Superintendent

Our superintendent program requires 33 credit hours above a master’s degree. For full certification, you must have a valid teaching certificate, Master’s degree in Educational Administration with Building Level Certification, four years of teaching and supervisory experience. 

Students with a Master’s degree in another educational program may opt to enter the Specialist Program/Superintendent, but in order to receive certification, students must complete the 27 hours required by DESE from the Master’s level courses in Educational Administration.

Refer to How to Apply for more information about requirements. 

Refer to Program Requirements for more information about the program.

The following coursework is required:

Required 800-level courses - 33 hours. Students earning the EdS degree-Superintendent are prepared for career certification by DESE as an superintendent if they have earned a masters degree in educational administration or have successfully completed the following educational administration courses as required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for building level certificate:

• Foundations of Educational Administration (3 hrs)
• K-12 Principalship (3 hrs)
• Internship for K-12 School Principals - On-Site Parts I & II (2 hrs)
• Internship for K-12 Principals - Related Agencies (1 hr)
• Legal and Ethical Contexts of Schooling (3 hrs)
• Supervision and Performance Enhancement (3 hrs)
• K-12 Curriculum for Building Level Principals (3 hrs)
• Administration of Instructional Progams (3 hrs)
• Administration of Special Programs (3 hrs)
• Human Relations and Collaborative Processes (3 hrs)

Students must pass the required state assessments for building level principal prior to receiving certification.

Students must pass the required state assessment for superintendent prior to receiving certification.

All Educational Administration courses are taught using Missouri State Direct and online.