There are a variety of accredited educational leadership degree programs in South Dakota culminating in degrees ranging from the master of arts to the doctor of education. These graduate programs require students to have experience in the classroom, and many of them have online or night classes available to accommodate those individuals who continue teaching while completing classes. Leadership roles in the education field require comprehensive knowledge not only in education-related areas like curriculum planning, behavior modification, and learning styles but also in business-related fields including public relations, human resources, school law, finance, personnel evaluation, and project management.
South Dakota State University
Department of Teaching, Learning & Leadership
.
As part of the College of Education and Human Sciences, South Dakota State University’s Department of Teaching, Learning, and Leadership offers two undergraduate teaching degrees as well as four graduate degrees including the Master of Science in Agricultural Education and various Master of Education degrees. The university began offering teaching programs in 1904, and this specialized department was formed in 2009 bringing all of the education-related programs together under a single leadership. Professors are dedicated to keeping their curriculum up-to-date and take part in innovative research in the field.
Educational Administration (M.Ed.)
This is one of the few accredited educational leadership degree programs in South Dakota that can be completed entirely online. The program requires a total of 35 credit hours, and the curriculum is designed with little room for customization. There are 16 core classes including Introduction to School Administration, The Principalship, School Finance, School Law, Exceptional Learners, and Curriculum: Theory Into Practice. Throughout the program, there are a variety of practicums and internships during which students gain hands-on experience in school administration. In addition, there is a thesis option available in which students complete three credit hours of research instead of extra internship hours. Students can choose the elementary or secondary track and, upon graduation, receive Educational Leadership Constituent Council endorsement. This designation qualifies graduates for principal positions in South Dakota schools as long as they have at least three years of teaching experience. The campus-based program offers an additional track in adult and higher education, but there is no accompanying certification with this specialty.
Accreditation
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Contact
Office of Admissions
Box 511
Brookings, SD 57007
605-688-4199
katherine.bertolini@sdstate.edu
Website
University of South Dakota
Division of Educational Leadership
The University of South Dakota offers 13 different tracks in the Division of Educational Leadership which is housed in the School of Education. These include master’s and doctoral-level programs in curriculum, special education, and adult educational programming as well as three of the primary accredited educational leadership degree programs in South Dakota. All tracks require a year-long internship working in a school district, and students must have at least three years of teaching experience before being eligible for placement. Faculty members spend time with each student to ensure they have an internship placement that is relevant to their career goals, and the division also offers at least ten scholarships for graduate students enrolled in educational leadership programs along with opportunities for assistantships.
Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Leadership
The M.A. program in Educational Administration and Leadership has three specialty options. The Pre-K-12 Principal and the Adult and Higher Education specializations can each be completed either online or on-campus, but the Curriculum Director track is only available on campus. The Pre-K-12 Principal coursework does not include a thesis, and students must complete 32 credit hours including courses like Leading School Improvement and Principal Leadership in addition to a three-credit-hour internship. The Adult and Higher Education program offers more customization with 10 to 15 hours of electives built into the schedule. This program has both a thesis and non-thesis option. All students are required to complete four core classes which include Adult Learning Theories and Social Justice and Cultural Issues. The final Curriculum Director track does not have a thesis path and consists of 33 credit hours with many classes overlapping the other two tracks. Students do need to complete an internship and complete two in-depth curriculum design courses at the grade-level of their choice.
Educational Administration and Leadership Ed.S.
The Specialist in Education programs at University of South Dakota require 62 credit hours which is 32 hours past a master’s degree. There are four available tracks that lead to this degree. The Pre-Kindergarten-12 Principal and the School District Superintendent tracks are both available online and on campus. Upon completion of all coursework and a minimum three-credit-hour internship, graduates are eligible for a South Dakota principal or superintendent license. Both of these programs allow students to tailor their classes to their interests and career goals with the curriculum including around 30 hours of electives. The other two options are only offered on campus and include the Curriculum Director and Director of Special Education Ed.S. programs.
Educational Administration and Leadership Ed.D.
The Doctor of Education degree consists of a master’s degree in the chosen specialty plus 60 hours of advanced coursework including a dissertation spanning 15 to 20 credit hours. The five available tracks consist of Adult and Higher Education, Curriculum Director, Director of Special Education, Pre-Kindergarten-12 Principal, and School District Superintendent. Many of the classes are similar to the above programs, but Ed.D. students continue their studies into more advanced areas including research and theory courses. Students in the respective programs also receive South Dakota licensure as principals and superintendents. All of these paths also require extensive statistics coursework in preparation for research and dissertation work.
Accreditation
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
Contact
Office of Admissions
Box 511
Brookings, SD 57007
605-688-4199
katherine.bertolini@sdstate.edu
Website
Related Resource: Top 20 Master’s in Educational Administration Online
Effective and innovative school leadership plays a large role in providing adequate education to students from preschool to college. All of the above accredited educational leadership degree programs in South Dakota provide appropriate training for current teachers aspiring to be principals, superintendents, and curriculum or department directors.