Education Specialist (EdS)

For those looking to deepen their understanding of education and enhance their knowledge, skills, and professional competencies in instructional practice and leadership, this certificate offers a thorough exploration of curriculum and its influence on teaching and learning. The coursework provides a foundational knowledge in communication, leadership, and research techniques, while the specialty studies allow you the opportunity to explore, design, apply, and evaluate contemporary curriculum and instruction strategies. The program culminates with two capstone courses that allow you to integrate these disciplines toward specific topics that are of greatest interest to you and your professional goals.

Providing young children with a love of learning and the best possible launch on their educational journey can be some of the richest rewards in teaching. This EdS specialization builds on your existing knowledge and skills in early childhood education and furthers your development into an advanced practitioner in the field. The coursework provides a foundational knowledge in communication, leadership, and research techniques, while the specialty studies allow you to explore the topics of curriculum, literacy, program administration, caregivers, and community as you prepare to contribute to the growth and development of young children and the sources of their educational success.

As classrooms, businesses, and organizations across the U.S. and around the world grow increasingly diverse, the demand and rewards have never been higher for educators with the leadership and abilities to teach English to non-native speakers. The EdS English Language Learning (ELL) specialization will help you build on your existing knowledge and skills in the field. The coursework provides a foundational understanding of communication, leadership, and research techniques, while the specialty studies take a deep dive into ELL teaching, assessment, student diversity, curriculum development, and cultural perspectives. If you’re seeking ELL/ESL certification, you should verify with appropriate state officials that this non-degree certificate meets applicable certification requirements.

One of the most attractive characteristics of our specialization programs is your ability to tailor your degree and coursework to meet your specific interests and career journey. The EdS in General Education allows you to select courses from a broad range of electives to fit your personal and professional goals.

The required coursework provides a foundational understanding of communication, leadership, and research techniques, while the specialty studies allow you to focus on topics of your choosing. A minimum of 18 credit hours of education courses must be completed at the 7000 or 8000 course level, and up to two of these courses may be taken from other fields, i.e., psychology, technology and/or business. With dean approval, you may even consider additional courses (more than two) from other disciplines to fulfill this requirement.

Just as teachers are now in greater demand than ever before, educational leaders are needed to manage and assist school districts and state educational boards as they work to improve the instructional capabilities of our schools. This specialization provides a strong background in supervision and the ability to assess and interpret data on curriculum, instructional practice, and innovation. The coursework provides a foundational understanding of communication, leadership, and research techniques, while the specialty studies focus on practicing leadership by creating organizations, cultures, decision-making processes, change strategies, and community advocacy that improve instruction and enhance student achievement.

Just as teachers are now in greater demand than ever before, educational leaders are needed to manage and assist school districts, educational boards, and institutions of higher learning as they work to improve their instructional capabilities. This specialization focuses on educational policies, practices, institutions, and challenges within different societies and cultures. The coursework provides a foundational understanding of communication, leadership, and research techniques, while the specialty studies examine educational issues and opportunities related to different cultures and societies. You’ll focus on educational conflict, mediation, and resolution, and explore the concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within international and global education. 

Just as teachers are now in greater demand than ever before, educational leaders are needed to manage and assist school districts, state educational boards, and institutions of higher learning as they work to improve their instructional capabilities. This specialization prepares you to lead in a variety of higher education institutions, including public, private, for profit, and non-profit. The coursework provides a foundational understanding of communication, leadership, and research techniques, while the specialty studies examine leadership across a variety of functions and considerations, such as student services, strategic planning, academic programs, curriculum development, legal issues, and financial concerns.

Just as teachers are now in greater demand than ever before, educational leaders are needed to manage and assist schools, school districts, and state educational boards as they work to improve their instructional capabilities. This specialization immerses you in the increasingly popular and growing field of educational learning analytics. The coursework explores the foundations of learner analytics and its key theories, leading experts, best practices, and K-12 applications. You’ll study the difference between academic and learning analytics, and examine the role technology and data mining play in both. Ultimately, you’ll learn how to identify and apply relevant data in the K-12 educational environment, such as demographics, academic ability, student engagement measures, financial aid, technology and online measures, etc.

Just as teachers are now in greater demand than ever before, educational leaders are needed to manage and assist schools, school districts, state educational boards, and institutes of higher learning as they work to improve their instructional capabilities. This specialization prepares you for leadership roles within educational organizations by providing you with the tools necessary to make things happen. The program is grounded in applied research and explores issues and resolutions in contemporary organizations. Coursework provides a foundational understanding of communication, leadership, and research techniques, while the specialty studies focus on strategies that forge alliances, build confidence, and inspire a shared vision.

Just as teachers are now in greater demand than ever before, educational leaders are needed to manage and assist schools, school districts, state educational boards, and institutes of higher learning as they work to improve their instructional capabilities. This specialization provides K-12 professionals, emergency management, and district management personnel with the skills and tools to keep schools safe and secure for students, teachers, and the learning process. The program provides a foundational understanding of communication, leadership, and research techniques, while the specialty studies focus on technologies to manage safety, security, and emergencies; threat assessments of people and facilities; restorative justice and other alternatives to student discipline; and how to implement and improve school safety plans.

Just as teachers are now in greater demand than ever before, educational leaders are needed to manage and assist schools, school districts, state educational boards, and institutes of higher learning as they work to improve their instructional capabilities. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) specialization provides mid-career or advanced classroom teachers, school counselors or psychologists, and administrators with an intensive examination of the five core competencies identified by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL): self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness. The program gives a foundational understanding of communication, leadership, and research techniques, while the specialty studies examine CASEL competencies and their application across classrooms, schools, homes, and communities.

Just as teachers are now in greater demand than ever before, educational leaders are needed to manage and assist schools, school districts, state educational boards, and institutes of higher learning as they work to improve their instructional capabilities. This specialization is designed for professionals who work with gifted and disabled students in a variety of settings. The program covers a wide spectrum of related issues, including the development and characteristics of students, learning differences, and instructional strategies to address these special needs. You’ll acquire the knowledge and skills to plan, assess, and deliver instruction to gifted students and those with mental, physical, behavioral, or learning disabilities.

Just as teachers are now in greater demand than ever before, educational leaders are needed to manage and assist schools, school districts, state educational boards, and institutes of higher learning as they work to improve their instructional capabilities. This specialization builds on fundamental teaching and learning skills by focusing on specific trauma-informed educational practices. The coursework provides a foundational understanding of communication, leadership, and research methods, while the specialty studies extend across various educational settings and populations, preparing you for a trauma-informed approach to teaching and learning. You’ll examine how trauma manifests in different populations and communities, specific trauma-informed strategies for the classroom, and how to strengthen resilience among both students and educators.

The specialization is designed to allow students to develop and enhance academic and practical skills for success in the academy and other career paths. The specialization reinforces principles in leadership, research, appreciation of literature, and data driven decision making, allowing graduates to create or enhance their own niche in the many disciplines of athletic coaching and sport management. Students will integrate professional and ethical essentials of leadership including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in athletic coaching and sport management and validate research principles to make data driven decisions in athletic coaching and sport management. Further, students will justify continual professional development in athletic coaching and sport management and cultivate effective communications with all audiences using a variety of delivery modalities. Finally, students will synthesize literature for research-based practice in athletic coaching and sport management and develop specialization content knowledge in the core and related courses.  The specialization blends coursework, research, and practical experience to prepare the graduates for careers in interscholastic, intercollegiate, professional, and recreational sport settings.

This specialization integrates curriculum development, instructional design and course delivery using technology and online learning management systems. The specialization focuses on providing a knowledge base of current research for the planning and implementation of teaching and delivery modalities using instructional design methodologies incorporating educational media.