Leadership Education - Director or Special Education Licensure (ELSE) - Certificate

Location(s): Online

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

30 credits

3.0 GPA required.

The K-12 Director of Special Education program of study is designed for individuals who wish to achieve proficiency beyond the master’s degree in leadership roles such as:

Director of Special Education
Assistant Superintendent
Executive Director of Special Services
Positions related to policy analysis and research in government and NGO agencies

Certificate and Licensure Option

The K-12 Director of Special Education Certificate acknowledges students seeking endorsement for state (MN and WI) licensure as a K-12 Director of Special Education but not seeking the Specialist (EdS) degree. The K-12 Principal is a formal licensure area for Minnesota schools. Licensure is a state function through the Minnesota Board of School Administrators (BOSA), for which the WSU Leadership Education Department is an approved program aligning with the rules outlined in Minnesota Rule 3512.2500.

Core Licensure Courses (24 credits)

LDRS 612 - Systems Thinking (3 credits)
LDRS 614 - Change Leadership (3 credits)
EL 604 - Curriculum Planning, Development, and Diverse Learners (3 credits)
EL 610 - School Law (3 credits)
EL 623 - Leadership of Special Programs (3 credits)
EL 628 - Human Resources and Collective Bargaining (3 credits)
EL 635 - Public Relations and Politics (3 credits)
EL 758 - Educational Finance (3 credits)

Internship (6 credits)

EL 764 - Director of Special Education Internship I (3 credits)
EL 765 - Director of Special Education Internship II (3 credits)