Program Overview
Learn More About Our Online Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Special Education Director Program
Arkansas State University offers an affordable online Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Special Education. If you are already a special education teacher and possess a Master's degree, this post-graduate program will prepare you for a leadership role as a Special Education Director at the campus or district level. The degree includes an internship that can be completed while you continue working as an educator or school administrator.
$9,930
Total Tuition
As few as 18 months
Program Duration
30
Credit Hours
$9,930
Total Tuition
As few as 18 months
Program Duration
30
Credit Hours
Arkansas State University is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), formerly known as the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036. Phone: 202-223-0077.
The program prepares special education teachers to administer and coordinate learning and activities for special education students. You will learn how to provide leadership and expertise in assessing, identifying, and implementing special education goals and to collaborate with related services and personnel, including psychologist, speech therapists, school administrators, and teaching staff.
The 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 can apply to an Arkansas State University doctoral degree in education, allowing you to earn that degree in less time.
As licensure requirements may change without notice, it is the responsibility of the student to confirm the requirements for licensure in his/her state as it applies to the participation in an out-of-state degree program.
This program requires Live Text.
State Program Approvals (.PDF)
Also available:
Tuition
Our Budget-Friendly Tuition Can Be Paid as You Go
Our Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Special Education Director online program offers the same affordable tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included in the total tuition.
| Per Credit Hour | Per Course | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Resident Tuition | Required Fees | Total | U.S. Resident Tuition | Required Fees | Total |
| $291.00 | $40.00 | $331.00 | $873.00 | $120.00 | $993.00 |
Calendar
Here Are the Milestones to Guide Your Student Journey
Our Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Special Education Director online program is designed to be flexible and convenient for working professionals, featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates a year.
Next Start & Application Due Dates:
| Term | Length | Course Begin | Course End | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Deadline | Last Day to Withdraw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2023 | 7 wk | 03/06/2023 | 04/28/2023 | 02/20/2023 | 02/24/2023 | 03/02/2023 | 03/03/2023 | 04/15/2023 |
| Summer 2023 | 5 wk | 05/30/2023 | 06/30/2023 | 05/15/2023 | 05/19/2023 | 05/25/2023 | 05/26/2023 | 06/19/2023 |
| 5 wk | 07/03/2023 | 08/04/2023 | 06/19/2023 | 06/23/2023 | 06/29/2023 | 06/30/2023 | 07/21/2023 | |
| Fall 2023 | 7 wk | 08/21/2023 | 10/06/2023 | 08/07/2023 | 08/11/2023 | 08/17/2023 | 08/18/2023 | 09/22/2023 |
| 7 wk | 10/16/2023 | 12/08/2023 | 10/02/2023 | 10/06/2023 | 10/12/2023 | 10/13/2023 | 11/17/2023 |
| Term | Length | Course Begin | Course End | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Deadline | Last Day to Withdraw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2022 | 7 wk | 08/23/2022 | 10/07/2022 | 08/01/2022 | 08/01/2022 | 08/18/2022 | 08/19/2022 | 09/23/2022 |
| Spring 2023 | 7 wk | 01/10/2023 | 02/24/2023 | 12/01/2022 | 12/01/2022 | 01/05/2023 | 01/06/2023 | 02/10/2023 |
| Summer 2023 | 5 wk | 05/30/2023 | 06/30/2023 | 05/01/2023 | 05/01/2023 | 05/25/2023 | 05/26/2023 | 06/16/2023 |
Admissions
Read the Details of Our Admissions Criteria for the Online Education Specialist in Special Education Director Program
Students who are interested in our Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, Special Education Director online program must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution and one year of teaching experience as a special education teacher. 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.
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution with at least 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
- A valid state-issued special educator’s teaching certificate/ license
- One year of experience as a certified special education teacher in an educational institution
- A written commitment from a practicing special education director or central office administrator who will serve as a mentor during this program. View acceptable mentors (PDF)
Note: If you have a 3.0-3.24 GPA, you must make a grade of B or better during the first 12 hours of graduate work at Arkansas State University.
- Complete online application, including the mentor form
- Pay the nonrefundable $30 fee
- Send official transcript(s) from the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the sending institution. For this program, we will only need an official transcript that shows your conferred master's degree.
Additional Information
While not required for admissions, Teacher/Leader Effectiveness Credentials will be required prior to registering for your first course.
Unless otherwise noted, Arkansas State University has not confirmed if a program has met requirements for an out-of-state licensure and it is up to the Student to confirm if the program will meet the needs for licensure. Please refer to the Program Approval Map to determine which programs are eligible to be offered in States and to find relevant State Agency contact information. Eligibility to offer in a State does not guarantee the program will meet State licensure requirements.
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
- Teacher/Leader Effectiveness Credentials
- Writing Sample
These additional documents are not required to render an admissions decision.
- Email a written Letter of Appeal and GRE or GMAT scores (may be unofficial) to [email protected]
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.
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
For Non-US Postal Mail Overnight Delivery Only:
Academic Partnershipsc/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Courses
Gain the Knowledge You Need From Our Online Special Education Director Curriculum
Students pursuing this Ed.S. program must complete a total of 30 credit hours, including four core courses (12 credit hours) and six courses (18 credit hours) specific to either the Advance Perspective track or the Professional Practice track.
University Requirements: ELFN 6773, or an equivalent course, must be taken as a prerequisite; this does not count toward total hours needed for degree completion.
ELCI 7063: Curriculum Management
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on perspectives, skills, and processes necessary for managing curriculum and formalizing the curriculum decision-making process.
ELAD 7173: School Law
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on constitutional and statutory provisions and court decisions regarding the legal aspects of education.
ELCI 7533: Theories of Instruction
Duration: 7 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.
ELAD 7203: Ethical Leadership
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Presents an overview of educational administration for practitioners within the context of ethical and professional behavior.
ELAD 6423: Ethical and Legal Issues in Special Education
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
A study of the legal aspects of special education with emphasis given to the following six principles of special education law: zero project, nondiscriminatory classification, individualized and appropriate education, least restrictive placement, due process, and parent participation.
ELAD 6033: Administration and Supervision of Special Education
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course will provide an in-depth study of and an exploration into the administrative processes of special education.
ELAD 7003: School and Community Relations
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on concepts, programs, and procedures for establishing and maintaining positive relations between the school, its constituents, and related agencies.
ELCI 7083: Supervision and Evaluation of Teaching
Duration: 7 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.
ELCI 6493: Curriculum Internship
Duration: 14 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 the last class taken and taken by itself.
Students must take one of the following courses:
ELCI 6323: Elementary School Curriculum
Duration: 7 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.
ELCI 6423: Middle School Curriculum
Duration: 7 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 middle school.
ELCI 6523: Secondary School Curriculum
Duration: 7 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.
HIST 3083: History of Arkansas (or equivalent transfer course)
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
UNITED STATES HISTORY. 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.
Next Start Date: