Program Description
The Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) in the Educational Administration program is designed for candidates who have already earned a master’s degree to develop school administrative leadership strategies, management skills, and research techniques with an objective of cultivating wise educational leaders able to lead flourishing schools. Minnesota State requirements for elementary and secondary principals, superintendents, or special education directors are embedded in the courses and the program completion options. The curriculum is practitioner-focused and rooted in research-based pedagogy, with an emphasis on leading with virtue and building high performing school communities. Instruction focuses on applying organizational leadership theories, the principles of wise leadership1, and the practical skills needed by school administrators to become leaders of flourishing learning communities.
The Educational Administration program and the Administrative Licenses are in compliance with all requirements in MR3512. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota affirms that the rules of the Minnesota Board of School Administrators governing the licensure programs for Principals, Superintendents, and Directors of Special Education are met and implemented within the program requirements.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, candidates are expected to become wise leaders of character and competence who:
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Exhibit an integrated understanding of the state competencies and code of ethics and their relationship to Saint Mary’s wise leadership model.
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Candidates understand a virtue-based approach to professional ethics.
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Candidates analyze state competencies and ethics and apply them to authentic situations and professional experiences.
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Candidates demonstrate command of state competencies through articulation of pertinent competencies and ethics code in appropriate context.
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Explore and understand personal development through the wise leadership model.
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Candidates increase their knowledge and understanding of moral virtues including practical wisdom and its connections to leadership practice.
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Candidates apply individual moral virtues and character traits to their administrative duties and leadership responsibilities.
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Candidates model wise leadership practices and demonstrate their application in educational leadership settings.
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Engage a full range of leadership competencies with an emphasis on wise leadership in the context of their organizations and communities.
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Candidates analyze a range of leadership models and competencies and understand their application in different organizational contexts.
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Candidates apply wise leadership principles and educational theories in the context of complex, contemporary educational and administrative settings.
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Cultivate the necessary character traits and dispositions of a wise leader that foster respect for the dignity of every human person.
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Candidates identify the components of wise leadership that are necessary to foster respect and dignity for every human person.
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Candidates apply wise leadership practices through fostering moral reasoning and ethical leadership in themselves and others.
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Candidates model character traits that foster respect for the dignity of every human person.
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Integrate practical wisdom and ethical behavior consistently in multiple educational leadership contexts.
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Candidates demonstrate awareness of moral and ethical dilemmas2
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Candidates are able to weigh multiple perspectives and responses in order to make moral judgments3.
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Candidates apply and evaluate wise leadership practices in the face of moral challenges, dilemmas, and opportunities4.
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Candidates synthesize acquired knowledge of wise leadership and moral reasoning in order to apply them to specific actions and behaviors aligned to these principles5.
1Wise leaders exemplify prudence in judgment, virtuous decision-making, and model good, moral action. Through their awareness, judgment, and motivation, they draw on practical wisdom, and are called to act with virtue. Wise leaders foster an educational environment conducive to good moral action and thought in others.
2Morally sensitive (aware of opportunities to exhibit good moral leadership)
3A good moral judge (capable of good judgment based on practical wisdom)
4Morally motivated (oriented toward the good and inspired toward action)
5Prone to good moral thought and deed (committed to good moral action)
Minnesota State Core Competencies
The following outcomes are state-identified competencies for educational administration. (A complete list of requirements can be found at MN Statute 3512.0510):
Core Competencies:
A. Leadership
B. Organizational Management
C. Equity and Culturally Responsive Leadership
D. Policy and Law
E. Political Influence and Governance
F. Communication
G. Community Relations
H. Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for Success of All Learners
I. Human Resource Management.
J. Values and Ethics Leadership
K. Judgment and Problem Analysis
L. Safety and Security
Principal Specific Outcomes
PA. Instructional Leadership
PB. Monitor Student Learning
PC. PK-12 Leadership
Superintendent Specific Outcomes
SA. Policy and Law
SB. Political Influence and Governance
SC. Communication
SD. Fiscal Management
SE. Judgment and Problem Analysis
Special Education Director Specific Outcomes
SEDA. Policy and Law
SEDB. Organizational Management
SEDC. Resource/Fiscal Management
Program Structure and Delivery
Minnesota State requirements for elementary and secondary principals, superintendents, or special education directors are embedded in the courses and the program completion options.
All students take the core courses that cover competencies common to all areas of educational administration licensure in Minnesota. Three options offer students the opportunity to tailor their program to the type of educational administration license they desire. If students want licensure in more than one area, additional coursework is required.
In addition, two final courses and a presentation of their research thesis during their exit assessment are required to earn the Education Specialist degree. These courses include an action research methods course and an action research seminar course in which students complete and document their action research project in a thesis. At the end of the program, students present their action research and a portfolio. The portfolio addresses each of the 12 core program outcomes and the selected administrative position outcomes required by the State of Minnesota for licensure. All students must successfully demonstrate quality performance in the competencies in order to receive endorsement from Saint Mary’s University for their Minnesota School Administrative license.
Students may transfer a maximum of six graduate semester credits from a regionally accredited institution. Credits must have been earned during the five years prior to admission, be administrative in nature, have been approved by the program director and the dean, and have not been used as a part of another degree program. After acceptance into the program, all subsequent courses must be earned at Saint Mary’s University.
The principal and special education director license options are offered remote delivery with the addition of a summer institute. Students may start these options at the beginning of fall and spring semesters only.
The school superintendent license option is offered as remote delivery and is only available in the summer semester.
The EdS degree completion courses are offered remote delivery.