Dean vs. Principal — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 12, 2023
Dean and Principal are leadership roles in education, with Dean often overseeing a college or department, and Principal leading a school.
Difference Between Dean and Principal
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The term "Dean" typically refers to a person who heads a specific division or department in a college or university. Their role might encompass a range of duties such as overseeing academic matters, ensuring smooth departmental operations, or working with students on their academic progress.
On the other hand, a "Principal" is commonly the leader or head of an elementary, middle, or high school. They play a key role in supervising the day-to-day operations of the school, ensuring educational standards are met, and making decisions related to staff and student matters.
A Dean's jurisdiction is often more specialized than a Principal's. For instance, a university might have different Deans for the College of Arts, the School of Business, and the Faculty of Science. These Deans would focus on the specific needs and challenges of their respective departments.
In contrast, a Principal typically has a broader scope of responsibility, overseeing the entirety of a school, from its academic curriculum to administrative matters. While a Dean may collaborate with faculty members for curriculum design or research focus, a Principal may work with teachers, students, and parents to ensure an effective learning environment.
In summary, while both Dean and Principal are important leadership roles within the realm of education, their functions and spheres of influence are distinct. A Dean often operates within the collegiate or university environment, focusing on a specific academic unit, whereas a Principal is centered on the holistic management of a school.
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Comparison Chart
Institution
College or University
Elementary, Middle, or High School
Scope
Specific department or division
Entire school
Interactions
Faculty, students, administrators
Teachers, students, parents, staff
Main Duties
Academic oversight, research
Day-to-day operations, school policies
Appointments
Selected by university officials
Hired by school board or district
Compare with Definitions
Dean
A senior figure in religious institutions.
The Dean delivered a powerful sermon on Sunday.
Principal
A person who commits a crime or an act.
He was the principal in the robbery case.
Dean
A leader or head of a group or organization.
As the Dean of the journalist group, he was responsible for organizing the annual conference.
Principal
First in order of importance; main
The country's principal cities
Dean
The longest-serving member in some legislative bodies.
As the Dean of the Senate, he had seen many policies come and go.
Principal
Denoting an original sum invested or lent
The principal amount of your investment
Dean
An academic official overseeing a college or university department.
The Dean of the Business School announced a new scholarship program.
Principal
The most important or senior person in an organization or group
A design consultancy whose principal is based in San Francisco
Dean
An administrative officer in charge of a college, faculty, or division in a university.
Principal
A sum of money lent or invested, on which interest is paid
The winners are paid from the interest without even touching the principal
Dean
An officer of a college or high school who counsels students and supervises the enforcement of rules.
Principal
A person for whom another acts as an agent or representative
Stockbrokers in Tokyo act as agents rather than as principals
Dean
(Ecclesiastical) The head of the chapter of canons governing a cathedral or collegiate church.
Principal
The person directly responsible for a crime.
Dean
Roman Catholic Church A priest appointed to oversee a group of parishes within a diocese.
Principal
A main rafter supporting purlins.
Dean
The senior member of a body or group
The dean of the Washington diplomatic corps.
Principal
An organ stop sounding a main register of open flue pipes typically an octave above the diapason
All the principals are on one manual
Dean
A senior official in a college or university, who may be in charge of a division or faculty (for example, the dean of science) or have some other advisory or disciplinary function (for example, the dean of students).
Principal
First or highest in rank or importance.
Dean
A dignitary or presiding officer in certain church bodies, especially an ecclesiastical dignitary, subordinate to a bishop, in charge of a chapter of canons.
Principal
Of, relating to, or being financial principal, or a principal in a financial transaction.
Dean
The senior member of some group of people.
Dean of the diplomatic corps - a country's most senior ambassador
Dean of the House - the longest-serving member of a legislature
Principal
One who holds a position of presiding rank, especially the head of an elementary school, middle school, or high school.
Dean
A hill.
Principal
A main participant in a situation, especially a financial transaction.
Dean
To serve as a dean.
Principal
A person having a leading or starring role in a performance, such as the first player in a section of an orchestra.
Dean
To send (a student) to see the dean of a college or university.
Principal
An amount of capital originally borrowed or invested, as opposed to the interest paid or accruing on it.
Dean
A dignitary or presiding officer in certain ecclesiastical and lay bodies; esp., an ecclesiastical dignitary, subordinate to a bishop.
Principal
The most significant part of an estate, as opposed to minor or incidental components.
Dean
The collegiate officer in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, England, who, besides other duties, has regard to the moral condition of the college.
Principal
The person on behalf of whom an agent acts.
Dean
The head or presiding officer in the faculty of some colleges or universities.
Principal
The person having prime responsibility for an obligation as distinguished from one who acts as surety or as an endorser.
Dean
A registrar or secretary of the faculty in a department of a college, as in a medical, or theological, or scientific department.
Principal
The main actor in the perpetration of a crime.
Dean
The chief or senior of a company on occasion of ceremony; as, the dean of the diplomatic corps; - so called by courtesy.
Principal
(Architecture) Either of a pair of inclined timbers forming the sides of a triangular truss for a pitched roof.
Dean
An administrator in charge of a division of a university or college
Principal
Primary; most important; first level in importance.
Smith is the principal architect of this design.
The principal cause of the failure was poor planning.
Dean
United States film actor whose moody rebellious roles made him a cult figure (1931-1955)
Principal
Of or relating to a prince; princely.
Dean
A man who is the senior member of a group;
He is the dean of foreign correspondents
Principal
(mathematics) Chosen or assumed among a branch of possible values of a multi-valued function so that the function is single-valued.
Two is the principal square root of 4. Both −2 and +2 are square roots of 4.
Dean
(Roman Catholic Church) the head of the College of Cardinals
Principal
The money originally invested or loaned, on which basis interest and returns are calculated.
A portion of your mortgage payment goes to reduce the principal, and the rest covers interest.
Dean
A title given to someone as an honor for their achievements.
She was named the Dean of American Playwrights.
Principal
The chief administrator of a school.
Principal
The chief executive and chief academic officer of a university or college.
Principal
(legal) A legal person that authorizes another (the agent) to act on their behalf; or on whose behalf an agent or gestor in a negotiorum gestio acts.
When an attorney represents a client, the client is the principal who permits the attorney, the client′s agent, to act on the client′s behalf.
My principal sells metal shims.
Principal
(legal) The primary participant in a crime.
Principal
(North America) A partner or owner of a business.
Principal
(music) A diapason, a type of organ stop on a pipe organ.
Principal
The construction that gives shape and strength to a roof, generally a truss of timber or iron; or, loosely, the most important member of a piece of framing.
Principal
The first two long feathers of a hawk's wing.
Principal
One of the turrets or pinnacles of waxwork and tapers with which the posts and centre of a funeral hearse were formerly crowned
Principal
(obsolete) An essential point or rule; a principle.
Principal
A dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company.
Principal
(computing) A security principal.
Principal
Highest in rank, authority, character, importance, or degree; most considerable or important; chief; main; as, the principal officers of a Government; the principal men of a state; the principal productions of a country; the principal arguments in a case.
Wisdom is the principal thing.
Principal
Of or pertaining to a prince; princely.
Principal
A leader, chief, or head; one who takes the lead; one who acts independently, or who has controlling authority or influence; as, the principal of a faction, a school, a firm, etc.; - distinguished from a subordinate, abettor, auxiliary, or assistant.
Principal
The chief actor in a crime, or an abettor who is present at it, - as distinguished from an accessory.
Principal
A thing of chief or prime importance; something fundamental or especially conspicuous.
Principal
The original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
Principal
The educator who has executive authority for a school;
She sent unruly pupils to see the principal
Principal
An actor who plays a principal role
Principal
Capital as contrasted with the income derived from it
Principal
The major party to a financial transaction at a stock exchange; buys and sells for his own account
Principal
Most important element;
The chief aim of living
The main doors were of solid glass
The principal rivers of America
The principal example
Policemen were primary targets
Principal
The head of an elementary, middle, or high school.
The Principal announced a new policy for the school year.
Principal
A sum of money lent or invested, excluding any interest or dividends.
The loan's interest rate is 5%, but the principal remains the same.
Principal
A leading performer in a show or play.
The principal dancer received a standing ovation.
Principal
A fundamental truth or proposition.
Honesty is a principal value in our family.
Common Curiosities
What is a Dean's primary role in academia?
A Dean oversees specific departments or divisions within a college or university.
What is a Principal's primary role?
A Principal is the head of an elementary, middle, or high school overseeing its operations.
Can a university have multiple Deans?
Yes, universities can have different Deans for different academic units or faculties.
Are all Principals only found in schools?
No, "Principal" can also refer to sums of money, a main actor, or a primary person responsible for an act.
Who does a Principal commonly interact with?
Principals interact with teachers, students, parents, and school staff.
What's the difference between a Dean and a professor?
A Dean is an administrative leader, while a professor focuses on teaching and research.
Is a Principal involved in teaching?
Principals primarily handle administrative tasks, but they may occasionally teach or fill in for teachers.
Is a Dean's role limited to academia?
Mostly, but "Dean" can also refer to senior figures in religious institutions or long-serving members in legislative bodies.
Who appoints a Dean in a university?
Deans are typically selected by university officials or committees.
How do Principals typically get their positions?
Principals are often hired by school boards or educational districts.
Do Deans have tenure?
Some Deans may have tenure as faculty members, but their administrative role as Dean is often separate from a tenured position.
Can a Dean influence curriculum changes?
Yes, Deans often work with faculty on curriculum design and academic standards.
What's a common challenge for Principals?
Managing the diverse needs of students, teachers, parents, and staff in a school environment.
Can a Principal change school policies?
Yes, Principals often play a key role in formulating and implementing school policies.
Can both Deans and Principals have advanced degrees?
Yes, both roles often require or prefer candidates to have advanced degrees in education or related fields.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
