Program: Educational Administration and Leadership - Pre-Kindergarten-12 Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) - University of South Dakota

Apr 05, 2025

2022-2023 Graduate Catalog

Program Overview

The educational administration and leadership programs at USD are designed for school district superintendents, elementary and secondary principals, special education directors, curriculum directors, adult educators, and higher education administrators and classroom instructors. They develop education leaders to be effective school administrators by cultivating change for the future. Offered at master’s, educational specialist and doctoral levels, the programs can be taken on-campus, online or via a hybrid learning environment. Specializations vary depending on the degree level. Examples include adult and higher education, curriculum director, pre-K-12 principal, pre-K-12 educational leadership, director of special education and school district superintendent. The USD School of Education has been accredited by CAEP (formerly NCATE) since 1956. Learn more at usd.edu/eal.

DELIVERY: On campus | Online

Doctor of Education, PreK-12 Educational Leadership

Total 90-95 cr hrs with min of 60 cr hrs beyond conferred master’s degree or min of 30 cr hrs beyond conferred master’s degree & (either specialist degree or 30 cr hrs of educational graduate courses).

Major Area Coursework

EDAD 801 - Theory in Educational Leadership 3 cr
EDAD 805 - Inquiry for the Scholar-Practitioner 3 cr
EDAD 810 - Research in Educational Leadership 3 cr
EDAD 885 - Dissertation Seminar 3 cr
EDAD 898D - Dissertation in EDAD (C) 1 to 20 cr (12-17 credit hours required)

Supporting Area Coursework

EDER 762 - Foundations of Statistics 3 cr
Select one of the following:
EDER 763 - Qualitative Methods of Educational Research 3 cr
EDER 860 - Advanced Statistics I 3 cr

Note:

For licensure in South Dakota students need to take Indian Education (INED) 511. In addition to successfully completing coursework students must take and successfully pass a comprehensive exam and take a national professional exam designated by the Division to graduate. 

Application Requirements

Completed application
$35 application fee
Official transcripts*
Letters of recommendation*
Admission test scores*
Statement of purpose
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.

State Authorization - It Matters Where You Live

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 Educational Leadership
605-658-6614 | edad@usd.edu | usd.edu/edleadership

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