LERN > LERN Master’s Degree Program

The University of South Dakota (USD) will award the degree. The University of South Dakota is fully accredited by the North Central Accrediting Association, and by the accrediting agency for education schools and colleges, NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education).

The program is governed by the current and future policies of the South Dakota Board of Regents and the University of South Dakota. The degree will consist of 33 graduate credit hours. Courses provided by LERN will constitute 15 of the 33 graduate credit hours. Completed LERN courses will be accepted for USD graduate credit toward the degree with grades for each LERN course being assigned by the LERN instructor/facilitator.

Academic, theoretical and research courses will be provided by the Electronic University Consortium (EUC) of South Dakota, and consist of courses offered by the following EUC member institutions: University of South Dakota, Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and South Dakota State University. EUC courses are delivered online and at a distance. No resident courses are required.

USD will work cooperatively with other system universities to deliver 18 graduate credit hours, with USD providing the majority of the coursework.

EUC and USD will:
– Provide online a curriculum in adult learning theory, teaching of adults, and adult education research;
– Provide a faculty qualified by degree and experience to deliver graduate level instruction in the courses that comprise the degree program;
– Provide admission and counseling support services;
– Award an accredited Master’s Degree in education to qualified students;
– Provide accrediting transcription of LERN educational experiences.

Elective Course (Choose at least one of the following for a minimum of 3 credit hours)

-AHED 553 Organizational Transition and Change Management (3)
-AHED 715 Foundations of Global Lifelong Learning (3)
-AHED 730 Community College (3)
-AHED 735 Instructional Strategies for Adult Education (3)
-AHED 740 Continuing Education (3)
-AHED 750 Current Practices & Problems in AHED (3)
-AHED 753 Financing Higher Education (3)
-AHED 760 Organizational Development (3)
-AHED 765 Distance Learning (3)
-TET 553 Organizational Transition Change Management (3)

LERN Courses (Maximum of 15 credit hours):

-AHED 790 Independent Study: Certified Program Planning (4)
-AHED 790 Seminar: LERN Institutes and/or Online Courses (1-3)
-AHED 790 Seminar: LERN Institutes (3)
-Electives Special Topics: LERN Online Courses (1)

M.A. in Educational Administration – Adult & Higher Education Program Total: 33 credit hours
(Minimum 18 USD credit hours, Maximum 15 LERN credit hours)

Persons who do not seek admission to the USD M.A. program may have a LERN transcript established based on their LERN education. It is not policy of USD to transcribe grades for students who are not accepted into the USD M. A. program as degree candidates. Please contact LERN at info@lern.org to find out more about credit for LERN courses if you are not enrolled in the USD M. A. program.

Admissions, Advising and Administration
Persons will be admitted to the program according to the South Dakota Board of Regents and University of South Dakota graduate admission policies. LERN and EUC both have a contact person to handle inquiries from prospective students. USD will designate a faculty advisor for each student admitted to the program.

LERN Transcript Information
LERN will provide to EUC transcription information for granting graduate credit.

Time for completion
It is estimated that students will be able to complete the Master’s Degree program in two years.

LERN Seminar/Institute Locations
LERN Institutes are held once a year in person and twice a year online.

Tuition Costs
For current USD tuition rates, click here.

USD Questions
If you have other questions about the University of South Dakota aspect of the Master’s Degree, feel free to email Andrew Nilges at Andrew.nilges@usd.edu.

You can take up to nine credit hours by registering online on theUSD/LERN website before you have to have all your transcripts and other materials in.

To apply, go to http://www.usd.edu/graduate-school/apply-now to complete the Graduate School Application Form.

You should forward a copy of your completed application to LERN to ensure you are properly enrolled in the LERN/USD Master’s Program.

Online learning is a fun, enjoyable and very productive way to learn. Millions of people are learning online each year. You will engage with the instructor and other participants. You will get to know your instructor and other participants. You may make friends.  It’s easy. It’s fun.

How the Course Works

It is easy to participate in your online course. After you register, you will be given a web address to go to get into your online classroom.  You will have a password and use your email address and password to gain access.

Once inside the online classroom, here’s what you can expect.

Participate when you want

You can participate any time of day or evening. The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are no live real-time requirements or meetings. You decide when you participate.
For the best learning, participants should log into the course on 2-3 different days of the week.

What you will do

For each Unit, you will:

• Access the online readings
• Listen to the audio presentation for the Unit and view the slides
• Take a self-quiz to see how much you have learned
• Engage in written online discussion with your instructor and other participants

For best learning, you should make one or more comments at 2-3 different times each day.

The content (readings, audio lectures, slides) and self quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.

Discussion

The Discussion for each Unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time of the day or night.

Your instructor will log into the Discussion area at least once a day and answer questions, make comments, and respond to comments by you and the other participants.

We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each day to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.

It’s easy. It’s fun.