USD/LERN Educational Administration & Leadership

Develop into an innovative scholar-practitioner and transformational leader who uses critical theory to solve complex problems of practice.

Master Your Educational Leadership Skills

This distinctive master's degree combines the academic, theoretical and research findings of adult and continuing education with the practical application of the responsibilities and duties of adult and continuing education administrators. This one-of-a-kind degree program is made possible through a collaboration with the University of South Dakota and the Learning Resources Network (LERN).

This unique program has been designed at the request of adult and continuing education administrators interested in receiving graduate credit by combining the practical, professional education that LERN offers with an essential academic education from the University of South Dakota, a highly respected higher education institution.

The combination of USD curriculum and LERN institutes prepare you for positions that include administrative and teaching positions in colleges and universities, junior and community colleges, hospitals, private industry and other adult training and educational settings.

Grow upon your past knowledge and skills and prepare for your future in an administrative position as an educational administration and leadership graduate student at USD.

Learn more about the M.A. Adult and Higher Education Program


 

Application Requirements

For detailed admission requirements, please refer to Educational Leadership in the current graduate catalog. Additional requirements exist for international applicants. For more information, visit International Admission Requirements.

For more information about the USD/LERN Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Leadership – Adult & Higher Education program, contact the Continuing and Distance Education office at 605-658-6152 or by email at [email protected].

USD/LERN Program Cost

The 2025-2026 graduate tuition rate for USD’s online courses is $484.10/credit hour. The tuition rate is the same regardless of the state or country of residence.  

18 USD Credit Hours $8,713.80
15 LERN Credit Hours $600.00
 Total $9,313.80

For information regarding costs for LERN courses and institutes, please visit the LERN website and click on “Events & Education.”  The cost of university credit for USD-approved LERN institutes and courses is an amazing $40.00 per credit hour. There are additional costs through LERN associated with these credit hours. This special tuition rate for LERN participants is an attractive feature of the USD/LERN partnership.

 

Departments & Facilities

Explore the departments, facilities and centers that contribute to your education.
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Continuing & Distance Education

We play the lead role in the development and coordination of programs and services related to online and off-campus programs and courses at USD.

Educational leadership students paying attention in a classroom.

Educational Leadership

Preparing education leaders to be effective educational administrators.

success story

LERN Student Tara Jones
Before starting the USD/LERN program, I was skeptical about pursuing my master’s degree online due to the lack of personal connection but after being in the program I can truly say that this is not the case! Every single one of my professors was dedicated to their students’ success and made me feel like I was sitting in a face-to-face classroom. I truly believe that this program is a great fit for anyone who needs a flexible, challenging and affordable master’s program from a great university.

Tara Jones

Training Coordinator
College of Southern Maryland

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