UMD Education 150 EduE 412 Library Dr Duluth, MN 55812 218/726-8547

The Education Administration Specialist is a degree program approved by the Board of School Administrators (BOSA) for the licensing of principals and superintendents. The mission of the program is to produce scholarly practitioners who can critically engage with the important questions in educational administration today. Our graduates articulate a clear vision of successful leadership and actively demonstrate a commitment to ensuring quality educational experiences for all teachers and students. This degree is committed to strengthening ties with area schools as well as providing experiences which prepare administrators for lifelong learning, globally engaged citizenship, and success. Experienced professors are not only steeped in theory, but they also have professional experience to add to their instruction. In addition to an internship, students will have the opportunity to participate in a field experience that can take them abroad or visit one of the eleven tribal nations in our region. The focus is on innovation, which promotes research and creative practices that leverage our human and cultural resources. Attention is paid to our indigenous and rural education and we discover best practices to share in a collaborative systematic approach. In addition, our students are experienced with collaborative web-based online programs and develop a broad scope of technology skills to enhance student-based learning in the schools they will lead. Our program fosters a positive and inclusive climate which values equity, diversity, and social justice. Diversity leadership, community relations, and field experiences in alternative placements and non-public schools assist in developing culturally competent administrators to be sensitive to the needs of all learners. We aim to serve the educational needs of Indigenous peoples as well as the economic growth, cultural preservation, and sovereignty of the American Indian nations of the region and state. University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is a center of excellence for graduate studies in the upper Midwest. When our actions are rooted in integrity and respect, we, as educators, can change the world for the better. Our goal is to prepare graduates who are sought after by employers because of their cultural, global, and professional competencies, as well as their strong curricular leadership steeped in assessment and instruction.

The administrative licensure program offers courses specifically designed to address the competencies required by the state of Minnesota for each license. Courses are hybrid offerings with three face-to-face sessions per semester on a Saturday, with the rest online, in addition to field experience and portfolio development.