Educational leader in special education

Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Special Education Director Online


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.

Next Apply Date: 5/14/24
Next Class Start Date: 5/28/24
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 5/14/24
Next Class Start Date: 5/28/24

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 in Educational Leadership, Special Education Director program. 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.

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.

Additional documents

Textbook Information (.PDF)

This program requires Live Text.

State Program Approvals (.PDF)

As a graduate of this online program, you will be prepared for leading special education roles, including:

  • Director of Special Education
  • Special Education Lead Teacher
  • Special Education Administrator
  • Educational Diagnostician
  • Director of Special Education
  • Special Education Lead Teacher
  • Special Education Administrator
  • Educational Diagnostician

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: $11,220
Program Duration: As few as 18 months
Credit Hours 33

Accreditation

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Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

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.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $340
Total Tuition: $11,220

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.

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.

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring 23/4/242/19/242/23/242/29/243/1/244/26/24
Summer 15/28/245/14/245/17/245/23/245/24/246/27/24
Summer 27/2/246/18/246/21/246/27/246/28/248/1/24
Fall 18/20/248/5/248/9/248/15/248/16/2410/4/24
Fall 210/14/249/30/2410/4/2410/10/2410/11/2412/6/24

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 5/14/24
Start Class 5/28/24

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?

Admissions


Read the details of our admission criteria for the online 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.

Admission Requirements:

  • Online application
  • Master's degree
  • Active teaching license

Admission requirements

  • 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 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.

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.

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


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.

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

Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Provides an in-depth study of and an exploration into the administrative processes of special education.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of legal aspects of special education with emphasis given to the following six principals of special education law: (1) zero project, (2) nondiscriminatory classification, (3) individualized and appropriate education, (4) least restrictive placement, (5) due process, and (6) parent participation.
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.
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
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: 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 last class taken and taken by itself.
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.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on perspectives, skills, and processes necessary for managing curriculum and formalizing the curriculum decision-making process.
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.
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.
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
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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