American Samoa Certificate Program

American Samoa Certificate Program in School Administration

San Diego State University’s Interwork Institute through the Department of ARPE, has partnered with American Samoa and other Pacific entities to provide degree and certificate training for the past 30 years. These programs have resulted in over 100 working adults completing their graduate degrees while continuing to work and contribute to their island communities. San Diego State University’s Department of Administration Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education (ARPE) and Department of Educational Leadership designed a Certificate of Completion in School Administration to be offered through the Global Campus to specifically meet the needs of current school principals in American Samoa. This program offers seven courses in Educational Leadership designed specifically to support and improve the skills of practicing school administrators in meeting the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL).

At the request of the ASDOE, the San Diego State Interwork Institute worked collaboratively with the American Samoa Department of Education to design and deliver courses for the Certificate Program using a hybrid distance learning model. A cohort of at least 27 individuals were identified by the ASDOE to participate in the program. The ASDOE contracted with SDSU and the SDSU Research Foundation for the Interwork Institute to cover tuition, fees, books, and associated costs for delivering the seven (7) course Certificate Program using a variety of on-site and distance supported instruction. The program began in March 2022 and was completed in July 2023.