Educational Specialist Degree

Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership (EDS)

Advisor: Dr. Marjorie Ringler (252) 328-4825, Ragsdale 202.

The Educational Specialist in Administration and Supervision degree (EdS) is a sixth-year post master's degree which requires a minimum of 38 semester hours and is designed to prepare individuals for senior leadership positions in education. Upon completion of the program, individuals are eligible to upgrade previously held licenses. Candidates should have a master's degree AND Level I licensure in administration AND/OR supervision. Three years of successful leadership experience is desirable for candidates applying to the program.

EDS (On-line) Program of Study

PHASE ONE: 18 Semester Hour Core

Students entering the EDS Program (degree code 264) will complete 18 s.h. of coursework in the following order in the first year. All courses are delivered using online instructional strategies.

Fall Semester

LEED 7420: Theories of Educational Administration (3 sh)

Spring Semester

LEED 7429: Problems in Educational Supervision (3 sh)
LEED 7483: Advanced School Law (2 sh)

First Summer Session

LEED 7470: School Business Management (3 sh)
LEED 7410: Staff Personnel Problems (2 sh)

Second Summer Session

LEED 7460: School and Community Cultures (3 sh)
LEED 7472: Issues, Problems, and Research in Education (2 sh)

PHASE TWO – 20 semester hours

Phase Two includes three required courses (8 sh), an internship and field study (8 sh), and independent (4 sh). The focus of the internship, field study, and thesis or directed readings is tailored to the individual student’s professional interests and career goals. For unique professional needs, appropriate may be selected from outside the Department of Educational Leadership.

As with Phase One, LEED courses are delivered using online instructional strategies.

When students are ready to begin Phase Two of the EDS Program, they work with the Ed.S. Coordinator, face-to-face or electronically, to develop an individualized plan/schedule for completing the remaining 20 semester hours of coursework.

Required Courses (8 sh)

LEED 7408: Public School Administration (3 sh)
LEED 7415: Introduction to Internal Evaluation (3 sh)
LEED 7411: Problems in Educational Administration (2 sh)

Internship and Field Study (8 sh)

LEED 7991: Educational Leadership Internship: Level I (4 sh)
LEED 7993: Educational Leadership Internship: Level II (4 sh)

Thesis or Directed Readings (4 sh)

LEED 7521, 7522: Directed Readings in Educational Leadership (4 sh)

Licensure
This program operates on the assumption that students already possess an initial license in educational administration or supervision. The program leads to Level II licensure in educational administration or a Level II license in supervision. To receive a license update in North Carolina, EDS graduates must submit the following items to the Department of Educational Leadership: licensure forms (forms U and V), cover sheet, a check for $55.00 (written to DPI) and a transcript release form.