Education Specialist Degree

General School Administration
The Specialist in Education degree program in school administration or special education is designed to prepare superintendents and other central office personnel.  Candidates for the degree must meet all requirements for the building administrator certificate in Kansas in addition to the requirements for the specialist degree.  The degree program is also designed to permit a student to specialize in a specific comprehensive knowledge of administration at both elementary and secondary levels.  This is accomplished through electives and individual study courses available in the program to meet individual needs.

Course Map

General School Administration Core (18 hours):

  • SSLS 901 Educational Systems Leadership I (3 hours)
  • SSLS 902 Educational Systems Leadership II (3 hours)
  • SSLS 903 Educational Systems Leadership III (3 hours)
  • TED 831 Characteristics of Adult Learners (3 hours)
  • SSLS 997 Internship Educational Systems Leadership I (3 hours)
  • SSLS 998 Internship Educational Systems Leadership II (3 hours)

Research Options 9-12 hours

Option I (Thesis Program)

  • SSLS 824 Educational Statistics I (3 hours)
  • SSLS 930 Seminar in Research Skills (3 hours)
  • SSLS 990 Special Research Project (Thesis) (3-6 hours) (Pre-requisite: SSLS 930 Seminar in Research Skills)

Option II (Non-thesis Program)

  • SSLS 824 Educational Statistics I (3 hours)
  • SSLS 930 Seminar in Research Skills (3 hours)
  • SSLS 990 Special Research Project (may be taken in the student's academic department) (6 hours)

Choose ONE area of Specialization 6-9 hours
Electives in focus are approved in advance by advisor.
Total hours for degree: 36*
*Deficiencies in meeting building level requirements will create additional hours.

Admission Requirements

 Building-Level Certification

  • GPA requirement:
    • Minimum of 3.0 on last 60 hours of college course work from an accredited institution
  • Test score requirement:
    • " 480 or above on any two of the three General Tests of the GRE (Graduate Record Exam), or
    • " 42 or above on the MAT (Miller's Analogies Test)
  • Evidence of certification for the role in public/private school
  • Two letters of recommendation:
    • From supervisors and/or professional peers;
    • At least one must attest to applicant's potential as a building administrator
  • Approval of Department Chairperson
  • A resume of educational and professional experience
  • Statement of professional goals

 Non-Certification level

  • GPA requirement:
    • Minimum of 3.0 on last 60 hours of college course work from an accredited institution
  • Test requirement:
    • GRE or MAT
  • Two letters of recommendation:
    • From supervisors and/or professional peers;
    • At least one must attest to applicant's potential as a leader within an organization
  • Approval of Department Chairperson
  • A resume of leadership experiences, both formal and informal 

  Special Notes

  1. Only 700 level hours and above can be applied to the degree program. In addition, the program must include a minimum of 9 hours of 900 level course work and no more than 9 hours of 700 level course work.
  2. Substitutions will be allowed for those students who have completed courses required in Ed.S. as part of other degree programs. The substitutions must be approved in advance by the student's official advisor.
  3. Ed.S. applicants who do not meet building-level certification requirements must take the building-level certification course work as part of their total program. See the Master's degree in Educational Leadership for specific courses required. These courses will create more than 36 total hours in the program. 

 Procedural steps for Master's Degree

  1. The student must apply for and be admitted to a degree program through the Office of Graduate Studies.
  2. The student must submit either a GRE or MAT score prior to admission to candidacy.
  3. The student must apply for candidacy in conference with the advisor.
  4. The student must petition the Graduate Office to graduate.
  5. The student must register for the Comprehensive Exam in the office of the College of Education. The exam is administered to each Option II candidate during his/her final enrollment