Whether you want to become a building principal, assistant principal, or district leader, our program prepares you to meet the high demand for effective school administrators. We empower educators to develop the critical skills needed to lead during intense periods of change and accountability.
Our learn-by-doing approach and experienced faculty allow you to apply leadership principles immediately in your school. We prepare you for the School Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA) and Kansas PreK-12 Building Leadership licensure.
 | Learn by Leading - Evaluate your school, research best practices, and design real improvement projects throughout the program. Apply what you learn immediately to make an impact. |
 | 150-Hour Leadership Practicum - Work alongside an experienced principal mentor, gaining hands-on experience in the day-to-day realities of school leadership. |
 | Licensure-Ready - Curriculum aligned to KSDE standards and ISLLC Leadership Standards. Graduate prepared to pass the SLLA Praxis and earn your Kansas Building Leadership license. |
Career Pathways
In Building Leadership
Newman University's Building Leadership program provides you with the knowledge and relevant skills to set you on the path to a fulfilling career.
A degree at Newman University will prepare you for
- Building principal in PreK-12 schools
- Assistant principal or dean of students
- Athletic director or activities coordinator
- Curriculum director or instructional leader
- District-level administrative roles
Some who have completed this program have chosen to continue studies in
- Ed.D. in Educational Leadership
- Superintendent licensure programs
- District-level leadership certifications
Degree Requirements & Curriculum
Program Structure
30 credit hours | 10 coursesCore Leadership Coursework: Delivered through flexible formats designed for working educators. Courses include school finance, educational law, human resources, curriculum leadership, and research methods.
Capstone Practicum: 150 hours of mentored leadership experience in a PreK-12 building. Work alongside an experienced principal to develop practical skills in real-world settings.
Licensure Preparation: Intentionally aligned to SLLA Praxis exam content and Kansas State Department of Education program standards.
Admission Requirements
- Current Kansas teaching license
- Master's degree or enrollment in M.S.Ed. program
- Administrative experience or demonstrated leadership (recommended)
"I loved going to Newman! All my instructors knew me by my name. I was able to apply everything I learned at Newman directly into my building. I loved every assignment—there is no such thing as busy work at Newman."
Liz Cothran, M.S.Ed., Building Leadership
"The first things first is Newman. The University is all about finding the mission and transforming the world. And any class you take at Newman, regardless of whether it was building leadership, or it was other coursework, some of the philosophy and theology coursework that's here is all about you understanding yourself and you understanding the world around you so that you can change the world around you. And so I've been able to do that since the first course I took"
Kelly Pendergest, M.S.Ed., Building Leadership