Online Education Specialist Degrees
It is no news that PhDs are time-consuming and sometimes very expensive.
If you are in the education sector and you do not have the time to invest in Ph.D. then taking an education specialist degree after your master’s maybe your best option and surprisingly this will reap almost the same results. With an EdS degree, you can occupy top positions in the education sector like College administrator, Curriculum Specialist, Teacher, Principal, and more
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment of middle school teachers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. This will lead to about 47,300 openings for middle school teachers, projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Despite the widespread belief that gaining an EdS degree is challenging, online education specialist degrees may now be obtained in just one year thanks to the growth of e-learning.
If you are interested in earning an EdS degree then continue reading as we dive into a detailed guide of the best online education specialist degrees in 2023.
Online Education Specialist Degrees
An EdS degree, or education specialist degree, is a post-graduate degree created to equip educators for influential leadership roles at the school and school district levels. Students who want to equip themselves with more advanced skills in curriculum development, educational technology, program evaluation, and/or special education leadership, among other fields, but who do not want to devote the time, money, or effort required for an EdD (or Ph.D. in Education), may find the EdS degree to be the best option.
Numerous EdS programs also include the instruction required to meet state licensing requirements for licensure as a principal, superintendent, or educational administrator.
The online education specialist degree can be obtained in different specializations or concentrations. This depends on you and your desired career path.
Online Education Specialist Degree Concentrations
As was already noted, depending on your field of interest, you can select from a variety of specialized tracks. Choosing a degree program that complements your job objectives might be crucial to your long-term success.
Below you will find a brief explanation of the different concentrations you can choose if you are interested in an online education specialist degree program
- EdS in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. The goal of this curriculum is to increase your efficiency in fostering student involvement and learning. You’ll likely research strategies for connecting with each student in your class. Curriculum choices, instructional technology, learner accommodations, and student data are only a few examples of possible themes.
- EdS in Early Childhood Education. This track is devoted to the growth and education of children up to the age of eight. It’s likely that you’ll be required to investigate the most recent research in the area of early childhood education and think about how it should affect your practice.
- EdS in Educational Administration and Leadership. Programs in administration and leadership frequently provide a route to principal licensure. Organizational leadership, teacher evaluation, education legislation, and school finance may be topics covered in your courses.
- EdS in Educational Technology. You can study online learning, multimedia platforms, and cognitive theories if you decide to pursue a technology EdS. The lessons could also offer guidance on how to lead transformation within an organization.
- EdS in Learning Analytics. This course may concentrate on analytics at the collegiate level or be designed for primary and secondary schools. With this degree, you could work in the field of educational research.
- EdS in Reading, Literacy, and Assessment. This focus is made to provide you with the ability to support kids in becoming proficient readers and writers. Curriculum choices, student diversity, and family partnerships are likely to be class topics.
- EdS in Special Education. The program is likely to address behavioral issues, social-emotional needs, and learning difficulties. You might also study advocacy and law in education.
Admissions Requirements
An EdS degree is a postgraduate best suited for students and/or workers ( most especially teachers) who have completed their master’s degree and are looking to enhance their skill sets and broaden their knowledge but do not have the time to go in for a doctoral program.
The admission requirements for an online education specialist degree vary from one university to another. In most cases, students are expected to show the following:
- Successful completion of a bachelor’s and master’s degree from accredited institutions
- Transcripts from previous study programs
- Updated resume & a statement of purpose
- In some cases, some schools will need an updated resume
- Also, some institutions will require GRE scores though it is gradually becoming less popular as an admission requirement for online education specialist degrees
Online Education Specialist Curriculum
You will probably need 30 to 36 credit hours of advanced coursework to become an educational specialist. Depending on the specialization area, different courses are required for an online education specialist degree. However, some particular coursework will be typical to most EdS degrees.
All students should anticipate taking graduate-level courses in research methodologies in addition to the courses in their areas of concentration. Students pursuing an EdS will often also need to complete one or more internships, especially if they want to pursue further endorsement after completing an EdS.
EdS degree programs will typically also include coursework in leadership, student assessment, and advanced teaching skills, such as:
- Analysis and Evaluation of Teaching
- Curriculum Development and Evaluation
- Foundations of STEM Education
- Online Teaching
- Early Childhood Behavior Analysis
- Early Years Child Development
- Public Policy and Education
- Educational and Assistive Technology
- Data in Education
- Gifted Education
Online Education Specialist Degree Program Outcome
The goal of the EdS program is to train educators with the information, abilities, and attitudes necessary to affect positive change and improve student success.
Graduates with an Online Education Specialist Degree will be able to do the following:
- Shape and influence school culture to be welcoming, encouraging, and equal.
- Build and maintain good connections with students, teachers, staff, parents, and the community at large.
- Have a thorough understanding of the subject, its position within the discipline, and how it relates to other disciplines.
- Use a variety of models, tools, and management techniques to engage and meet the requirements of various student populations.
- Manage a sizable budget and resource allocation.
- Design teaching based on the needs of each individual learner
- Develop programs for particular populations, such as gifted and talented, remedial and compensatory services, bilingual/ESL, vocational and career education, etc.
- Use data analysis to inform teaching, learning, leadership, and achievement decisions that are pedagogical and content-based.
Universities Offering Online Education Specialist Degrees
- Liberty University
- Walden University
- University of West Alabama
- University of Florida
- University of Virginia
- University of Georgia
- Grand Canyon University
- North Central University
- Purdue University
- Wayne State College
Liberty University
Liberty University (LU) is a private Baptist university in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Elmer L. Towns and Jerry Falwell Sr. created Liberty University in 1971. According to overall student enrollment, Liberty is the largest private non-profit university in the United States and one of the largest Christian colleges in the world.
There are 17 colleges at Liberty University, including a seminary, a school of law, and an osteopathic medical school, and most of its students are enrolled in online classes.
Liberty University offers online education specialist degrees which can be completed within a period of one year. These programs are 100% online though you have the option to complete some of their courses on campus. They are numerous concentrations including, Educational Leadership, Educational Psychology, Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education, Online Teaching and Learning, Secondary Education, Special Education, and more.
At Liberty University, the tuition for the EdS program is $595 for full-time students and $650 for part-time students.
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Walden University
Walden University is a private online for-profit university headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
It grants degrees in Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Health, Master of Public Administration, Education Specialist, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Business Administration, and Doctor of Philosophy.
Walden University offers a variety of EdS degree programs that are 100% online. It requires the completion of 36 credits and includes a capstone at the end of coursework. You can choose from eight education specialist degrees in a variety of disciplines, from learning innovation to special education.
The EdS program at Walden University costs $640 per quarter hour in tuition.
Walden is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
University of West Alabama
The University of West Alabama (UWA) is a public university in Livingston, Alabama founded in 1835.
UWA offers a diverse range of degree programs, including associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist, and educational doctorate degrees.
UWA offers online education specialist degrees with a program length of 1-2 years and requires 33 credits to be completed. These programs can be completed at your own pace because they are 100% online. You can choose from nine education specialist degrees in a variety of disciplines, from EdS in physical education to EdS in Teacher leader.
The EdS program at UWA costs $429 per quarter hour in tuition.
The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has accredited UWA.
University of Florida
The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida.
The University of Florida has 16 academic colleges as well as over 150 research centers and institutes. On one contiguous campus, it offers multiple graduate professional programs, including business administration, engineering, law, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine, and it administers 123 master’s degree programs and 76 doctoral degree programs across 87 schools and departments.
The University of Florida offers online education specialist degrees in Education Curriculum and Instruction with 3 different concentrations; Teach Well, Teacher Leadership for School Improvement, and Teaching, Learning and Facilitating Educational Change with Technology. These are 2-year programs with core courses and electives.
The EdS program at the University of Florida costs $448.73 per quarter hour in tuition, this excludes the distance learning fee of $29.51
The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia founded in 1819.
The University of Virginia provides a wide range of online courses, certificates, and degrees in business, project management, engineering, medicine, cybersecurity, data sciences, and humanities.
The University of Virginia offers the Ed.S. in Curriculum & Instruction degree, a 30-hour (minimum) online graduate degree. Full-time students can complete this program within 1 year while part-time students can complete it within 2 years. The online Education Specialist degree prepares students to become teacher leaders, curriculum specialists, and/or instructional coaches in K-12 schools and districts
The tuition fee for online programs at the University of Virginia for 2023 is $599/ credit hour
The University of Virginia is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees.
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia – one of the oldest public universities in the United States, is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Athens, Georgia founded in 1785.
One of the flagship programs offered at the University of Georgia is the Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Psychology, Gifted & Creative Education. A minimum of 31 semester hours of coursework and a final written comprehensive examination are required for the Ed.S. program. After completing the first four courses, you will be eligible for the Georgia Gifted In-Field Endorsement.
The EdS program at the University of Georgia’s college of education costs $417 per quarter hour in tuition.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has accredited the University of Georgia to award baccalaureate, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University (GCU) is a private for-profit Christian university in Phoenix, Arizona established in 1949.
Grand Canyon University offers an Education Specialist Degree (EdS) with K-12 Leadership Emphasis that requires a total of 30 credits for completion. The degree is 100% Online and classes are eight weeks in length. This degree program gives teachers the tools they need to improve their effectiveness as K–12 teachers for the benefit of their pupils. Some graduates might be interested in jobs in consultancy or school administration.
Graduate programs at Grand Canyon University cost $580 per credit
Grand Canyon University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an independent accreditation institution founded in 1895.
North Central University
North Central University (NCU) is a private Christian university associated with the Assemblies of God and located in Minneapolis, Minnesota
National University System offers hundreds of academic programs ranging from associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees to help you stand out and get ahead in your field of interest.
NCU offers online education specialist degrees with about 15 concentrations. You can choose from nine education specialist degrees in a variety of disciplines, from EdS in Curriculum and Teaching to EdS in Trauma-Informed Educational Practices. Most of these programs require 33 Credit Hours and can be completed within 18 months
EdS programs at NCU cost $901 per credit hour
NCU was founded in 1996 and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Purdue University
Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, founded in 1869.
The main campus in West Lafayette has over 200 undergraduate majors, 70 master’s and doctoral programs, and professional degrees in pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and doctor of nursing practice.
One of the flagship graduate programs offered at Purdue University is Educational Specialist with a concentration in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. This online EdS degree program is for students are those that want to gain skills for a particular type of job (e.g., principal, superintendent, director of educational technology). This program requires 39 credit hours and can be completed within 2.5 years.
The cost of this program is $450 and $563 for in-state and out-of-state students respectively
The Purdue University system is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
Wayne State College
Wayne State College is a public college in Wayne, Nebraska.
Wayne State University offers 130 different academic programs in four schools: Arts and Humanities, Business and Technology, Education and Counseling, and Natural and Social Sciences.
The online Ed.S. degree from Wayne State requires only 30 credits for completion. This is a fully online program and you can transfer up to 18 credits from your previous studies.
The tuition fee for the online education specialist degree is $380 Per Credit Hour
Wayne State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Career Opportunities For Education Specialists
The majority of EdS degree programs provide specializations that are tailored to student’s educational objectives, including, but not limited to, educational leadership, school counseling, instructional design, educational technology, mathematics, and special education.
Furthermore, these programs often match their specialty with the jobs that they prepare students for. Programs are available that will train students for positions such as principalship, superintendency, school counseling, counseling leadership, leadership in special education, instructional design, reading and literacy, educational technology, teacher leadership, and more.
An online education specialist degree will also prepare you for diverse roles in other related sectors like consultancy, training and development management, and more. Below are some of the jobs you might be qualified for after getting your degree.
- College administrator
- Curriculum Specialist
- Instructional supervisor
- School administrator
- Special education specialist
- Teacher
- District Administrator
- Curriculum Coordinator
- Education Consultant
- Principal
- Assistant Principal
- Academic Advisor
Conclusion
There is probably an EdS program that will suit your interests, regardless of whether you are a teacher, a principal, or another education professional. You may be able to return to school with the freedom you need thanks to online EdS programs. Education professionals with a busy schedule can frequently squeeze online post-classes master’s around their other obligations.