Specialist in Education Degree Programs
Admission
Minimum admission requirements for specialist in education degree programs are as follows:
- a master’s degree from an accredited college or university
- a 3.25 grade point average on all graduate work attempted
- a score of 48 on the Miller Analogies Test or a score of 900 on the Graduate Record Examination
- three years of acceptable teaching experience
Admission requirements are appealable to the College of Education graduate appeals committee.
Curriculum
Students admitted as a candidate for the specialist in education degree must satisfactorily complete a planned program of study and a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit. At least 18 of these hours must be in courses numbered 7000 and above.
Eight hours in education core courses are required in each program leading to the specialist in education degree. Specific program requirements are listed on following pages.
A graduate student’s program, planned cooperatively with an advisor from the College of Education, will emphasize development both in the teaching field and in professional studies. Specific questions concerning Georgia Professional Standards Commission requirements for teacher certification should be directed to the office of the dean, College of Education, or to the department offering the student’s major.
Application for Graduation
Approval of an application for the specialist in education degree is contingent upon the successful completion of an approved program and recommendation for the degree by the College of Education. Applications for degree conferral must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar the semester prior to completion of degree requirements.
The following requirements must be met for the completion of the EdS degree:
- Graduate work taken prior to full admission to the specialist in education degree program will not be counted toward meeting the course requirements for the degree.
- Students must earn a 3.0 grade point average calculated on all graduate work attempted.
- No more than three semester hours of C will be allowed.
- A minimum of 15 semester hours required for the degree must be earned in residence.
- All transfer credit must have been earned after a student has been admitted to and enrolled in a specialist’s program. A maximum of six semester hours of transfer credit may be applied toward the degree.
- All degree requirements must be completed within seven years of first enrollment.
- No more than six semester hours earned in independent study may be applied toward meeting the requirements of the EdS degree.
EdS Administration and Supervision
Course Requirements
Area 1 Professional Core - Required Hours: 8
- EDUF 7115 Psychology of Teaching
- EDUF 7116 Applied Educational Research
Area 2 Concentration - Required Hours: 22
Option A
If the student’s master’s degree is in administration the following 22 semester hours will be required for the L-6 certification:
- EDUL 7698 Specialist Internship
- EDUL 7795 Seminar in Instructional Leadership
- EDUL 7796 Seminar in Human Relations
- EDUL 7797 Seminar in Finance and Budgeting
- EDUL 7899 Independent Study
- EDUT 7795 Technology Seminar for Administrators
Option B
If the student’s master’s degree is in an area other than administration, a program of study consisting of 22 semester hours selected from both the master’s and specialist level EDUL courses will be designed, as planned by the student and advisor.
Total Hours Required: 30
EdS Early Childhood Education
Course Requirements
Area 1 Professional Core - Required Hours: 8
- EDUF 7115 Psychology of Teaching
- EDUF 7116 Applied Educational Research
Area 2 Concentration - Required Hours: 16
- EDEC 7126 Teaching Mathematics Content and Skills
- EDEC 7155 Cognitive Development in Young Children
- EDEC 7899 Research in Early Childhood
- Select six semester hours (6000 level or above) in early childhood courses or related field studies.
Area 3 Electives - Required Hours: 6
- Select six semester hours (6000 level or above) in early childhood courses or related field studies.
Total Hours Required: 30
EdS Middle Grades Education
Course Requirements
Area 1 Professional Core - Required Hours: 8
- EDUF 7115 Psychology of Teaching
- EDUF 7116 Applied Educational Research
Area 2 Specialist Studies - Required Hours: 4
- EDCI 7158 Leadership in the Curriculum Change Process
- EDCI 7359 Specialist Project
Area 3 Concentration - Required Hours: 15
- Select concentration studies from the following:
- Language Arts: Select EDCI 7115, and ENGL/EDSE/READ at 5000 level or above)
- Mathematics: Select EDMG 7125, other EDMG math and MATH courses at 5000 level or above
- Science: Select EDMG science and BIOL/CHEM/GEOL/PHYS at 5000 level or above
- Social Studies: Select HIST/POLS/ECON at 5000 level or above
Area 4 Electives - Required Hours: 3
Total Hours Required: 30
EdS Reading
Course Requirements
Area 1 Professional Core - Required Hours: 8
- EDUF 7115 Psychology of Teaching
- EDUF 7116 Applied Educational Research
Area 2 Concentration - Required Hours: 12
- READ 7235 Reading and Adult Education
- READ 7236 Development, Administration & Supervision of Reading Programs
- READ 7335 Clinical Procedures (Diagnostic, Remedial, and Supervision) In Reading
Area 3 Electives - Required Hours: 10
- READ 7237 Research, Multicultural Education and Disabled Reader
- READ 7698 Internship - Specialized Needs in Reading Related Areas
Total Hours Required: 30
EdS School Counseling
Students must be eligible for certification in school counseling and may be asked to supply a copy of this certificate prior to admission. Admission requirements may be appealable to the College of Education graduate appeals committee. There is no provisional admission for the EdS degree program.
The following policy has been established for individuals holding an MEd in school counseling from Columbus State University who have applied for the EdS program in school counseling. It is possible that individuals holding certification in school counseling in Georgia could be required to take more than 28 semester hours (or less, depending on the transcript evaluation). This also holds true for individuals holding school counseling certification granted by another state.
- An interview is required for selection into the EdS program.This interview should be scheduled as soon as possible. (In the case of Columbus State University graduates, this interview process may be waived.)
- Each student’s master’s transcript will be evaluated. No charge will be made for an evaluation of a Columbus State University student’s transcript. A charge of $25 will be assessed to students from any other institution. Students must take their transcripts to the office of the dean of the College of Education and pay the fee before an evaluation can be made.
- After the transcript is evaluated, a written plan of study will be developed. The student will be given one copy of this plan, and one copy will go in the student’s file.
A minimum of 28 semester hours must be completed. Transcripts will be evaluated for prior graduate work completed, and additional courses may be required. It is also possible that after a transcript evaluation certain courses may be waived and proficiency granted.
Course Requirements
Area 1 Professional Core - Required Hours: 10
- COUN 7165 Counseling Children
- COUN 7215 Family Therapy Process and Practice
- EDUF 7116 Applied Educational Research
Area 2 Advanced School Counseling Concentration - Required Hours: 6
- COUN 7175 Counseling Supervision Theories and Techniques
- COUN 7698 Advanced Internship in School Counseling
Area 3 Electives - Required Hours: 14
- Select from the following:
- COUN 7185 Family Psychopathology
- COUN 7225 Counseling Skills 2
- COUN 7275 Advanced Techniques in Marriage and Family Therapy
- COUN 7285 Marriage and Family Assessment
- COUN 7286 Marriage Systems Theory and Therapy
Any other approved courses in COUN or other graduate courses which fit career objectives
Total Hours Required: 28
EdS Secondary English Language Arts Education
Course Requirements
Area 1 Professional Core - Required Hours: 11
- EDCI 7115 K-12 Curriculum Studies: English Language Arts
- EDUF 7115 Psychology of Teaching
- EDUF 7116 Applied Educational Research
Area 2 Specialist Studies - Required Hours: 4
- EDCI 7158 Leadership in Curriculum Change
- EDCI 7359 Specialist Project
Area 3 Concentration - Required Hours: 15
- EDCI 6118 Teaching Composition in Grades 4-12 or an approved substitute
- Select 12 semester hours in English specialty studies, curriculum and pedagogy or,
depending on prior English content studies, up to nine hours in related-field studies
including:
- EDCI 6159 Integrating Multicultural/Global Studies Throughout the School Curriculum
- EDUT 6205 Technology Workshop
Other related-field options include studies to gain a gifted education or ESOL endorsement.
Total Hours Required: 30
EdS Secondary General Science Education
Course Requirements
Area 1 Professional Core - Required Hours: 15
- EDCI 7158 Leadership in the Curriculum Change Process
- EDCI 7359 Specialist Project
- EDSE 7135 Curriculum Studies in Secondary Science Education
- EDUF 7115 Psychology of Teaching
- EDUF 7116 Applied Educational Research
Area 2 Concentration - Required Hours: 15
- Select 15 semester hours (5000 level or above) from biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, EDMG 6135, EDMG 6136, or EDCI 6235
Total hours Required: 30
EdS Secondary Mathematics Education
Course Requirements
Area 1 Professional Core - Required Hours: 15
- EDCI 7158 Leadership in the Curriculum Change Process
- EDCI 7359 Specialist Project
- EDSE 7125 Issues in Mathematics Education: Secondary
- EDUF 7115 Psychology of Teaching
- EDUF 7116 Applied Educational Research
Area 2 Concentration - Required Hours: 15
- Select 15 semester hours (5000 graduate level or above) from mathematics, or mathematics education courses (either middle grades or secondary levels)
Total Hours Required: 30
EdS Secondary Social Science Education
Course Requirements
Area 1 Professional Core - Required Hours: 15
- EDCI 7158 Leadership in the Curriculum Change Process
- EDCI 7359 Specialist Project
- EDSE 7145 Curriculum Studies in Social Science Education
- EDUF 7115 Psychology of Teaching
- EDUF 7116 Applied Educational Research
Area 2 Concentration - Required Hours: 15
- Select 15 semester hours (5000 graduate level or above) economics, history, and political science courses with two of three disciplines to be covered. These include special topics, independent studies, and selected internships.
Total Hours Required: 30
