Athletic administration
Graduate Certificate
Program overview
The Athletic Administration graduate certificate is a 100% online program that provides hands-on instruction from scholarly-practitioners and instructors for experienced educators interested in becoming certified athletic directors for K-12 schools in Maine. Students in the program will learn about organizational behavior, leadership principles and strategies, legal issues, and ethical leadership grounded in diversity and equity. In 2022, the Maine Department of Education (Maine DOE) changed the requirements for the Athletic Director (215) certification to require building-level administrator certification. By the end of the three-course (9 credits) graduate certificate sequence, students who already hold building-level certification will be eligible to apply for Athletic Director certification. Students who do not have the required administrator certification can stack this certificate with our Try on Leadership graduate certificate, which allows you to apply for Assistant Principal (045) certification through Maine DOE. Most school districts in Maine pay for nine credits per school year, meaning most students interested in the Athletic Administration certificate will face minimal, if any, out-of-pocket costs.
Ideal candidates for the Athletic Administration certificate include:
- Educators currently working as athletic directors who need to complete this coursework to qualify for renewal of their certification
- Educators who wish to take on a new role as an athletic director
- Educators who want to improve their job qualifications and skills in the eyes of potential employers
- Educators who want to use the graduate certificate program as a stepping stone to the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership program (Credits earned in the certificate program will count toward a future M.Ed.)
Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the Athletic Administration graduate certificate will:
- Understand the current issues and challenges of athletic administration
- Apply best practices in leadership around athletic organizational analysis
- Use a diversity and equity focus to promote ethical practices
- Develop strong interpersonal skills needed to lead as an athletic administrator
Course sequence
This 9-credit graduate certificate is designed to be completed in three semesters, essentially one academic year. Courses are offered so that students may begin the program in any semester. All courses are offered via videoconferencing.
Required Courses
- EAD 560: Functions and Theories of Educational Leadership or EAD 651: Organizational Behavior (3 credits)
- EAD 656: Social and Ethical Foundations of Educational Leadership (3 credits)
- EAD 567: Stakeholder Engagement (3 credits)
If you are a student interested in stacking the Athletic Administration and Try on Leadership graduate certificates, you can learn more about Try on Leadership at this link.
Careers
This certificate meets the coursework requirements for the Maine Department of Education’s Athletic Director certification (215). For specific information regarding certification in Maine, contact Maine DOE. If you are applying from another state, visit your state’s department of education for certification information.
Faculty
Our outstanding faculty have a wealth of research and practical knowledge to help working educators and other professionals address current challenges in education and improve the human condition. Courses in this graduate certificate program are taught by faculty from our graduate program in educational leadership, who have a wealth of evidence-based, practical knowledge of Maine schools and communities, particularly rural K-12 education.
To apply
Applications must be completed via the UMaine Graduate School’s online application form. New students are accepted on a rolling basis. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in education and one letter of recommendation are required. Once accepted to the certificate program, one “C” grade may be earned toward completion. All other grades must be a “B” or above.
Contact
Maria Frankland
Lecturer of Educational Leadership
maria.frankland@maine.edu
207.581.2738