Oct 06, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Secondary Education Plus Certification (M.A.)


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Program Overview


The Secondary Education Plus Certification master’s program is ideal for individuals interested in becoming a middle or high school teacher. This program enables individuals with a baccalaureate degree to become certified at the secondary-school level in South Dakota and earn a Master of Arts degree. This program is unique in that students are required to complete specific graduate course work required for certification and one semester of student teaching. Graduates of this program are eligible for a South Dakota teacher certification in grades 7-12. The USD School of Education has been accredited by CAEP (formerly NCATE) since 1956. Learn more at usd.edu/tre 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 | Online

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


30-33 Credit Hours Required
  • Graduate Secondary Education Core 9 credit hours
  • Courses Required for Initial Certification 0-24 credit hours
  • Electives in ELED, SEED, INED, MLED, TET, LIBM, LT, SPED as approved by advisor 0-24

Electives: 0-24 credit hours


  • Electives in ELED, SEED, INED, MLED, TET, LIBM, LT, SPED as approved by advisor: 0-24 credit hours

General Application Requirements


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

*Requirements for admission vary by program and may require different documentation and have different deadlines. This list is not all-inclusive, to view specific program requirements and submission deadlines, follow the  “Admissions Information” hyperlink at the top of this page OR visit the specific program/dept. page found here: link.usd.edu/grad-catalog

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 Teacher Residency and Education
605-658-6639 | tre@usd.edu | usd.edu/tre

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

 

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