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Arkansas State University

Online Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Programs


Arkansas State University offers six online Education Specialist (Ed.S.) programs — four in Educational Leadership (Curriculum Director, Gifted & Talented Director, Special Education Director, Principalship) plus Superintendent and Reading — each a CAEP-accredited, 30-credit-hour, $10,500 post-master's degree completed in as few as 12-18 months. Built for educators who already hold a master's degree, each concentration leads to a specific administrator license or advanced specialist role.

Parent teacher conference with young student

Why Choose an A-State Online Ed.S. Postgraduate degree?

  • Interactive instruction and personalized attention from engaged faculty
  • Flexible, online coursework enables you to learn anytime and anywhere
  • One consistent price across all six concentrations, the same rate for every Ed.S. track
  • CAEP-accredited coursework recognized by the Arkansas Department of Education for licensure purposes
  • An embedded internship in every leadership track, completed at your own school or district rather than on campus
  • Learn from faculty who've done the job, including a program chair who is a former superintendent and instructors who are former principals

Which Online Program is Right for You?

Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Curriculum Director online

GRADUATE DEGREE

Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Curriculum Director

As few as 14-16 months Duration
30 Credit Hours
$10,500 Total Tuition

Prepare for a curriculum leadership role at the campus or district level with the Education Specialization in Educational Leadership, Curriculum Director online program. This Ed.S. program includes an internship requirement that can be completed while you continue working as an educator or school administrator.

In this online program, you will gain the knowledge and skills you need to confidently design course curriculum, instructional materials and student-centered learning activities to meet the educational needs of students. You will learn to evaluate and develop educational programs, using textbooks and classroom technologies, and guide teacher professional development. As part of this online program, you will also focus on leadership operational responsibilities such as administrative logistics, ethical and professional practices and legislative aspects of the school system from a curriculum leadership perspective.

View Program
Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Gifted and Talented Director online

GRADUATE DEGREE

Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Gifted and Talented Director

As few as 14-16 months Duration
30 Credit Hours
$10,500 Total Tuition

Prepare for a leadership role in gifted and talented education at the campus or district level with the Education Specialization in Educational Leadership, Gifted and Talented Director online program. This Ed.S. program includes an internship requirement that can be completed while you continue working as an educator or school administrator.

Designed to provide you with a deeper understanding of the unique needs of gifted and talented students, this online program will enhance your ability to lead staff in the identification, selection, placement and development of gifted children. You will focus on the perspectives, skills and processes necessary to manage advanced curriculum and learn to direct the evaluation and continuous improvement processes of gifted education programs.

View Program
Education Specialist in Reading online

GRADUATE DEGREE

Education Specialist in Reading

As few as 12-18 months Duration
30 Credit Hours
$10,500 Total Tuition

Elevate your career in reading and literacy with the Education Specialist in Reading online program. This accelerated, flexible degree program provides the skills need to prepare to sit for the PRAXIS Reading Specialists test.

Designed for students interested in pursuing a post-graduate degree in reading to strengthen their pedagogy and serve as a content specialist. Graduates will be prepared for various reading specialist roles, including:

  • Reading Specialist
  • District Leader
View Program
Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Special Education Director online

GRADUATE DEGREE

Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Special Education Director

As few as 14-16 months Duration
30 Credit Hours
$10,500 Total Tuition

Prepare for a special education leadership role at the campus or district level with the Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Special Education Director online program. This Ed.S. program includes an internship requirement that can be completed while you continue working as an educator or school administrator.

As part of the curriculum, you will learn how to provide leadership and expertise in assessing, identifying and implementing special education goals, and how to collaborate with related services and personnel, including psychologists, speech therapists, school administrators and teaching staff. In addition, some of the coursework you complete as part of this post-master's degree program can apply to an A-State doctoral degree in education.

View Program
Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Principalship online

GRADUATE DEGREE

Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Principalship

As few as 18 months Duration
30 Credit Hours
$10,500 Total Tuition

Rise to school leadership roles with the Education Specialization in Educational Leadership, Principalship online program. Designed to prepare you for the many roles and responsibilities of a school principal, this online degree program offers you an intense study of the latest research on effective school management and education.

In this online program, you will receive instruction on maintaining a successful, culturally responsive school environment, learn to work collaboratively with teachers and parents to implement instructional improvement, and become familiar with formative assessment and student-centered instructional approaches.

View Program
Education Specialist, Superintendent online

GRADUATE DEGREE

Education Specialist, Superintendent

As few as 18 months Duration
30 Credit Hours
$10,500 Total Tuition

Attain the skills and qualifications you need to serve as a superintendent and influence positive change throughout the district in the Education Specialist, Superintendent online program.

Learn various school management systems, including procedures for accounting, budget planning and preparation, auditing, purchasing and bonding. Examine effective performance-based patterns for school district superintendents and study the importance of relationship building between the local board of education, superintendent, school personnel and the community.

View Program

The educator preparation programs at Arkansas State University are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Contact CAEP at 1140 19th St. NW, Suite 400, Washington D.C. 20036 or by calling 202-223-0077.

Which Path Fits Your Goals?

To choose an Ed.S. concentration that’s right for you, consider where you want your career to go next. Start with the statement below that sounds most like you.

Program Comparison: Ed.S. Concentrations at a Glance

All six Ed.S. concentrations share the same $10,500 tuition, 30 credit hours and CAEP accreditation. What differs is duration and the specific leadership role each one targets. Use this table to compare on that basis.

Concentration Duration Targets
Curriculum Director 14-16 months District / campus curriculum leadership
Gifted & Talented Director 14-16 months Gifted program leadership
Reading 12-18 months Reading specialist / district literacy leader
Special Education Director 14-16 months Special education program leadership
Principalship 18 months School principal
Superintendent 18 months District superintendent

Built for Arkansas Educators

Arkansas State is a Carnegie R2 research university, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and was named Arkansas's Best Online College by BestColleges (2026). CAEP accreditation means every Ed.S. concentration is recognized by the Arkansas Department of Education for licensure purposes, so your credential doesn't need defending to a district hiring committee. All six programs are 100% online with no required campus visits. Every Educational Leadership track's internship is completed at your own school or district, designed for educators leading full time, not adapted from an on-campus format as an afterthought. For state program approvals, visit the State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.

Online Ed.S. Programs FAQs

Start with the leadership scope you want: campus-wide (Principalship), district-wide (Superintendent), subject-specific district leadership (Curriculum Director) or population-specific program leadership (Gifted & Talented Director, Special Education Director). If your goal is advanced literacy expertise rather than administration, the Ed.S. in Reading is the outlier concentration built for that path instead.
An Ed.S. is a post-master's degree, meaning you must already hold a master's degree to enroll, while A-State's MSE in Educational Leadership is the base master's-level credential for teachers with at least two years of classroom experience. The Ed.S. concentrations build on that master's-level foundation toward a specific director, principal or superintendent license, and some Ed.S. coursework may apply toward a future A-State doctoral degree in education.
Arkansas principal licensure generally requires a bachelor's degree, a valid teaching license, two to three years of classroom experience and a graduate degree in educational leadership from a state-approved program. A-State's Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Principalship is built to meet this requirement for educators who already hold a master's degree; A-State's MSE in Educational Leadership serves educators who don't yet hold one.
The typical path runs from classroom teacher, to two-plus years of classroom experience, to a master's degree in educational leadership (or direct entry to an Ed.S. if you already hold a master's), to an assistant principal or principal role. Educators aiming higher than the building level often continue from principal into a Curriculum Director, Superintendent or other district-level Ed.S. concentration.

Learn from the Best: Meet A-State's Online Ed.S. Faculty

Arkansas State University's online Ed.S. programs are taught by faculty who bring firsthand K-12 leadership and literacy experience into every course, mentoring students through their internship and toward licensure.

  • Dr. Lee-Anne Oros, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, Director for Building-Level Curriculum & Instruction Program
  • Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Curriculum Director
  • Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, GT Director
  • Ed.S in Reading
  • Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, SPED Director
  • Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Principalship
  • Ed.S., Superintendent

Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Curriculum Director

Duration: 14-16 months Credit Hours: 30 Tuition: $350 {tuition_specification_type_per_course}*

Apply by: 12/28/26 Start class: 1/11/27

Prepare for a curriculum leadership role at the campus or district level with the Education Specialization in Educational Leadership, Curriculum Director online program. This Ed.S. program includes an internship requirement that can be completed while you continue working as an educator or school administrator.

In this online program, you will gain the knowledge and skills you need to confidently design course curriculum, instructional materials and student-centered learning activities to meet the educational needs of students. You will learn to evaluate and develop educational programs, using textbooks and classroom technologies, and guide teacher professional development. As part of this online program, you will also focus on leadership operational responsibilities such as administrative logistics, ethical and professional practices and legislative aspects of the school system from a curriculum leadership perspective.

Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Gifted and Talented Director

Duration: 14-16 months Credit Hours: 30 Tuition: $350 {tuition_specification_type_per_course}*

Apply by: 12/28/26 Start class: 1/11/27

Prepare for a leadership role in gifted and talented education at the campus or district level with the Education Specialization in Educational Leadership, Gifted and Talented Director online program. This Ed.S. program includes an internship requirement that can be completed while you continue working as an educator or school administrator.

Designed to provide you with a deeper understanding of the unique needs of gifted and talented students, this online program will enhance your ability to lead staff in the identification, selection, placement and development of gifted children. You will focus on the perspectives, skills and processes necessary to manage advanced curriculum and learn to direct the evaluation and continuous improvement processes of gifted education programs.

Education Specialist in Reading

Duration: 12-18 months Credit Hours: 30 Tuition: $350 {tuition_specification_type_per_course}* Transfer Credits: 9

Apply by: 12/28/26 Start class: 1/11/27

Elevate your career in reading and literacy with the Education Specialist in Reading online program. This accelerated, flexible degree program provides the skills need to prepare to sit for the PRAXIS Reading Specialists test.

Designed for students interested in pursuing a post-graduate degree in reading to strengthen their pedagogy and serve as a content specialist. Graduates will be prepared for various reading specialist roles, including:

  • Reading Specialist
  • District Leader

Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Special Education Director

Duration: 14-16 months Credit Hours: 30 Tuition: $350 {tuition_specification_type_per_course}*

Apply by: 12/28/26 Start class: 1/11/27

Prepare for a special education leadership role at the campus or district level with the Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Special Education Director online program. This Ed.S. program includes an internship requirement that can be completed while you continue working as an educator or school administrator.

As part of the curriculum, you will learn how to provide leadership and expertise in assessing, identifying and implementing special education goals, and how to collaborate with related services and personnel, including psychologists, speech therapists, school administrators and teaching staff. In addition, some of the coursework you complete as part of this post-master's degree program can apply to an A-State doctoral degree in education.

Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Principalship

Duration: 18 months Credit Hours: 30 Tuition: $350 {tuition_specification_type_per_course}*

Apply by: 12/28/26 Start class: 1/11/27

Rise to school leadership roles with the Education Specialization in Educational Leadership, Principalship online program. Designed to prepare you for the many roles and responsibilities of a school principal, this online degree program offers you an intense study of the latest research on effective school management and education.

In this online program, you will receive instruction on maintaining a successful, culturally responsive school environment, learn to work collaboratively with teachers and parents to implement instructional improvement, and become familiar with formative assessment and student-centered instructional approaches.

Education Specialist, Superintendent

Duration: 18 months Credit Hours: 30 Tuition: $350 {tuition_specification_type_per_course}*

Apply by: 12/28/26 Start class: 1/11/27

Attain the skills and qualifications you need to serve as a superintendent and influence positive change throughout the district in the Education Specialist, Superintendent online program.

Learn various school management systems, including procedures for accounting, budget planning and preparation, auditing, purchasing and bonding. Examine effective performance-based patterns for school district superintendents and study the importance of relationship building between the local board of education, superintendent, school personnel and the community.

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