Educational Leadership - Ed.S.
The University of West Georgia's performance-based Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Leadership Degree program emphasizes job embedded learning through a coaching model. The Educational Specialist Program affords candidates advanced preparation in educational leadership for both school level and system level leadership positions. Candidates who successfully complete the program earn a Performance Based Leadership Certificate (PL-6) in educational leadership. The primary component of the program is a field-based residency in which students are provided the opportunity to practice, learn and demonstrate performance while on the job as an educational leader. Admission requirements include the following:
- A Masters degree from a nationally or regionally accredited institution
- Hold a leadership position in a local education agency (LEA), or other service organization with which the university has a formal partnership agreement.
- Be recommended by the Superintendent, Headmaster, or the senior administrator of the employing LEA or organization.
- Three letters of recommendation from employers, supervisors, or professional colleagues
Up to 36 semester hours of graduate credit must be completed for this degree program. Eighteen semester hours of the program are in the residency and twelve hours are in course work, most of which can be taken concurrently with the residency. PSC regulations require six hours of Leadership Pre-Service Requirements which must be completed prior to beginning the Leadership Core Content and Residency courses.
The 18 hours of Leadership Residency afford candidates the opportunity to demonstrate performance within seven leadership areas under the direction of a Candidate Support Team consisting of an administrative sponsor, professor, and a performance coach. Monthly Saturday Seminars and online learning experiences augment the leadership core content. The culminating requirement of the residency will be the production of a portfolio describing the candidate's performance-based experiences and evaluations. Student performance is evaluated by the Candidate Support Team.
