The curriculum is practitioner-focused with an emphasis on action research useful for cultivating growth in an administrator's staff and students. All students take the core courses that cover competencies common to all areas of educational administration licensure in Minnesota. Three tracks - K12 Superintendent, Principal, or Director of Special Education - offer students the opportunity to tailor their program to the type of educational administration license desired. If students want licensure in more than one area, additional coursework is required.
At the end of their course of study and in consultation with an advisor, students host an Exiting Assessment wherin they present their evidence of achieving each of the outcomes using their portfolio. The portfolio addresses each of the 13 core program outcomes and the selected administrative position outcomes required by the State of Minnesota for licensure. All students must successfully demonstrate quality performance in the competencies in order to receive endorsement from Saint Mary's University for their Minnesota School Administrative license. The Education Specialist Degree is awarded upon successful completion of the courses, an elective, the Action Research course, and a presentation of their research during their Exiting Assessment.
