Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Secondary Education Plus Certification (M.A.)


Program Overview


This program enables individuals with a baccalaureate degree in a content area equivalent to an approved University of South Dakota teaching major to become certified at the secondary-school level in South Dakota and earn a Master of Arts degree. Students with degrees in art, music and physical education will also have to satisfy the necessary requirements for K-12 certification. This program is unique in that students are required to complete specific undergraduate course work that is required for certification and one semester of student teaching in addition to graduate course requirements. Specific requirements are determined through a careful transcript review process. The USD School of Education has been accredited by CAEP (formerly NCATE) since 1956. Learn more at usd.edu/ci or usd.edu/online-seed.

Praxis Information for Initial Teacher Certification and Admission to Teacher Education
A series of Praxis tests are required to earn initial teaching certification. Students pursuing initial teacher certification must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test for admission to the Teacher Education Program. Students must pass the Praxis subject-specific Content Knowledge test to be eligible to student teach. Students must pass the Principles of Learning Test (PLT) for successful program completion and teacher licensure. Students may be fully admitted to the Secondary Education Plus Certification program, however, admission to Teacher Education is provisional until the content knowledge test is successfully passed. 

DELIVERY: On campus

Master of Arts, Secondary Education plus Certification Plan B only (non-thesis only)


33 Credit Hours Required
  • Graduate SEED core 21 credit hours
  • Required supporting courses 12 credit hours

Application Requirements


  1. Completed application
  2. $35 application fee
  3. Official transcripts*
  4. Letters of recommendation*
  5. Admission test scores*
  6. Statement of purpose
  7. Resume/CV*

*Requirements for admission vary by program and may require different documentation and have different deadlines. For specific program requirements and submission deadline, visit: catalog.usd.edu.

Courses or Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification


The educational curriculum for your academic program may or may not meet 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, please review that state and your program on USD’s Licensure-Track Programs webpage. Licensure-Track Programs

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 USD’s State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization

Questions?


Division of Curriculum and Instruction
605-658-6639 | ci@usd.edu | usd.edu/ci

Graduate Admissions 
605-658-6140 | gradadmissions@usd.edu  | usd.edu/grad