Program Description

You want to improve your skills as an educational professional through advanced study and to assume a role of leadership. You want to be challenged and supported to excel.

• The School Administrator program is designed to meet requirements for certification as a School Administrator (Principal or Program Administrator options).
• Those without a masters degree enroll in the MED Program, leading to certification and a Masters Degree.
• Those already possessing a Masters Degree can enroll in the certification only option. Coursework and experience will be evaluated to determine specific requirements needed.
• Either of the options will help you meet your goal through a flexible program offered in small classes taught by a highly qualified faculty.

Program Features

• Program flexibility, with thesis and non-thesis options leading to administrative certification
• Designed for employed students, courses are offered evenings, weekends and summers.
• Use of case studies, field experiences and reflective assessment.
• Highly qualified faculty members with many years of real-world experiences working in classrooms and other educational settings.
• Students having a Residency teaching certificate may coordinate MED requirements with requirements for the Professional Certificate. Students wishing to pursue the Professional Certificate should discuss their program with their advisor.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are encouraged to have had at least one year of relevant work experience in the field of education. Other work experience with students is considered on an individual basis.

All applicants must meet the following qualifications:

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
• A GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate studies and/or previous graduate work.
• A score of 850 Verbal + Quantitative on the GRE or a score of 35 on the Miller Analogy Test, taken within the past five years (for MED only).
• Certification as a teacher or ESA in the State of Washington or comparable certification from another state.
• Letter of support from your district for internship placement is recommended.

Submission of Application Materials

Applications are accepted on a continuing basis. Since this is a new program, submit your application as soon as possible to ensure consideration in our inaugural class. Requests for applications and completed applications may be submitted to the following address:

Education Division
Director of Graduate Programs
Saint Martin’s University
5300 Pacific Avenue
Lacey, WA 98503-7500
(360) 438-4333
E-mail: education@stmartin.edu
Website: www.stmartin.edu/education

Certification Only Candidates

Those already possessing a Masters Degree can enroll in the certification only option. Most such candidates need to complete the strand courses shown on the back, but each candidate’s needs will be individually evaluated.

Master of Education Program Requirements

All MED degree candidates are required to take a series of general courses called “core” courses.

Students also choose a “strand,” a group of courses that constitute an area of emphasis or certification. Students can choose from one of seven strand areas School Administration (Principal or program Administrator certification) is one of those. A strand requires four to nine courses.

Students must complete an exit requirement – with thesis and non-thesis options – as part of their degree requirements.

Thesis option: The MED thesis option requires a quality thesis developed in consultation with the student’s committee. (Two semester hours credit are earned for the thesis.) A practicum and a comprehensive examination are also required in the Guidance and Counseling strand.

Non-thesis option: The program’s non-thesis option requires two additional graduate level courses (six semester hours) beyond the requirements for the thesis option, plus written and oral examinations.

Core Courses (19 hours)
MED 501   Professional Research Paradigms (3)
MED 502   Philosophical Foundations of Education (3)
MED 503   Psychological Foundations of Education (3)
MED 509   Educational Research Methods (3)
MED 510   Diversity and Social Context (3)
MED 561   Instructional Strategies for the Exceptional Learner (3)
MED 550   Integrating Seminar (1)

Exit Option (2 – 6 hours)
MED 599   Thesis (2)
  - or -
MED XXX   Two additional courses (6) + exams

Specialization Strand
School Administration (18 hours)
MED 505   Professional Development Evaluation and Supervision (3)
MED 531   Curriculum Theory and Development (3)
MED 553   Principles of Leadership(3)
MED 554   Principal as Leader of Learning Community (3)
MED 555   School and Community Relations (2)
MED 556   Educational Finance (2)
MED 571   Education Law (2)
MED 593   Principal/Program Administrator Internship (4) (2 each of two semesters)