Secondary Education Plus Certification or non-specialization (M.A.)

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 (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

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

Distance Program Leading to Professional Licensure

Location Matters. This program is designed to meet the educational requirements for a professional license or certification and allows students to enroll in at least one course through distance education during the first semester. Pursuant to Federal Regulations, the program may only admit students who are located in states where the program meets the educational requirements for professional licensure or who attest in writing that they intend to seek licensure or employment in a state where the program meets those requirements. As part of your application to this program, you will be asked to provide additional information regarding your location to assist the program in determining your eligibility for admission. 

If you have questions regarding licensure, we encourage you to contact a program representative prior to submitting your admission application, as the application fee is non-refundable. For more information, visit USD’s Licensure-Track Programs page for links to the USD program websites and state licensure board websites. 

Additionally, this program is authorized to offer supervised field study experiences (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) in South Dakota. Please be aware that there may be some restrictions on your ability to engage in supervised field study outside of South Dakota. If you have questions regarding supervised field study, please contact a program representative. 

Distance education courses or programs will not be offered outside of the United States without prior written approval from the University, which may be withheld for any reason. If you are taking distance courses while physically located outsides of the United States, it is your responsibility to confirm the following: (a) if the country will recognize an online degree; (b) whether the program meets licensure or certification requirements in the country including the availability of supervised field study opportunities in the country; and (c) if the country charges any additional taxes, withholdings or fees associated with online distance education programs.

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