Specialist in Education

Program Description

The Ed.S. in Educational Leadership prepares candidates to raise their level of proficiency with regard to supervising teachers, promoting, implementing and evaluating professional development programs, and developing, implementing, evaluating and revising curriculum.  This program may be completed fully online or in a combination of online and face-to-face courses.

Educator Preparation at Columbus State University is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

The Ed.S. Educational Leadership program is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Career Opportunities

After obtaining an educational leadership degree there are many job options available - if the candidate is certified - ranging from managing entire school districts to overseeing just one school. Examples of these careers are assistant school principals, school principals, school district superintendents, and college presidents. The assistant principal and principal positions are on the rise and are expected to grow 25% before the end of the decade.

Admission Requirements

In addition to general admission requirements, applicants for Educational Leadership programs must submit program specific requirements including:

• Current resume
• Statement of professional goal
• Two (2) letters of reference

Satisfactory scores on the revised version of the Graduate Record Examination with a "writing assessment" component for initial admission screening OR a copy of a teaching certificate.

Additionally, a candidate for the Ed.S. in Educational Leadership must be employed in a leadership position in his or her school district and present documentation of passing scores on the GACE examination for Educational Leadership. Selected candidates are then invited to campus for an interview process. Admission decisions are made after completion of all admission requirements.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will:

• Raise their level of proficiency with regard to supervising teachers, promoting, implementing and evaluating professional development programs, and developing, implementing, evaluating and revising curriculum.
• Be proficient in various aspects of human relations, and act as facilitator and mentor for all school staffs, students, parents, and community persons.
• Use all available resources to support the instructional program, as well as proposing grants and other means of support.
• Use technology to support both the instructional and other programs by being a leader and innovative in the use of technology.
• Have practical knowledge and skill in carrying out a school-wide or district-wide special project, and can set an example and inspire others.

Additional Program Requirements

These requirements must be met for the completion of the EdS degree:

Students must earn a 3.0 GPA calculated on all graduate work attempted. "Academic Forgiveness" policy does not apply to graduate studies.

Students cannot graduate with a grade of "C" or below in more than two (2) graduate courses without an appeal to the College of Education and Health Professions Graduate Council.

A minimum of 24 semester hours required for the degree must be earned in residence (75%). Asynchronous (online) and distance learning courses administered through Columbus State University constitute courses taken in residence.

A maximum of six (6) semester hours of transfer credit or courses taken at CSU prior to full admission to a specialist degree program may be applied toward the degree. Courses with earned grades of "C" or below are not accepted. Courses must be approved by the major advisor and department chair.

Program of Study

Area 1 Professional Core Required Hours: 4
EDUF 6795 Seminar: Foundations of Collaborative Student Support
EDUF 7116 Action Research: Assessing and Monitoring Student and School Achievement

Area 2 Concentration Required Hours: 32
EDUL 6279 Capstone Experience: Leadership for Improving Student Achievement
EDUL 7105 The School Improvement Plan
EDUL 7106 Curriculum Design for School Improvement
EDUL 7107 School Reform and The Change Process
EDUL 7698 Internship for School Improvement
EDUL 7793 Organizing/Implementing Framework for Data Driven Learning Community
EDUL 7794 Accountability and Effective School Models
EDUL 7796 Team Building and the Communication Process
EDUL 7797 Budget Alignment to School Mission
EDUT 7795 Technology Practices for the Efficient Management of Learning Environment
Note: Up to eight semester hours of approved electives from EDUL 6000-level courses that support specialty may be substituted for the above courses, as needed.
EDUL 7000 Portfolio/Verbal Analysis
*The specialist portfolio is to be evaluated jointly by appropriate CSU faculty and by a designated home-district school leader/mentor. Verbal analysis of the Eight Hour Field Experience Application/Action Research/Problem Resolution is required as part of the portfolio.

Total Hours Required: 30-36