Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services

School of Teacher Education and Leadership

The EdS is a 36-42 credit post-masters degree designed to enable experienced educators to specialize and improve their professional competence in specific areas or fields. The EdS degree meets the advanced study needs of persons seeking leadership roles in public education, junior colleges, and small private and state colleges. The course work requirements extend competencies for individuals serving in such positions as program developers, trainers, curriculum specialists, supervisors, instructional leaders, and college instructors. The EdS is also related to certification needs of some educational leaders. Areas of emphasis in the Department of Elementary Education are: Early Childhood; Instructional Leadership; Supervision and Leadership; Schooling, Culture, and Society; and Reading and Writing. The EdS is especially appropriate for those individuals who wish preparation beyond the master’s degree level, but who are not interested in doctoral work with its greater emphasis on developing proficiencies in conducting independent research.

Successful admission into and completion of the 42-credit emphasis program in Supervision and Leadership also earns the EdS recipient an Administrative/Supervisory Certificate. For more information on the ASC see: http://www.cehs.usu.edu/asc/index.php

Admission Requirements:

To be evaluated against established criteria, students must submit to the School of Graduate Studies at Utah State University an electronic application for admission (http://www.usu.edu/graduateschool/) Requirements for admission include:

• Official copies of both undergraduate and graduate credits from all colleges or universities attended. An average grade of B (3.0) or better is required during the last 60 semester credits.
• Three letters of recommendation (required). At least two of these letters should come from individuals who can evaluate the student’s academic abilities. All letters should address the student’s potential for successful graduate study.
• Documentation of a master’s degree related to the area of specialization.
• An official report of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) including both the Verbal and Quantitative subtests. Scores at or above the 40th percentile are required on both of these subtests.
• Evidence of writing ability as requested by the department of specialization.
• A statement of specific reasons for wanting to enroll in the Educational Specialist degree.
• An up-to-date vita (resume) documenting at least two years of successful teaching experience or equivalent.

Admission Deadline

On-campus EdS applications are reviewed March 15 for Summer Semester, June 15 for Fall Semester, October 15 for Spring Semester.

Program of Study and Comprehensive Examinations

A committee chair and two committee members approve a student’s Ed.S. program of study and provide advice and counsel to the student as needed. They are also responsible for the construction, administration, and evaluation of the comprehensive examination that is taken by the student during the last semester of course work. A student must register for this written examination at the beginning of the semester in which it is to be taken. The comprehensive examination includes questions that require the student to integrate and synthesize information from the required core, research, and emphasis courses in the Ed.S. program. Successful completion of the examination is required in order for a committee to recommend a student for graduation.

EdS and EdD/PhD Relationship

For USU students who wish to transfer from the Ed.S. program to a related doctoral program, or vice versa, credits earned from one program do not automatically transfer to the other. The student interested in a transfer from one post-masters degree program to another must make a request for program transfer through his or her major advisor. Upon the advisor’s recommendation, the appropriate program admission’s committee will then make a determination regarding the acceptance of such a transfer. Transfer between programs will require adherence to the new program’s requirements. It is important to note that the comprehensive examination completed for the EdS will not substitute for the doctoral comprehensive examination, given that the doctorate requires more extensive course work.