Workforce Development and Education - Specialist Degree (Ed.S)
The Specialist in Education degree (Ed.S.) with a major in workforce development and education is designed to provide graduate level preparation for persons interested in advanced study and research in professions such as human resource development, industrial education, technology education, and technical teacher education. Students will specialize in an area such as technology management, vocational administration, or in such HRD fields as management, consulting, facilitation or instructional design and technology.
The Specialist in Education degree may be used to develop specialization in an area to support a following doctoral program, or it may be considered as a terminal professional degree. Students who plan to pursue a doctoral program should check with the university where they plan to attend as to their transfer policy. Some universities will not transfer Ed.S. credit for a doctoral degree as they consider it a terminal degree.
The Ed.S. program in the College of Technology requires at least one year of specialized graduate study beyond the Master of Science degree. The program is developed on the basis of the student's academic background and professional interests. Coursework selected should support this specialization. Independent study is often part of the program as the Ed.S. candidate is expected to take responsibility for their professional development.
Research is an integral part of this degree. The Ed.S. degree may be completed under Option I: Thesis, or Option II: Problem. Option I students will defend their thesis in addition to a written examination. Option II students will take comprehensive examinations over their course of study.
Admission Procedure
Specialist in Education Degree - with a Major in Workforce Development and Education
The Ed.S. degree is designed to provide advanced study beyond the master degree. The two most common specialties within the College of Technology are in human resource development within the Department of Technology Management, and technical teacher education within the Department of Technology Studies.
Admission Process for individuals interested in HRD Specialty
There is a two part admission process for students interested in pursuing the Ed.S. degree with a major in Workforce Development and Education at Pittsburg State University.
1. Submit a Graduate Application for Admission to the PSU Graduate Office. This can be done on-line, or an Application Form (PDF) can be printed off and submitted. There are different forms for International applications. Official copies of transcripts should be sent directly to the Graduate Office as a part of this process.
2. Submit a Letter of Application and Resume to the Coordinating Professor for Human Resource Development for Department of Technology Management faculty review.
Letter of Application
Your Letter of Application should introduce yourself. It should also cover the following:
1. Why you are interested in the Ed.S. degree at Pittsburg State University.
2. Your professional goals and how this degree and specialty relates to your goals.
3. Your area(s) of interest related to human resource development.
4. Your educational background and its relationship to HRD.
5. Your work and professional background and its relationship to HRD.
6. Any HRD related experience such as internships, projects, and seminars.
7. Research experience including courses and research projects.
Resume
Your Resume should provide an overview of your educational and professional experience. Be sure your resume describes your HRD experiences. It should include the following as applicable:
1. Educational background; degrees obtained with majors and any minors or emphasis.
2. Informal learning; seminars, classes, and other activities which have contributed to your professional development.
3. Work experience; dates of employment, job titles and summary of job duties and responsibilities.
4. Skills and competencies.
5. Professional memberships, and licenses, or certifications.
Supporting Materials
You can submit additional information that you feel will help the graduate TM faculty get to know you better. These are not required.
1. Letters of Recommendations from previous advisors, supervisors, or professional peers which provide information related to your accomplishments, abilities, and potential.
2. Examples of work such as projects and papers from education and/or employment.
Course and Credit Hour Requirements
The Specialist in Education degree requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate study of which 21 or more semester hours shall be earned in courses open only to graduate students (800-900 numbers), with at least nine hours in 900-level courses. No 500-600 level courses will be applicable to the Ed.S. program.
Option I: Thesis
Option I requires the completion of from four to six hours in 990 Special Research Project, in which students must conduct and report in written form the results of field studies or research project in their specialization. An advisory committee consisting of three members, with one member from outside the college, will be appointed to evaluate the final research project. Other coursework should help support this research.
Option II: Problem
Option II places less emphasis upon formal research and correspondingly more emphasis upon activities related to the professional objectives of the student. Option II does require a three-hour course in some aspect of research. The nature of the research study will be determined by the department and advisor.
Students interested in pursuing the Ed.S. degree should review the pages related to the Specialist in Education degree in the PSU University Catalog for more detailed information.
HRD-Post Master's Courses
The following courses may be taken for the Educational Specialist Degree with a major in Workforce Development and Education by a candidate who wants to specialize in human resource development.
HRD 900 Seminar in Research (3 hours)
Planning for a research project including the development of a prospectus for a research study with an emphasis on the study design and methodology. May be taken as graded or pass-fail.
HRD 990 Special Research Problem (3- 6 hours)
A research, experimental, or field study presented as a formal research project under Option I. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours. May be taken as graded or pass-fail.
HRD 991 Special Investigations [_________] (1-6 hours)
Investigation of a specific topic or problem in human resource development. May be repeated if subject matter is different with a maximum of 6 hours to be applied towards an Ed.S. degree program. May be taken as graded or pass-fail.
HRD 992 Special Investigations [_________] (3 hours)
Independent study of a specific topic or problem in technology management or human resource development. Emphasis is on practical application. May be repeated if subject matter is different with a maximum of 6 hours to be applied towards an Ed.S. degree program. May be taken as graded or pass-fail.
HRD 983 Practicum in Human resource Development (3 hours)
Supervised experience in a job based setting related to the student's area of specialization such as instructional design or technology, teaching and facilitation, or HRD consulting or management.
HRD 993 Current Problems and Trends in Human Resource Development (3 hours)
Investigation, and discussion of current problems and trends in business and industry and organizations that impact human resource development practitioners.