If you already have a master’s degree in education, you might be interested in obtaining a Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) degree to further your goals of leading school systems and your ability to meet the needs of the educators and the students in these systems.
Arkansas State University offers five Ed.S. programs. All were developed to provide study beyond the master’s degree.
1. Specialist in Superintendency
The Ed.S. Education Degree Specialist in Superintendency program provides courses to enlarge the educational and targeted professional competencies of educators to serve as public school system leaders.
Classes include ELAD 7493, a supervised internship in an administrative or supervisory setting.
The program, which requires completion of 30 hours of coursework, can be completed in as little as 18 months.
2. Specialist in Principalship
The Specialist in Principalship program provides the opportunity to enhance your competencies as a school leader in school systems. In this program, you will perform activities in P-12 schools and related activities.
Courses include ELAD 6593, a supervised internship in which educators demonstrate skills in leadership and practices supporting leadership. It must be taken in the semester when the degree is earned.
The program requires 30 credit hours and can be completed in as little as 18 months.
3. Specialist in Educational Leadership, Emphasis in Special Education
This program provides coursework in the assessment, identification, and implementation of special education curricula and goals. The program qualifies educators who already work in special education and have a master’s degree for a director of special education role, in either a specific school or a district.
Courses include ELCI 6493, an internship in which educators demonstrate their practices and skills in special education leadership.
The program requires 30 hours of coursework and can be completed in as little as 18 months.
4. Specialist in Curriculum Director
In this program, you will analyze studies, research and data involving administration, design of curricula, educational theories, professional conduct, and legislation that involves the school system.
It qualifies educators who are already teachers or administrators and have a master’s degree for a role in school or district curriculum leadership.
Courses include ELCI 6493, an internship in which educators demonstrate leadership skills and practices.
It requires 36 hours of coursework and can be completed in as little as 24 months.
5. Specialist in Gifted and Talented
Gifted and talented students have unique needs. This program was developed to provide educators with an enhanced understanding of those needs and advanced proficiency in meeting them. Completion of the degree provides the ability to be a director of gifted student programs.
Courses include ELCI 6493, an internship in which educators demonstrate leadership and clinical skills.
The program requires 30 hours of coursework and can be completed in as little as 18 months.
Affordability in All Programs
The online Ed.S. degree programs at Arkansas State are very affordable. The cost per credit hour is $331, which includes the administrative fee. Each course is three credits, so a single course costs $993. All 30-hour programs cost $9,930 to complete, and the 36-hour program, Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction, costs $11,916.
In addition, an online program allows educators to work while learning, so they do not have to forgo a salary for a certain period of time.
Learn more about Arkansas State University’s online post-graduate Programs in Education.