Educational Specialist in Educational Administration and Leadership - Director of Special Education in Vermillion United States | University of South Dakota

University of South Dakota | Vermillion United States
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Qualification
First-Professional Degree
Languages
English
Delivery Mode
On-Campus
Tuition (2025)
USD 12,768
Attendance
Full-time
Full-time Duration
30 months

The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) program with a focus on special education leadership equips future administrators to oversee and enhance services for students with diverse learning needs. This 62-credit curriculum offers extensive elective options spanning cognitive impairments, behavioral challenges, and early intervention strategies, while preparing graduates to influence systemic change through leadership positions.
Build upon your existing expertise to advance toward administrative roles in Pre-K through 12th grade environments. USD's special education leadership specialization cultivates thoughtful practitioners who integrate research, theory, and practical experience into their decision-making processes. This reflective approach guides administrators through continuous cycles of analysis and implementation grounded in professional ethics and pedagogical knowledge. Ideal for current educators pursuing career advancement, our program pairs you with faculty mentors to create customized study plans focused on your specific administrative interests and goals.


Destination of Study

Subjects of Study

Language Requirements

English
IELTS 6.0

Qualification Requirements

Official transcript(s) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and previous graduate credit (in English or with translation). Transcripts must be complete (e.g., if currently enrolled, work-in-progress coursework must be included, foreign transcripts must include a grading scale, and for countries that issue, copy of degree certificate/diploma i.e., India, Nepal, etc.). The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
Baccalaureate degree must be from an institution with institutional accreditation for that degree. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.7 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework is required for full admission. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per university policy.
Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained a high school diploma, undergraduate, or graduate degree from an institutionally accredited American college or university or from an accredited institution in the approved list of English-speaking countries are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants with degrees from other countries, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT), 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), 8.5 on the TOEFL Essentials, 6.0 on the IELTS Academic, 53 on the PTE, or 110 on Duolingo is required for graduate admission.
Applicants applying to the EdD are required to complete the Educational Leadership Writing Prompt. Applicants for the M.A. and Ed.S. programs are required to complete a statement of purpose.

Tuition USD 12,768

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