Leadership, Policy and Administration: Licensure Options

All students seeking any administrative licensure must take EDLD 770, Professional Assessment and Planning, and EDLD 877, Portfolio and Reassessment.

Community Education Directors, Principals and Superintendents

The following is a summary of the options for licensure as a principal, superintendent or director of community education. Students seeking to pursue one of these licenses must meet all admission requirements of the Department of Leadership, Policy and Administration and the School of Education.

Community Education Director's Licensure

The University of St. Thomas offers three options to attain a director of community education license:

Option I

Complete the Master of Arts in Community Education Administration program.

Option II

Complete a 20-semester-hour program as follows:

EDLD 770 Professional Assessment and Planning--2 cr.
EDLD 565 Community Education Administration--3 cr.
TEGR 512 Human Relations and Multicultural Education--3 cr.
EDLD 567 Community Education Internship--3 cr.
EDLD 801 Leadership and Organizational Theory--3 cr.
EDLD 837 Topics--2 cr.
EDLD 850 Introduction to Community Education--3 cr.
EDLD 877 Portfolio and Reassessment--1 cr.

Total: 20 credits

For recommendation for licensure, the student must present a portfolio and demonstrate mastery of the competencies required by the state. An assessment team made up of licensed community education directors and qualified faculty will oversee this final assessment.

Option III

This track is designed specifically for those licensure candidates who hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and have had experience in community education, other school district experience or community involvement experience. All candidates must be admitted to the School of Education as graduate students.

Participation in this track requires enrollment in EDLD 770, Professional Assessment and Planning (two credits), in which competencies are assessed and a plan is developed to meet those competencies that require further development. This assessment may result in the reduction of the normally required college credits necessary for the applicant to be recommended for licensure. The student also enrolls in EDLD 565, Community Education Administration (three credits).

The student must enroll in EDLD 567, Community Education Internship (three credits), and demonstrate at least 200 hours in community education administration under the direction of a licensed community education director and complete a portfolio demonstrating competency in each of the state specified competencies. The student also must fulfill the state requirement for completion of a course in human relations.

Upon completion of the above, the student enrolls in EDLD 877, Portfolio and Reassessment (one credit). The completed portfolio is submitted to the University for review by a panel of practicing licensed community education directors and appropriate University personnel. This will include a situational observation and final oral examination. Anyone considering this track is advised to discuss this track with a university adviser prior to enrolling to make sure it is an appropriate match.

Principal Licensure

For students holding a teaching license:

A person who has three years of approved teaching experience and holds a Minnesota teaching license may be eligible for a K-12 principal license by completing the specialist or doctoral program or a program consisting of a master’s degree plus 30 semester hours in school administration, completion of a 320-hour field experience, and a situational observation component by a team of two to four members, including a school administrator. Advisers will help students assess necessary coursework and any other work required to fulfill licensure requirements.

For students without a teaching license:

A person who does not have the required teaching experience or license may qualify for a principal license by completing the specialist or doctoral program or a program consisting of a master’s degree plus 30 semester hours in school administration, completing a field experience of at least 320 hours, the state-required internship, which includes one school year of classroom experience; and the situational observation component by a team of two to four members, including a school administrator.

Advisers will help students assess the necessary course work and any other work required to fulfill the requirements for this license.

For currently licensed elementary and secondary school principals wanting a K-12 license:

A person currently licensed as an elementary or secondary principal may qualify for a K-12 principal license by completing a 200-hour field experience, meeting other state required competencies and the situational observation component by a team of two to four members, including a school administrator.

Advisers will help students assess the necessary course work and any other work required to fulfill the requirements for this license.

Superintendent Licensure

In order to be recommended for licensure as a superintendent in Minnesota, a student must have completed the education specialist or doctoral program or a program consisting of a master’s degree plus 30 semester hours in school administration. In addition to the required and elective credit courses in the education specialist program for school principal licensure, a student must have completed courses and demonstrated competencies required, experience of at least 320 hours and the situational observation component by a team of two to four members, including a school administrator. Advisers will help the student assess the necessary coursework and any other work required to fulfill the competencies required for this license.

Persons interested in a superintendent license who lack teaching background and administrative preparation should call the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning, (651) 296-2046, to obtain information on the requirements and process for obtaining a license.

Post M.A. Licensure: Director of Special Education

The director of special education license program is offered through the School of Education’s Leadership, Policy and Administration Department in cooperation with the Special Education Department. This competency-based licensure program begins with a skills and experience assessment and leads to the evaluation of competencies through coursework, portfolio completion and other means of valid documentation.

A program committee, consisting of University of St. Thomas faculty and a current director of special education, advises the student throughout the program.

General Requirements

• Master’s degree
• A special education teaching license
• Two years teaching experience in a special education license area
• Thirty credits of study beyond the M.A. degree

Sample coursework:

An example of an individualized plan for someone with no prior administrative experience.

EDLD 770 Personal and Professional Planning
SPED 731 Planning and Administration: Special Education
SPED 788 Instructional Strategies: Mild-Moderate Disabilities
EDLD 874 Administration and Personnel
EDLD 820 School Law
EDLD 845 Communication, Conflict and Decision Making
EDLD 622 Research, Design, Analysis and Critique II
EDLD 809 Politics in Education
LHDT 544 Computers for Instruction and Presentation
SPED 773 Practicum: Director of Special Education