Teaching and Learning (Grades P-12) Ed.S. (Online)

Location(s): Fully Online

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The Teaching and Learning Education Specialist online degree program is designed to provide a high level of professional instructional skills as well as applied research skills which are emphasized throughout each program’s course work. The flexible program is designed to meet the current demands of teachers as they pursue graduate preparation beyond the master’s degree.

The role of the classroom teacher is expanded to that of teacher-scholar/researcher which allows the Education Specialist candidate to become a critical consumer of educational research, thus bridging the gap between theory and practice in their own professional practice. Ed.S. candidates are expected to be active participants to improve practice by solving problems and contributing to improved curriculum and instructional performance. To do this, they inquire into and analyze the nature and dimensions of a problem of practice and establish that there is a difference between the present and the ideal state, Ed.S candidates then build a case for an improved instructional development plan and make persuasive recommendations for action.

The program is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) and meets the PSC’s certificate upgrade requiremen

Degree Requirements: 33 Hours

Concentrations

Candidates must select one area of concentration from the areas in which they currently hold a level five Georgia certificate:

Elementary Education (Grades P-5)
Middle Grades Education (Middle Grades Language Arts, Middle Grades Reading, Middle Grades Math, Middle Grades Science, Middle Grades Social Studies)
Secondary Education (Biology Education, Broad Field Science Education, Business Education, Chemistry Education, Economics Education, English Education, Geography Education, History Education, Mathematics Education, Physics Education, Political Science Education)
Special Education (Adaptive Curriculum, General Curriculum)
English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)*

Certificate Upgrade Information: An educator who holds a level five Georgia certificate in one of the areas of concentration listed above will qualify for a level six certificate upgrade upon successful completion of all program requirements (See catalog section on Certification). *Ed.S. candidates wishing to pursue the ESOL concentration must currently hold an ESOL Endorsement (P-12) or ESOL (P-12) certification and possess or be eligible for a Georgia level five teaching certificate.

Admission Requirements

Regular Admission

1. Complete requirements for a master’s degree from a college or university accredited by an appropriate institutional accreditor.

2. Possess or be eligible for a Georgia level five teaching certificate in the chosen concentration area; or possess an equivalent out-of-state teaching certificate in the chosen concentration area. Candidates who have completed all requirements for the Georgia level five teaching certificate have until the end of the first semester to obtain certificate. Candidates with an out-of-state certificate will not receive Georgia certification upon program completion. Ed.S. candidates wishing to pursue an ESOL concentration must possess or be eligible for a Georgia ESOL endorsement (P-12) or ESOL (P-12) certification in addition to a level five teaching certificate.

3. Present a 3.25 or higher on all graduate work attempted.

4. Submit a personal statement of purpose, not to exceed 200 words, that identifies the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study and how admission into the program relates to the applicant’s professional aspirations.

Provisional Admission

Applicants may be approved for provisional admission based on the quality of the admission material presented. Provisional students must earn grades of “B” or higher in their first nine (9) credits of course work after admission and meet any other stipulations outlined by the department to be converted to regular status.

Prerequisite(s)

Program of Study

Core Requirements

EDUR 8131 - Educational Statistics I (3 Credit Hours)
EDUR 8231 - Applied Qualitative Research Methods (3 Credit Hours)
EDUR 8331 - Applied Measurement (3 Credit Hours) Students must take either EDUR 8231 (Applied Qualitative Research Methods) OR EDUR 8331 (Applied Mesurement). Credits / Units: 3
ESED 8131 - Teacher Leadership (3 Credit Hours)
ESED 8330 - Teaching and Learning in Diverse P-12 Contexts (3 Credit Hours)

Content Specific Requirements

Electives

Select 12 credit hours of graduate-level electives (5000G or above) in the following subjects: EDUC, EDUF, EDUR, ELEM, ENGL ESED, ITEC, MGED, MSED, READ, SPED, or TCLD.

¹ Ed.S. candidates must complete the Content Specific Requirements in Concentration Areas Research on Current Trends and Issues (ESED 8130 ), Curriculum and Instruction (ESED 8132 ), and Problem of Practice (ESED 8839 )

² ESED 8130 Research on Current Trends and Issues must be taken before ESED 8132 Curriculum and Instruction

³ ESED 8132 Curriculum and Instruction must be taken semester before ESED 8839 Problem of Practice

Total Credit Hours: 33

Other Program Requirements

Must successfully complete assessments identified at each transition point.
Grade Average: To be eligible for graduation, a candidate must maintain a cumulative 3.00 grade point average. A candidate will be excluded from the program upon earning grades of “C” or below on two or more courses within the program of study.

Advisement

Graduate students are advised by their program. Graduate students should reach out to their graduate program director for information regarding the structures in place to facilitate advisement. For more information visit Graduate Academic Advisement .

Graduate students can also contact the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies for more information about their program director.

Phone: 912-478-COGS (2647)

Email: gradschool@georgiasouthern.edu