Doctor of Education in Educational Administration and Leadership - Adult and Higher Education

The Division of Educational Leadership develops innovative scholar-practitioners and transformational leaders who use critical theory to solve complex problems of practice. Students Learning Outcomes for Educational Administration and Leadership Degrees - Use inquiry to identify problems and bring about solutions to complex problems. Model equity-oriented inclusive leadership, including challenging injustices within the system. Acknowledge that every change is systemic change and lead people/institutions through the process. Respect multiple perspectives and diversity of thought. Build strong partnerships through communication, presence, and mutually beneficial endeavors. Inspire a shared mission and vision focused on the well-being and success of every member of the organization. Our degrees in Adult and Higher Education have been developed for those in the fields of adult education, and higher education teaching and administration. These degrees help develop professionals who can add substantially to the field with original and ongoing work as well as perform effectively as practitioners on the job. The Adult and Higher Education program encourages the student/learner to be a participant in the process, to choose directions and to make worthwhile contributions.

One official transcript (in English or with translation) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree or equivalent degree from an institution with regional accreditation and previous graduate credit and degrees must accompany an application. A transcript verifying receipt of a previous graduate degree may be required for some programs. Official transcripts must be sent directly to the University of South Dakota from the issuing institution(s). An electronic official transcript must be transmitted directly between institutions using the electronic transcript service authorized by the issuing institution. A transcript delivered by the student or issued to the student is not official. For applicants who have received their baccalaureate or graduate degree from USD or from any of the South Dakota Regental institutions, transcripts are available to USD and are nOfficial 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.ot required to be requested by the student.
Successful completion of a baccalaureate degree or an equivalent degree 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.
TOEFL (IBT): 79
TOEFL:550 on the Paper-Based
IELTS Academic: 6.0
PTE: 53
Duolingo:105
TOEFL Essentials: 8.5
Degree awarded from the US
All programs require letters of recommendation, but the number of recommendations may vary. Please see specific graduate program requirements for details. The letters of recommendation are requested in the application and should be submitted by the reference through the application (CAS Evaluator Portal).