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Gifted and Talented Director - Ed.S. in Educational Leadership Online

Prepare for a leadership role in gifted and talented education at the campus or district level with the Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Gifted and Talented Director online program.

Next Apply Date: 12/15/25
Next Class Start Date: 1/12/26
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 12/15/25
Next Class Start Date: 1/12/26

Program Overview

Learn more about our online education specialist program

The Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Gifted and Talented Director online program is designed to provide educators with a deeper understanding and increased proficiency of the unique needs of gifted and talented students. This post-graduate degree program will enable you to direct the management and continuous improvement of gifted student programs. The courses are designed to develop your ability to lead staff in the identification, selection, placement, and the development of gifted children.

This program includes an internship requirement that can be completed while you continue working as an educator or school administrator. In addition, some of the coursework you complete as part of this post-master's degree program may apply to an Arkansas State University doctoral degree in education.

Please refer to the Program Approval Map for eligibility information related to this program.

Additional documents

Textbook Information (.PDF)

This program requires Student Learning & Licensure (SL&L).

State Program Approvals (.PDF)

In this program you will learn how to:

  • Improve your general educational and specific professional competencies as a school system leader
  • Deepen understanding and increase proficiency of the unique needs of gifted and talented students
  • Direct the management and continuous improvement of student gifted programs
  • Focus on perspectives, skills and processes necessary for managing curriculum and formalizing the curriculum decision-making process
  • Lead staff in the identification, selection, placement and development of gifted children
In this program you will learn how to:+
  • Improve your general educational and specific professional competencies as a school system leader
  • Deepen understanding and increase proficiency of the unique needs of gifted and talented students
  • Direct the management and continuous improvement of student gifted programs
  • Focus on perspectives, skills and processes necessary for managing curriculum and formalizing the curriculum decision-making process
  • Lead staff in the identification, selection, placement and development of gifted children

As a graduate of this online program, you will be prepared for various gifted and talented leadership roles, including:

  • Director of Gifted and Talented Education
  • Director of Curriculum/Gifted and Talented Programs
  • Instructional Specialist, Gifted/Talented Program
  • Gifted and Talented Coordinator
  • Gifted and Talented Education Specialist
As a graduate of this online program, you will be prepared for various gifted and talented leadership roles, including:+
  • Director of Gifted and Talented Education
  • Director of Curriculum/Gifted and Talented Programs
  • Instructional Specialist, Gifted/Talented Program
  • Gifted and Talented Coordinator
  • Gifted and Talented Education Specialist
+

Also available:

A-State offers a variety of post-graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online post-graduate programs.

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

Accreditation

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Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

Tuition

Discover our affordable tuition

Our Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Gifted and Talented Director online program offers the same affordable tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $350
Total Tuition: $10,500

Calendar

See how our course schedule is designed for flexibility

Our Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Gifted and Talented Director online program is designed to be flexible and convenient for working professionals, featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates a year.

Please note that the internship course lasts a full semester and only starts in Fall 1 and Spring 1 of terms.

Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.

View full calendar +

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring 11/12/2612/15/2512/15/251/8/261/9/262/27/26
Spring 23/9/262/23/262/23/263/5/263/6/265/1/26

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 12/15/25
Start Class 1/12/26

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

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Admissions

Learn how to apply for the online education specialist program

Students who are interested in our Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Gifted and Talented Director online program must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution and one year of Gifted and Talented teaching experience. For students seeking Curriculum/Program Administrator (G&T) licensure in the state of Arkansas, you will need 3 years of teaching experience, and you must already have the Gifted & Talented endorsement on your teaching license in order to acquire this licensure. Review full admission requirements below. At this time, International students may not be accepted into any Educational Leadership program – only students with a valid US teaching license that are working in a US school district are eligible for this program.

Admission Requirements:

  • Online application
  • Master's degree
  • Active teaching license
View all admission requirements +

Admission requirements

  • Master’s degree from an accredited institution with at least 3.25 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
  • A valid, standard teaching license
  • One year of experience as a certified gifted, talented, and creative (GTC) teacher in an educational institution
  • Commitment from an appropriate professional who will function as your mentor during the degree program. View acceptable mentors (PDF).
  • Candidates will be required to submit the self-disposition document provided and verification for teacher effectiveness and leadership abilities

Note: If you have a 3.0-3.24 GPA, you must make a grade of B or better during the first 9 hours of graduate work at Arkansas State University.

Application submission requirements

  • Complete online application
  • Pay the nonrefundable $30 fee
  • Send official transcript(s) from the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution. For this program, we will only need an official transcript that shows your conferred master's degree.

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467


Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

Additional information

While not required for admission, Teacher/Leader Effectiveness Credentials will be required prior to registering for your first course.

For more information on state eligibility, please visit our State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures page.

Additional required documents

As part of the student's portfolio, the following information is required to be completed prior to registering for the 3rd term (second semester):

  • Video Essay
  • Writing Sample

These additional documents are not required to render an admissions decision.

Appeals process

  • Email a written Letter of Appeal and GRE or GMAT scores (may be unofficial) to [email protected]

Transfer credits

Up to 9 graduate hours from A-State or other higher education institutions may be credited toward a program subject to department approval. No course can be older than six years by graduation time. The course must have been taken at the level of the program you are seeking. To request prior credit be evaluated, please complete the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.

Courses

Advance your knowledge in these online education specialist classes

Students pursuing this Ed.S. program must complete the following 10 courses (30 credit hours).

Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.

Expand All
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on concepts, programs, and procedures for establishing and maintaining positive relations between the school, its constituents, and related agencies.

What is school and community relations?

School and community relations builds reciprocal partnerships between educational institutions and communities to support student success. It involves family communication, collaboration with organizations, media engagement, and leveraging external resources. This practice recognizes that achievement depends on strong home-school connections and coordinated services.

This course examines the concepts, programs and procedures for building and maintaining positive relationships between schools, their constituents and related agencies. Topics include media and public relations, publications and strategies for increasing community and parental involvement. Special emphasis is placed on transitional student support services through collaboration with non-school agencies such as social services, law enforcement and disability service providers.

Upon completion, students will be able to:

Collaboratively engage diverse families to strengthen student learning in and out of school

Cultivate relationships with diverse community members, partners and constituencies to support school improvement and student development

Communicate effectively through oral, written and digital means within organizational, community and political contexts to advocate for school and community needs

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Addresses planning and resource allocation in public schools with special attention given to site-based management.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on constitutional and statutory provisions and court decisions regarding the legal aspects of education.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Presents an overview of educational administration for practitioners within the context of ethical and professional behavior.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on perspectives, skills, and processes necessary for managing curriculum and formalizing the curriculum decision-making process.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Combines attributes of supervising teaching with the formal aspects of teacher evaluation via emphasis on adult development, clinical supervision, and evaluation processes and models extant in public schools.
Duration: 14 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on authentic problems and clinical activities that require candidates to demonstrate leadership skills and practices integral to school leadership. The internship must be completed during the semester in which a candidate completes the degree. Must be last class taken and taken by itself.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A review of learning theories followed by an intensive study of various models of teaching available to the classroom teacher with emphasis upon mastery of selected models.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of research and theory found in current professional literature related to giftedness and an analysis of data-driven decisions toward effective classroom practice.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A comprehensive study of leadership for gifted, talented and creative education programs related to the foundation, structure, efficacy and directorship of them.
Students must take one of the following courses:
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasizes the selection and organization of content, selection of instructional materials and activities, factors affecting curriculum revision, and current curricular issues in the modern elementary school.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasizes the selection and organization of content, selection of instructional materials and activities, factors affecting curriculum revision, and current curricular issues in the modern secondary school.
Applicants seeking an Arkansas teaching license by reciprocity who hold a valid license from another state in Childhood (P-4), Elementary Education (K-6), Middle Childhood (4-8), or Secondary Social Studies (7-12) must meet an Arkansas History requirement by documentation of the successful completion of three (3) college credit hours in Arkansas History at an accredited college or university OR a 45-hour professional development piece in Arkansas History through Arkansas IDEAS. Applicants holding a valid license in areas other than the four mentioned above do not have to meet the Arkansas History requirement. HIST 3083 History of Arkansas (offered in summer terms only) meets the Arkansas history requirement.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An advanced survey of Arkansas history from prehistoric times to the present with an emphasis on political, economic, and social/cultural themes. Required of BSE Social Science majors.

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