The Specialist in Education Degree Program

The Specialist in Education is a practice-oriented, academic program leading to the Ed.S. degree. This program serves two academic purposes:

• it provides an environment where professional educators can develop specialized expertise in educational leadership with a focus on school administration and instructional supervision; and
• it provides those professional educators who desire it, a bridge from their masters level academic work to doctoral level study in the specialized area of educational administration and supervision.

The Ed.S. degree program with administrator certification

Total for Levels I & II Coursework: 33

• In addition, EDL 785 - Independent Student in Ed.S. Project Work is usually required. 
• Along with completing the course work listed above, students will have a Level I portfolio review (described in detail in Appendix E).

Grand Total for all work Required for Ed.S. degree: 36

Students seeking principalship certification - The level I portfolio Students pursuing both the Ed.S. degree and principalship certification must complete a Level I and Level II Portfolio. This portfolio is a collection of items such as papers, projects, examinations, and artifacts developed to illustrate a student’s ability to perform high-quality professional work. The portfolio emphasizes individual mastery of particular professional standards established by the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) and adopted by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (see Appendix E). The KY/ISLLC Standards are assertions about the “knowledge”, “dispositions”, and “performances” of school leaders that promote the success of all students.

Used as an evaluative tool, the portfolio provides continuous assessment of student performance on essential academic and professional skills, talents and attributes. For certification students, it contributes to fulfillment of requirements necessary to secure a departmental recommendation for a Letter of Eligibility for Instructional Leadership, School Principal, All Grades certification.

Ed.S. Program with Supervisor Certification

Pre-requisites:

• Admission to a preparation program pursuant to 704 KAR 20:696;
• Completion of (3) years of full-time teaching experience;
• Completion of the master’s degree; and
• Qualification for a Kentucky teaching certificate.

Coursework:

 
Course Total: 33

• In addition, EDL 785 - Independent Student in Ed.S. Project Work is usually required. 3

GRAND TOTAL: 36

Ed.S. with Superintendency Certification

Pre-requisites:

• A standard teaching certificate;
• Completion of three years of full-time teaching experience;
• Completion of the master’s degree with a total cumulative grade point average of no less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
• Completion of Levels I and II preparation and certification for principal or supervisor;
• At least two years experience as an administrator at either the building level or district-wide level.

Coursework:

Credit Hour Total: 36

Ed.S. Program without Certification

Although many Ed.S. students combine the degree program and certification preparation, some students are interested in more general, advanced professional preparation. The curriculum for these students is designed in consultation with the DGS, the Committee Chair, the Advisory Committee and the student and is tailored specifically to the unique learning goals of each student. Such programs of study may include course work from the combined Ed.S. and certification programs outlined above as well as courses from other UK departments.