Program Description
The M.Ed. degree in Educational Administration is designed to meet the needs of individuals who work (or plan to work) in an administrative capacity. The department of Teaching, Learning, and Leaderships provides professional preparation for those who expect to become qualified administrators in schools where certification is required, and for other institutions, businesses, industries and service-orientated agencies where an administrative program is of value.
The secondary and elementary specializations in Educational Administration meet the requirements for endorsement as a principal in South Dakota. Those seeking to complete the requirements for the principalship will have very limited flexibility in the coursework taken. See below for the coursework for each area of emphasis. These requirements are designed to meet the ELCC Standards as required by law.
The South Dakota State Board of Education requires that in order to be endorsed, individuals must have three years of verified teaching experience on a valid teaching certificate in a K-12 school, one year of which includes classroom experience or direct services to student.
Students are able to choose from either a program in which only coursework is required or a program in which they must complete a research project. If a student elects to take only course work (Plan C), the student must complete a minimum of 35 credit hours in order to graduate. If the research option is chosen, the student must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours including EDER 788 Research Problems (Plan B).
Course Delivery Format
The program can be completed online through the Brookings Campus or face-to-face through West River Graduate Center in Rapid City which also offers coursework in Gillette, Wyoming.
Student Engagement and Support Opportunities
The Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Department has several assistantships for which students can apply.
