Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Education Degree Programs
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers two relevant online graduate programs: a Master of Arts in Education for working teachers and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership for aspiring school and district leaders. Neither program leads to initial teacher or administrator licensure on its own, but both build on the school’s Lasallian teaching tradition and are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Educational Leadership degree can be completed in as little as 22 months with no GRE required.
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Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has offered a Christian, Lasallian approach to education since 1933, when the De La Salle Christian Brothers took over the school. That history shapes two distinct online graduate programs the university now offers educators: a Master of Arts in Education and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership. Neither is a path to a Minnesota teaching or administrator license by itself, so they work best for educators who already hold a teaching credential and want to deepen their practice or move into school leadership. Anyone still working toward initial teacher certification in Minnesota will need a separate licensure route first.
A Global Educational Powerhouse Emerges from Humble Teaching Roots
Saint Mary’s has been a Christian college since it opened in 1912. Its connection to teacher education dates to 1933, when the De La Salle Christian Brothers, an order founded to advance Christian education, took over the school.
In 1990, UNESCO awarded the Noma Literacy Prize to Lasallian Institutions for accomplishing the most in the fight against illiteracy.
Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the order’s founder, was canonized in 1900 for establishing free schools for the poor. That history still shapes how Saint Mary’s approaches graduate education: mentorship and individualized instruction over a one-size-fits-all curriculum.
The Lasallian Education Model
Lasallian institutions didn’t set out with a formal mission statement. A century after Jean-Baptiste de La Salle’s death, educators studying his approach distilled it into five guiding principles that Saint Mary’s still teaches today.
Saint Mary’s is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which covers both graduate programs described below.
Virtus et Scientia is Saint Mary’s motto: Virtue and Knowledge.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Online Programs Match Individualized Education with Personal Freedom and Support
Saint Mary’s School of Education offers two online master’s degrees relevant to working educators and school leaders.
Master of Arts in Education
The M.A. in Education (MAED) is built for working teachers who want to strengthen their classroom practice or start moving toward leadership roles, not for someone seeking their first teaching license. It’s a 30-credit program, typically completed in about 1.5 years, with coursework covering classroom management, curriculum design, and assessment. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 2.75 GPA. The GRE and GMAT are not required. Students complete an action research project analyzing a school or district initiative as their culminating work. If you’re looking to earn your initial teaching license as part of a master’s degree, Saint Mary’s directs applicants to its separate Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program instead.
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
The M.A. in Educational Leadership builds the management and analysis skills needed for school, district, and corporate leadership roles. It’s a 30-credit program that can be completed part-time in as little as 22 months on the recommended two-classes-per-semester schedule, with no campus visits or practicum requirement. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree and a minimum 2.75 GPA. The GRE is waived. Coursework includes classes like Facilitation Through Communication, Foundations of Educational Leadership, and Fundamentals of Management.
The degree alone doesn’t qualify graduates for Minnesota principal, director of special education, or superintendent licensure. Minnesota requires this kind of master’s degree as a prerequisite, plus a separate administrative licensure preparation program, such as Saint Mary’s own Ed.S. in Educational Administration or its superintendent licensure preparation track, to actually earn a K-12 administrator license in the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree programs does Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offer in education?
Saint Mary’s offers two relevant online graduate programs: a Master of Arts in Education, aimed at working teachers who want to strengthen their practice, and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, aimed at educators moving into school, district, or corporate leadership.
Do these programs lead to a Minnesota teaching or administrator license?
No. Neither program grants initial teaching licensure or administrator licensure on its own. Educators seeking their first teaching license should look at Saint Mary’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) instead, and those seeking a Minnesota principal or superintendent license need an additional administrative licensure program, such as an Ed.S. in Educational Administration.
What are the admission requirements for these programs?
Both programs require a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Neither requires GRE or GMAT scores, and applicants can transfer up to six semester credits earned before admission.
Is Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota accredited?
Yes. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which covers both the M.A. in Education and the M.A. in Educational Leadership.
How long does it take to complete these programs?
The M.A. in Education is a 30-credit program typically completed in about 1.5 years. The M.A. in Educational Leadership is also 30 credits and can be completed part-time in as little as 22 months, with no campus visits or practicum required.
- Two distinct online graduate programs — the M.A. in Education focuses on classroom practice, while the M.A. in Educational Leadership focuses on school, district, and corporate leadership.
- Neither program grants initial licensure — teachers seeking their first license need Saint Mary’s separate M.A. in Teaching, and aspiring administrators need an additional licensure program like the Ed.S. in Educational Administration.
- HLC accreditation covers both programs — Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota holds Higher Learning Commission accreditation.
- Admission is accessible — a 2.75 GPA bachelor’s degree qualifies for either program, with GRE and GMAT scores waived.
- The Lasallian tradition shapes the teaching model — mentorship and individualized instruction, not a one-size-fits-all curriculum, define how Saint Mary’s approaches graduate education.
Find accredited teacher certification and graduate education programs in Minnesota, including online options like Saint Mary’s University’s Education and Educational Leadership degrees.
