Educational Administration and Leadership - Director of Special Education (Ed.S.)

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Division of Educational Leadership

The Division of Educational Leadership develops innovative scholar-practitioners and transformational leaders who use critical theory to solve complex problems of practice.

Specialist in Education, Director of Special Education (non-thesis): Total 62 credit hours with a minimum of 32 credit hours beyond a conferred master’s degree in Special Education.

Major Area Coursework

EDAD 701 - Educational Leadership (C) 3 cr hrs
EDAD 714 - Instructional Leadership 3 cr hrs
EDAD 716 - Curriculum Leadership 3 cr hrs
EDAD 720 - Special Education Law for School Administrators 3 cr hrs
EDAD 721 - Administration and Supervision of Special Education 3 cr hrs
EDAD 754 - School Business Leadership 3 cr hrs
EDAD 735 - School Law 3 cr hrs
EDAD 740 - School Community Relations 3 cr hrs
EDAD 894S - Internship/Field Experience (Ed.S.) (C) 1 to 8 cr hrs (in SPED Administration 3 credit hours)
EDAD elective courses 0-9 credit hours
SPED 710 - Survey Cognitive Disabilities 2 cr hrs
SPED 730 - Survey: Learning Disabilities 2 cr hrs
SPED 740 - Survey of Emotional & Behavior Disorders 2 cr hrs
SPED 760 - the Nature and Needs of the Gifted Child 3 cr hrs
SPED 770 - Survey: Early Childhood Special Education 3 cr hrs
Note: A minimum of four courses is required including SPED 770, if candidate has not taken it in M.A. program, from the above list of SPED courses. Other SPED 700-level courses may be substituted with advisor’s consent.

Supporting Area Coursework

EDER 762 - Foundations of Statistics 3 cr hrs
Supporting electives/outside courses 11-20 credit hours
In addition to successfully completing coursework students must take a national professional exam designated by the Division of Educational Leadership to graduate.

Note:

*For licensure in South Dakota students need to take Indian Education (INED) 511.

Students have seven years from the time they are admitted to complete the requirements for their degree program.

Student Learning Outcomes

Use inquiry to identify problems and bring about solutions to complex problems. 
Model equity-oriented inclusive leadership, including challenging injustices within the system.
Acknowledge that every change is systemic change and lead people/institutions through the process.
Respect multiple perspectives and diversity of thought. 
Build strong partnerships through communication, presence, and mutually beneficial endeavors.
Inspire a shared mission and vision focused on the well-being and success of every member of the organization.

Courses or Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification

The University of South Dakota as of July 1, 2020, cannot confirm whether any particular course or program meets educational prerequisites for professional licensure or certification in states other than South Dakota. If you are planning to apply for licensure/certification in a state other than South Dakota after completion of your program, contact the academic department offering your major or CDE at 605.658.6152 or by email at cde@usd.edu. USD is working to comply with these requirements and will provide up-to-date information as it becomes available.

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference the State Authorization webpage below.

Information about State Authorization & Professional Licensure