Educational Specialist Degree and Director of SPED Licensure

• Applicants must possess a master’s degree, including at least 21 credits from among any of the following: teaching techniques, curriculum design, communication skills, education research/assessment, education leadership, or administration. If additional credits are required to meet the entrance requirement, those credits must be earned before starting Ed.S. program coursework. 
• According to the Board of School Administrators for the State of Minnesota, an applicant for licensure as a superintendent, principal, or special education director shall have three years of successful classroom teaching experience while holding a classroom teaching license valid for the position or positions in which the experience was gained.
• Applicants may apply for admission to doctorate programs at any time during the year. 
• A master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, for which the applicant maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, is required for admission. 
• Applicants may complete an interview with the program administrator as part of the admission process.

Students with transcripts from universities located outside of the United States, unless the foreign transcripts come from an institution located in a waiver country listed here, are required to take and pass English Proficiency testing.

Saint Mary’s accepts: 

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 72 
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.0 
• International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP) with a minimum score of 4.0 
• Pearson Test of English with a score of 51 
• Duolingo with a minimum score of 100.

1. A completed application form 
2. An official transcript(s) issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed master’s degree, other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits, and the institution where the applicant completed their K-12 principal or SPED director licensure program. The application requirements for our Ed.S. in Ed. Admin. program is the applicant’s completed master’s degree official transcript and the administrative licensure program official transcript.
   • You have two possible options for obtaining official transcripts:
     1. Order official transcripts from all institutions yourself.
     2. Saint Mary’s can order and cover the cost of transcripts from institutions that allow third-party requests for eligible degree-seeking applicants. Contact your enrollment counselor for more information.
   • Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course-by-course basis by a university-accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards. Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted.
3. A personal statement which includes:
   • brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience; and,
   • statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and his or her reasons for seeking admission to the program and,
   • description of the areas the applicant considers to be his or her strengths and areas in which the applicant wishes to develop greater strengths and abilities and,
   • personal information the applicant wishes to share.
4. Names of two people (including title, organization, email, phone number) who could serve as professional references, if needed, during the application review process. The best references are those who know you in a professional capacity, such as current or former supervisors.
5. A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.

Official Transcripts should be sent to Office of Admission:

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
2500 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404

Or electronically: tcadmission@smumn.edu

Please reach out with any questions about the application process.

• Phone: (612) 728-5100
• Toll-free: (866) 437-2788
• E-mail: tcadmission@smumn.edu

Fall 2025: Aug. 2, 2025

Spring 2026: Dec. 5, 2025

Summer 2026: April 4, 2026    

The priority application deadlines are listed but these are general as not all of our programs have a start every semester.

Fall 2025: Sept. 2, 2025 or Oct. 27, 2026

Spring 2026: Jan 5 or March 2, 2026

Summer 2026: May 4 or June 29, 2026

You can expect to be notified about your acceptance approximately two weeks following your application completion date.

At Saint Mary’s, we want you to succeed, and we help you do so, inside and outside of the classroom: 

Student Central: Your one-stop for student services.

Library: Resources and services are available 24/7 to all students.

Writing Center: Offers virtual and face-to-face services to support students. 

Career Services: Can help you develop your career-readiness skills at any point in your education.

The only thing virtual about your online experience is the classroom. Our flexible online programs offer the rigor and reputation you expect from Saint Mary’s. Explore more here.

If you are in a degree-granting program and enrolled at least half time, you may be eligible for financial aid. Learn more here.

Life gets busy. Whether you’re raising a family, pursuing your career, or playing an active role in your community, we know you want to keep up with what you love while you take the next step in your career. That’s why Saint Mary’s online programs are flexible and designed to fit your demanding life. Learn more here.

The annual Summer Institute, held on Saint Mary’s Minneapolis Campus, enhances the curriculum of the Ed.S. program with an emphasis on character, virtue, and ethics. The Summer Institute features speakers and formation activities aimed at preparing you to become a leader of character and lead schools of character. It’s a transformative experience that is professionally and personally rewarding.

The Educational Administration (Ed.S.) – Principal Specialization program is fully online. However, students are required to attend synchronous (live) courses every Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. during the EDS760: The Superintendency course.

Throughout the three one-credit courses, you’ll complete a total of 320 hours of documented field experience under the supervision of a licensed practicing administrator and a university advisor.

Each credit represents approximately 107 hours of service. The 320-hour experience must include 280 hours in a district and 40 hours in a different district. Per Minnesota statute, all 320 hours must be completed within 12 months.

Students should be aware that licensure requirements vary by state and are subject to change periodically. These requirements may include specific educational or degree criteria, relevant work experience, background checks, character and fitness evaluations, fingerprinting, and other stipulations. It’s the student’s responsibility to verify the current licensure requirements before enrolling in any Saint Mary’s program.

For more detailed information, including a program contact at Saint Mary’s, please visit:
https://www.smumn.edu/professional-licensure