Educational Leadership Ed.S. (Tier II)

Specialist in Education (Ed.S) in Educational Leadership

Program Description

The Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership program equips educational leaders with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead relationship-building, collaboration, positive school culture, and make a lasting impact in their schools and communities.

The program is designed to prepare aspiring school leaders through personalized, authentic, and practice-based learning experiences aligned with the Georgia Educational Leadership Standards (GELS). Candidates can complete the program in only one academic year, consisting of three semesters of 12 graduate credit hours each (36 hours total) beginning every fall.

The fully online coursework is intentionally integrated with school-based learning experiences focused on instructional leadership, the principalship, and the design and implementation of a meaningful school improvement or leadership change initiative. Throughout the program, candidates engage in interactive virtual decision-making simulations aligned with GELS that provide immediate feedback and allow them to apply leadership theory to real-world challenges.

Each candidates is supported by an experienced school-based mentor and university faculty who provide individualized guidance, timely feedback, and ongoing professional support. In addition, candidates complete a 750-hour residency that offers extensive opportunities to develop leadership competencies across all GELS, with a particular emphasis on supporting teachers to improves student learning and achievement.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are well prepared for the principalship and to meet the residency and certification requirements for Tier II Educational Leadership through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Degree Requirements

Admission requirement

• Application for Admission
• Valid Teaching Certificate
• Transcripts from all institution attended
• Two professional letters of recommendation (at least one of which is an immediate supervisor/administrator)
• Statement of professional purpose for seeking Ed.S. degree (Not to exceed 2-pages)
• Resume
• GPA Requirement:
  • Option 1: Applicants who have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.2 from a regionally accredited university may be considered for admission to College of Education Ed.S. programs.
  • Option 2: Applicants who have completed a graduate degree with an overall GPA between 3.0 and 3.19 from regionally accredited university and hold 3 successful years of teaching experience, as documented by a letter from current employer, may be considered for admission to a College of Education Ed.S. programs
• Educational leadership applicants must hold Tier 1 certification, Georgia PSC L or PL in Educational Leadership and provide GACE test code 380 scores.
• Teacher Leadership requires 3 years of teaching and a recommendation by the school system administrator or designee.