The Educational Leadership Department offers five degree programs--M.Ed., M.S., Ed.S., Ed.D., and Ph.D.

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) Degree is primarily for students who have some classroom teaching experience in elementary, middle, or secondary education and want to prepare themselves to become the principal of such a school.

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) Degree is also conducted as a distance education program in cooperation with the Tri-College University . The program is delivered over the Interactive Video Network (IVN, pronounced Ivan) H.323. Its audience is primarily students from the western part of North Dakota. There are additional credits and somewhat higher costs associated with the completion of the degree through the distance program.

The Master of Science (M.S.) Degree is for two different kinds of students. First, students who have a baccalaureate degree in any field (for example psychology) and who plan to work in higher education (say as a residence hall director in university housing or a counselor in financial aid) would apply for this degree. Second, people who have degrees in a field other than education (for example accounting) but who are or desire to be employed in elementary, secondary schools, or school district (for example as a business manager) for a position that does not require education certification would apply for this degree.

The Educational Specialist Diploma (Ed.S.), sometimes called Specialist Degree, is a terminal degree program designed for practitioners who are, generally speaking, principals who want to move into a central office role (for example curriculum director or assistant superintendent) or for school superintendents who wants to advance their qualifications and become eligible for positions in larger school districts. It should be noted that all public administrative positions in elementary and secondary education in Minnesota require the Ed.S. Degree.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Degree is among the most advanced degrees awarded by universities. It is intended for the practitioner who wants to operate at the highest level of competence and with the highest level of education and training available. The individuals who pursue this degree program pursue jobs at
all levels in school districts--the principalship, the central office support positions, and the superintendency. They sometimes pursue jobs in higher education as professors of educational leadership or in student service roles. More and more we see jobs in industry, business, and government that call for educational
leadership skills so there are some individuals outside the traditional education circles for whom this is an appropriate degree.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree is among the most advanced degrees awarded by Universities. It is intended for the person who wants to be a researcher/writer/teacher usually in the higher education setting. These individuals are typically educational leadership professors or are in some other way directly tied to the academic program of a college or university.