School of Teacher Education

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Education Specialist Degree

Secondary Education

This post-master’s degree provides opportunity for the advanced graduate student to improve the foundations and competencies for teaching. The program may also be structured to meet Rank I salary requirements under Kentucky’s minimum foundation program of education. The following emphases or specializations are available to the secondary education major: literacy, general curriculum and instruction, and gifted education. The EdS in Secondary Education requires 30 hours beyond a master’s degree.

In addition to meeting the admission requirements of Graduate Studies, applicants must meet the admission requirements for the School of Teacher Education and, if applicable, the department in which specialization courses are offered.

School of Teacher Education Requirements:

• Three years of teaching experience at the appropriate level. Up to two years of experience may be waived in favor of equivalent experience; and
• Four letters of recommendation: two from graduate faculty members and two from professional associates in administrative and/or supervisory roles.
• Students must hold initial or advanced certification in an area consistent with the focus of study.
• Students must have an overall 3.0 average in specialized field coursework.
• Students must submit with their application a Statement of Purpose essay of approximately 750 words. The essay should discuss the applicant’s personal, professional, and/or academic preparation for advanced graduate study, and how the EdS. degree with a specific concentration will fit into the applicant’s future professional development.

This program requires 30 hours beyond a master’s degree.

Degree Requirements

Professional Education Component—3 hours
EDU 604 (Management of the Learning Environment)

Research Methods or Statistics—3 hours
EDFN 501 (Educational Statistics) or subject-related research methods or statistics course pertinent to the area of specialization

Related Professional Education Courses—6 to 9 hours (advisor-approved professional education courses)

Related Specialization Courses—9 to 12 hours (advisor-approved, subject-related courses pertinent to the area of specialization)

Specialist Project—6 hours
EDU 699 (Specialist Project) 6 hours  OR
EDU 699( 3hours) and
discipline-specific 699 course (3 hours)

Notes:

• There is a limit of 6 hours workshop and independent study credit that can be used on a Specialist Degree program. Only three of those 6 hours can be one credit hour courses.  A total of 24 hours non-professional education courses are required for MAE and the Specialist Degree combined.
• By Graduate Council policy all requirements for this program must be completed within six years from the date the first course was taken.