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The Education Specialist Degree in the Administration Track is designed to meet the needs of the educational professionals seeking either a higher level of licensure in school administration or an entry-level licensure in school administration that builds on an existing AA licensure in another area of professional education.

Admission, Maintenance and Graduation Requirements

The admission, maintenance, and graduation requirements for the Education Specialist Degree are that the candidates:

1. Must hold a valid Class AA license issued by a state department of education. The license must be in an area of professional education. A photocopy of the valid license is required.
2. Must meet all general requirements for admission to the graduate school at Mississippi College.
3. Must have a 3.25 grade point average on all prior graduate work.
4. Must supply 3 letters of recommendation from administrators familiar with applicant's character, scholarship, and potential for successful completion of the program.
5. Must provide proof of three years of teaching experience.
6. After 12, hours must have and maintain a 3.25 on all work in Ed.S. Program.
7. Must defend a research-based project completed during the Ed.S. Program as an exit requirement. Candidates must have a 3.25 grade point average on course work completed at Mississippi College in order to be eligible to defend their research-based project.
8. Must pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) or equivalent state test, before they can be approved to graduate. If students cannot pass the SLLA, before they graduate or choose not to take it, they can switch to the EDS Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) Track (and successfully complete an additional 8 hours minimum), in order to graduate in the EDS C&I Track.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit of six semester hours taken since being awarded an advanced degree may be accepted upon recommendation by the candidate’s advisor and approval of the Dean of the Graduate School. Transfer credit must be earned at the education specialist level, or above.

Admission to Candidacy

Candidacy will be granted when the student has completed twelve semester hours of course work with a 3.25 GPA or higher in the Ed. S. degree program.

Time Limit

All work for the degree must be completed within a period not to exceed six years.

Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership Degree

Licensure Assessment

Candidates in the Ed.S. in Educational Leadership must pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA), before they can be approved to graduate and apply to obtain a Class AAA license in Administration.  If students cannot pass the SLLA the semester before they graduate or choose not to take it, they can switch to the EDS Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) Track (with an additional 8 hours minimum), in order to graduate in the EDS C& I Track.

Course Requirements

Core Courses (16 sem. hrs.)

EDU 7499 Intro to Ed Leadership in the ED Specialist Program   Credits,: 0 credit hrs.

EDU 6505 Engaged Learning  Credits,: 3 sem. hrs

EDU 6520 Basics of Effective Leadership  Credits,: 3 sem. hrs.

EDU 6521 Organizational School and Community Effectiveness  Credits,: 3 sem. hrs.

EDU 7501 Advanced Educational Research Applications  Credits,: 3 sem. hrs.

EDU 7545 Statistical Methods and Testing  Credits,: 3 sem hrs.

EDU 7500 Directed Research Project Continuation for Advanced Educational Research Applications  Credits,: 1 sem. hr.

Field Experiences (4 sem. hrs.)

Educational Leadership Practicum Credits

EDU 75250 Internship in Leadership Models  (not required)

EDU 75251 Internship in Personnel Management  (Administration only)

EDU 75252 Internship in Leadership Dilemmas   (not required)

EDU 75253 Internship in School Finance  (not required)

EDU 75254 Internship in Legal Issues  

EDU 75255 Internship in Central Office Responsibilities   (Administration only)

EDU 75257 Internship in Advanced Curriculum   (C & I only)

EDU 75258 Internship in Data-Driven Decisions  

EDU 75259 Internship in Technology Trends   (C & I only)

Program Anchor I: Effective Leadership for Teaching and Learning (9 sem. hrs.)

EDU 7527 Leadership Models and Applications   3 sem. hrs. (Administration only)

EDU 7530 Issues and Concepts of Personnel Management   3 sem. hrs.

EDU 7531 Seminar in Current Educational Leadership Dilemmas  3 sem. hrs.

EDU 7560 Advanced Curriculum and Development   3 sem. hrs. (C & I only)

Program Anchor II: Fiscal and Legal Controls for Effective Management of Schools (6 sem. hrs.)

EDU 7540 Basics of School Finance and Fiscal Control of Schools   Credits,: 3 sem. hrs.

EDU 7541 Legal Structures & Legal Issues Pertaining to School Operations   Credits,: 3 sem. hrs.

Program Anchor III: Effective District Level Operations in Support of the School Mission (6 sem. hrs.)

EDU 7550 Central Office Structures, Roles and Responsibilities and Functions of the Superintendency   (Administration only) 3 sem. hrs.

EDU 7561 Data-Driven Decision-Making   3 sem. hrs.

EDU 7570 Technology Trends in Curriculum and Instruction   3 sem. hrs. (C & I only)

Total: 41 sem. hrs.