Program Overview

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 or human resource management or vocational administration, consulting, teaching and facilitation or instructional design and technology. Prior to Fall 2006, this major was named industrial education.

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. Course work selected should support this specialization. Independent study is often part of the program as the Ed.S. candidate is expected to take primary 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: Applied Research.  Option I students will write and defend a thesis in addition to a written examination. Option II students will conduct applied research and take comprehensive examinations over course work.

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.