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Stand Out in Your Field
Effective school administrators can make a tremendous difference in the lives of others. The University of St. Thomas Administrative Licensure program is committed to providing you with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to thrive in an increasingly challenging environment for educational leaders. With a focus on social justice, our program is guided by current practitioners in the field, as well as award-winning educators and leaders.
Our administrative licensure programs are here to help you meet the demands of educational leadership. The School of Education also co-founded the Minnesota Institute for Trauma-Informed Education (MITIE) to develop, support, and advance the field of trauma-informed and trauma-engaged education. The institute seeks to provide an arena for scholars, practitioners, and researchers to convene and learn about the latest practices in trauma-informed education.
This program is designed for individuals with a master's degree in educational leadership looking to fulfill required competencies for a Director of Special Education licensure. An initial tier 3 teaching license is required to enroll in this program.
Cohort model, online courses
Summer, fall or spring semester (you choose)
All new students enrolling in the EdS with administrative licensure program in the Spring and Summer of 2026 will be eligible for financial support through the School of Education's Excellence in School Leadership Fund. This new fund was established to support and elevate school leaders in K-12 schools. As a result of our investment in administrative leaders, most students seeking their first EdS degree with administrative licensure can complete the program at a fraction of the typical tuition cost. This exclusive opportunity makes high-quality graduate education more accessible, allowing you to develop the skills and knowledge needed to drive meaningful change in schools and communities.
Simply submit your St. Thomas application to determine your eligibility!
My experience in the EdS program at St. Thomas was very rich and rewarding. The one-on-one attention I received from faculty and staff was just what I needed to succeed in the program. Being one of a few black women leaders in special education, St. Thomas prepared me to be open-minded and resilient in a field that is over-represented by students of color. I highly recommend this program to others who are trying to break barriers in the field of special education.
Current Position: Director of Student Services, Roseville Area Schools
My time in the EdS program helped me to think creatively, explore leadership, and apply what I learned through the yearlong internship. The cohort model allowed me to create relationships and connections that have had an immediate impact on my professional career. I would highly recommend the program as it will prepare you for leadership opportunities, challenge your critical thinking, and help to understand what students need in today’s education system.
Current position: Special Education Facilitator, Edina Public Schools
The EdS and Director of Special Education program consists of 31 credits. Required additional credits can be completed concurrently.
| Term | Summer I | Fall | J-Term | Spring | Summer II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Classes |
-Welcome to the Ed.S. Program - Online Orientation -EDLD 807 - Foundations of Leadership: An Intellectual/ Ethical Practice -EDLD 810 - Professional Pre-assessment (1 credit) -EDLD 826 - School Finance -EDLD852 - Field Experience I (1 credit) |
-EDLD 884 - Social Justice Leadership and Pedagogy (2 credits) -EDLD 621 - Research design, analysis, and critique -EDLD 805 - Supervision -EDLD853 - Field Experience II (1 credit) |
-EDLD 731 - Planning and Admin: Special Education Director | -EDLD 801 - Leadership and Organization Theory -EDLD 854 - Field Experience III (1 credit) -EDLD 820 - School Law |
-EDLD 840 - Admin of Special Programs -EDLD 878 - Portfolio Assessment -File for BOSA application |
The EdS and Director of Special Education program consists of 31 credits. Required additional credits can be completed concurrently.
| Term | Fall I | J-Term | Spring | Summer | Fall II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Classes |
-Welcome to the Ed.S. Program - Online Orientation -EDLD 884 - Social Justice Leadership and Pedagogy (2 credits) -EDLD 805 - Supervision -EDLD 810 Professional Pre-assessment (1 credit) -EDLD 852 Field Experience I (1 credit) |
-EDLD 731 - Planning and Admin: Special Education Director |
-EDLD 801 - Leadership and Organization Theory -EDLD 853 - Field Experience II (1 credit) -EDLD 820 - School Law |
-EDLD 807 - Foundations of Leadership: An Intellectual/ Ethical Practice -EDLD 840 - Admin of Special Programs -EDLD 826 - School Finance -EDLD 854 - Field Experience III (1 credit) |
-EDLD 878 - Portfolio Assessment -EDLD 621 - Research design, analysis, and critique -File for BOSA application |
The EdS and Director of Special Education program consists of 31 credits. Required additional credits can be completed concurrently.
| Term | Spring I | Summer | Fall | J-Term | Spring II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Classes |
-Welcome to the Ed.S. Program - Online Orientation -EDLD 801 - Leadership and Organization Theory -EDLD 810 Professional Pre-assessment (1 credit) -EDLD 820 - School Law -EDLD 852 - Field Experience I (1 credit) |
-EDLD 807 - Foundations of Leadership: An Intellectual/Ethical Practice -EDLD 840 - Admin of Special Programs -EDLD 826 - School Finance -EDLD 853 - Field Experience II (1 credit) |
-EDLD 884 - Social Justice Leadership and Pedagogy (2 credits) -EDLD 621 - Research design, analysis, and critique -EDLD 805 - Supervision -EDLD 854 - Field Experience III (1 credit) |
-EDLD 731 - Planning and Admin: Special Education Director |
-EDLD 878 - Portfolio Assessment -File for BOSA application |
Dr. Jean-Pierre Bongila, Ed.D, is the founding and current director of the Global Leadership Program (MA, Certificate & Doctorate concentration) at the University of St. Thomas within the department of Educational Leadership, which he joined in 2006.
Dr. Alecia Mobley is the Director of Special Education for Richfield Public Schools. She has been in district-level leadership for the past eight years and is an expert in designing programs to effectively serve and support students who have typically been underserved by educational systems.
Dr. Wharton-Beck began her career as a teacher for hearing impaired students in the Chicago Public Schools. Her leadership positions include mentoring and coaching teachers, serving as an adjunct faculty in higher education and as an elementary school principal.