College of Education
The program leading to the Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) degree is a professional program in education requiring one year of intensive work in specialized graduate study beyond the master's degree. Although the degree is normally earned in the area of the individual's master's degree, the experience, background and professional aims of the candidate for admission may indicate modifications of this general plan.
The student's program is formulated on the basis of requirements common to all Specialist in Education degree curricula in the college and course work selected through advisement appropriate to the student's background and to the particular specialization.
Option I of the Specialist in Education degree requires satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours including an Ed.S. Thesis (Special Research Project 990).
Option II of the Specialist in Education degree requires completion of a minimum of 32 semester hours, including SSLS 930 Seminar in Research Skills (or other approved 900 level research course).
Admission
The applicant for admission to study for the Specialist in Education degree must present evidence of successful completion of a master's degree in the area in which specialization is proposed or in a closely related area. The applicant who lacks required specific background in the proposed area of specialization must complete satisfactorily not less than ten graduate hours in such study before beginning the specialist degree program. A significant teaching internship experience or equivalent teaching experience shall be completed prior to admission to candidacy for the degree. (See also Requirements for Admission to Study and Requirements for the Degree under the Specialist in Education Degree here.)
Comprehensive Examination
Candidates must satisfactorily pass a comprehensive examination in the field of their graduate major not later than four weeks before the date on which the degree is to be conferred. This examination may be either oral or written or both. The major department shall prepare and give the examination over the formal and informal study required for the degree. The department will then certify on the Petition for the Degree to the Office of Continuing and Graduate Studies that the student has satisfactorily passed the examination. Registration for the comprehensive examination must be completed in the department office of your major at least two weeks prior to the examination.
Advisement
Each applicant, admitted to graduate study for the Specialist in Education degree, is assigned to a major advisor. It is expected that those admitted to this program will be mature graduate students who are knowledgeable and responsible with respect to program and research requirements. The student should take the initiative, in consultation with the advisor, in planning the degree program and in meeting fully all requirements. Specific curriculum designs incorporating the common requirements, as well as required and recommended courses for a particular area, are available from the chairperson of the department concerned or the advisor. |
