Superintendent Graduate Certificate
Transform into an ethical leader.
Join the superintendent administrative licensure program at Saint Mary’s and drive lasting impact in your school district.
The online program is designed for those seeking a superintendent license in Minnesota. With a prerequisite of a master’s degree in any field, three years of teaching experience, and a current K-12 administrative license, this program equips you with a blend of organizational leadership theories and practical skills essential for effective district administration. Through our comprehensive curriculum, you will acquire the necessary operational acumen and collaborative decision-making prowess to lead with unwavering vision, purpose, and integrity.
As a leader in education, you must be a problem-solver who can communicate openly with trust and transparency, collaborate and create supportive relationships to support the district’s goals, and engage and understand the culture and dynamics of the community you serve.
At Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, our character-driven focus and commitment to ethical leadership will be integrated into your education and lived out in your role as a superintendent. Saint Mary’s has educated the next generation teachers and leaders for over a century. With its strong reputation in preparing highly skilled teachers and administrators, our program empowers you to adapt to complex challenges to serve students and communities. Enroll in our graduate certificate program to become the leader you were meant to be.
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Program Highlights
- Our courses are taught by a network of current administrators from throughout Minnesota, so content, examples, and experiences are real issues happening in our school systems today so learning experiences are authentic and timely.
- Consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis to start the program outside of January, May, and August.
What You'll Learn
- Collaborative, visionary planning, and decision-making to lead educational institutions
- Organizational operations including human, financial, and physical resources
- Promoting, creating, and monitoring appreciation and cultivation of diversity
- Positive and effective community relations relative to educational institutions
- Operate in a complex, global environment
Virtual Information Session
Apply for Admission
Ready to apply? Take the next steps here.
- Applicants must possess a master’s degree in an education-related field, 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 the Educational Administration – Superintendent program coursework. According to the Board of School Administrators for the State of Minnesota, an applicant for licensure as a superintendent 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 at any time during the year. A master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, for which applicant maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, is required for admission.
Students with transcripts from universities outside the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada (except for the Quebec Province) must 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 or Pearson Test of English with a score of 51
- Duolingo with a minimum score of 100.
Please see our academic catalog for a list of all approved waiver countries.
Your application must include the following items:
- A completed application form
- An official transcript(s) issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor’s degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution.
- 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.
- All applicants must submit 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 their reasons for seeking admission to this program and,
- Description of the areas which the applicant considers to be their strengths and areas in which the applicant wishes to develop greater strengths and abilities and,
- Personal information the applicant wishes to share.
- Two letters of recommendation that verify professional and/or volunteer experience and academic ability and,
- 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.eduPlease reach out with any questions about the application process.
Phone: (612) 728-5100
Toll-free: (866) 437-2788
E-mail: tcadmission@smumn.edu
- Fall 2023: Aug. 4
- Spring 2024: Dec. 1
- Summer 2024: April 5
While we have official start dates of August, January, and May, consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis to get started on the program outside of these dates.
You can expect to be notified about your acceptance approximately two weeks following your application completion date.
Tuition and Fees
We help you find ways to finance your education. Talk to your Enrollment Counselor about scholarships, loans, and other ways to make education affordable.
Course Catalog
Engage in 3 credits of field experience and enroll in EDS760 The Superintendency course.
The course catalog provides complete information about course requirements.
Careers & Salary
Superintendents who can rise to the challenges of today's schools are in high demand. Explore other career options such as an assistant superintendent of district officer administrator.
Superintendent
$100,592 per year*Frequently Asked Questions
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.
If you are in a degree-granting program and enrolled at least half time, you may be eligible for financial aid.
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.
Sources and Disclaimer
- ZipRecruiter, School Superintendent Salary in Minnesota at https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/School-Superintendent-Salary–in-Minnesota (visited April 13, 2023).