Education Specialist Degree Program (Ed.S.)

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The Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership (Ed.S.) leads to advanced licensure in education administration (Superintendent Licensure). The program requires 36 hours beyond the Master’s Degree in School Administration. Students who have a Master’s Degree in an education-related field may have their transcripts reviewed to determine pre-requisite courses needed for principal licensure before entering the Ed.S. Upon completion of the Ed.S., students who are admitted into the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership may transfer up to 36 hours into the Ed.D.

Education Administration Concentration

(For those already licensed as a principal and seeking superintendent’s licensure)

Phase One Core (18 semester hours)

EDCI 800 - Research in Rural Education Credits: 3
or
EDCI 805 - Advanced Studies in the Foundations of Education Credits: 3
EDL 800 - Advanced Leadership Theory Credits: 3
or
EDL 810 - Behavior and Management of Educational Organizations Credits: 3
EDL 820 - Educational Politics and Policies Credits: 3
EDL 895 - Advanced Seminar in Instructional Leadership Credits: 3
EDL 896 - Seminar in School Law Credits: 3
EDRS 806 - Statistical Analysis in Research Credits: 3
or
EDRS 811 - Qualitative Research Credits: 3

Choice

At the completion of the core courses in the Ed.S. Program (18 semester hours) students will (with faculty approval) choose a direction for continuing study: 1) apply for admission to the Ed.D. and transfer the 18 hour core into the Ed.D. or 2) Complete Phase Two and receive the Ed.S. with Level II Licensure.

Phase Two Core (18 semester hours)

Required (12 hours)

EDL 877 - The Superintendency Credits: 3
EDL 883 - Internship in Rural School Leadership I Credits: 3, R3
EDL 884 - Internship in Rural School Leadership II Credits: 1-3, R3
EDRS 709 - Educational Testing and Assessment Credits: 3

Electives (6 hours)

From among the following:

EDL 732 - Leadership in the Integration of Educational Technology Credits: 3
EDL 740 - School Plant Planning and Management Credits: 2
EDL 750 - Educational Human Resource Management Credits: 3
EDL 876 - Ethics in Educational Leadership Credits: 3
EDRS 820 - Program Evaluation for Educational Leaders Credits: 3

Requirements

Students without principal licensure must either complete the Master of School Administration Degree or, if they have an education related master’s degree, have their transcripts reviewed to determine pre-requisite courses needed before entering the Ed.S.

Students are required to prepare a portfolio to demonstrate mastery of skills for leadership at the system level. This portfolio is reviewed by faculty prior to graduation. In order to be licensed at the Ed.S. level by the North Carolina Board of Education, upon graduation students should contact Western’s Office of Field Experiences to apply for an advanced license.

Completion of the Ed.S. in Educational Leadership does not qualify a student for admission to the Ed.D. Students admitted to the Ed.D. must request transfers of hours taken at the Ed.S. level to the doctoral program.

Degree requirements for the Education Specialist Degree

Applicants for the Ed.S. in Educational Leadership must hold a master’s degree in an education related field from a regionally accredited institution and are expected to hold principal licensure. Applicants who do not have principal licensure will have their transcripts reviewed to determine prerequisite courses needed for that licensure before beginning an Ed.S.

Applicants must submit scores on the Graduate Record Examination General Test and three recommendations, one of whom must be an administrative supervisor. Applicants will be interviewed by program faculty.