
- Coursework that integrates theory into practice through case studies, action research projects, project-based learning at your site, reflective writing, and class activities.
- A 300 hour practicum demonstrating authentic leadership proficiency in the Oregon Leadership Standards.
- The Integration Portfolio that links coursework, practica, and personally identified leadership agendas in a document of program outcomes.
For Program Application information:
Anita Caster
541.552.6996
caster@sou.edu
For Licensure Application information:
Licensure Specialist
licensure@sou.edu
For Program information:
Dr. Renee Owen
828.775.6202
owenr@sou.edu
Degree Fit
Program Preparation
The PAL is for teachers who want to become Administrators.
Degree Roadmap
The PAL program is a cohort program which starts each June. During the program, students attend class during summer and then during the school year in a combination of online and in-person meetings.
Program Completion
The PAL program has a 300 hour practicum. Students are also required to submit a portfolio at the end of the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take an administrative job while in the SOU PAL program? Absolutely! In fact, PAL students are frequently offered positions as soon as they enroll in the program.
Will the PAL program transfer to doctorate program credits later? Yes! 12-16 credits of the PAL program are accepted by most doctoral programs.
Can I teach and do the PAL program at the same time? The PAL program is designed for working teachers and administrators. The work is intellectually rigorous, but very manageable.
Career Path
Become a Professional
Career opportunities for a PAL:
- School Principal
- School Assistant Principal
- District Supervisor
- Curriculum Director
- Special Education Director
- Special Programs Director
- Director of Educational Service District
Salary Range
$72,000 – $200,000
*Based on National Average
Future Success
SOU PAL Alumni
Sergio Cisneros
Principal License
Vice Principal and Athletic Director, Mazama High School
Jamie Sullivan
Principal License
Program Coordinator, Early Childhood Services (EI/ECSE)-SOESD
Mayra Garcia
Principal License
Assistant Principal, North Medford High School
Tisha Redmond
Principal License
Student Engagement & Professional Development Specialist
What Principal Administrator License Students are Saying
The administrator licensure program at Southern Oregon University was integral in my development as a leader. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to learn from incredible professors and collaborate with aspiring administrators, as I discovered my leadership style and developed my skill set. I am so excited to pursue my educational passion and see where my leadership journey takes me. I am a better leader today because of this program. Thank you, Southern Oregon University!
The SOU administrative licensure program encouraged me to be my authentic self. I connect with kids and families who need to find a supportive community at school. I became an administrator to make sure they are represented. Everyone deserves to belong.
Southern Oregon University’s Administrator Licensure program was a major stepping stone for my goals and career aspirations. The way the program is designed is practical and full of “real-life” experiences shared by the professors, peers and guest speakers. As a cohort, we work through specific scenarios together in the classroom, which helped me to expand my professional tool box and understand how the theory connects with the practice. The professors were always accessible and willing to help me when I had questions or needed guidance during a course and more importantly, once I was in a leadership role. This program is for anyone who aspires to be a leader within education and a part of committed network of educational leaders.
The SOU administrator licensure program’s instructional team are a group of warm, intelligent, culturally aware, and heart-centered educators. I found the curriculum thought-provoking and relevant. I held an administrative position during this program, and the course assignments were functional and applicable to what I was doing in the field. I deeply value the cohort model and the cultivation of relationships that grew throughout our tenure together. I am grateful for how this program helped transform me into the mindful leader I am today!
Contact the School of Education
SOU Education Program
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6936
– Questions About The SOU Education Program? –