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Superintendent Graduate Certificate

Transform into an ethical leader by earning your superintendent certificate online

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 of teachers and leaders for over a century. With its strong reputation for 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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30

credits

$560

cost per credit

SeptJanMay

start dates

1 year

completion time

Online

30

credits

$560

cost per credit

SeptJanMay

start dates

1 year

completion time

Online

Superintendent Certificate Program Highlights

  • Courses led by active Minnesota administrators offer authentic, timely learning experiences rooted in current school system challenges.
  • Consideration for program start outside standard dates, accommodating individual schedules for a personalized learning experience.
  • You will have a dedicated university advisor with experience in education that supports you from admission to completion, assistingwith academics, field experiences, and program-related queries. Your success is our priority.
  • Discover scholarships available through our partnerships with several regional and national employers. See if your employer is part of our Trusted Partnership Program. Learn more.

What You’ll Learn in Our Superintendent Graduate Certificate Program

  • 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

Information Session

Join us for an information session to learn more about the program, the application process, and more. We offer live information sessions where you can meet program staff, as well as an archive you can view on your own time.

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.

  • Applicants must submit the following:

    1. Completed application form.
    2. 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, One Earth International Credential Evaluators or any approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards.
      • 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.
      • 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
    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,
      • 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.

    • Fall 2024: August 2, 2024
    • Spring 2025: December 2, 2024
    • Summer 2025: April 4, 2025

     

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

    • Fall September 3, 2024
    • Spring: January 6, 2025
    • Summer: May 6, 2025

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

Explore options to finance your education.

At Saint Mary’s, we are committed to making your investment as accessible and affordable as possible. Learn more about tuition, fees, financial aid, and scholarships.

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.

    Explore more.

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

    Learn more.

  • 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.

News and Information from the School of Education

 

Educators: Level Up With Online Graduate Programs

What’s Next in Your Education Career? Those who work in education may encounter many opportunities for advancement, but their level... Read More

How to Become a Teacher in Minnesota

Explore Our Online Master’s Degree in Teaching Program The role of the teacher is one of the most influential in... Read More

Why Adult Learners Feel at Home at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Earn a Degree or Advanced Certificate No matter where you are in life, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has programs... Read More

Sources and Disclaimer

  1. ZipRecruiter, School Superintendent Salary in Minnesota at https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/School-Superintendent-Salary–in-Minnesota (visited April 13, 2023).