EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST (EdS)

NOTE:  The HSU Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Program in Educational Leadership holds articulation agreements with Educational Doctorate (Ed.D.) Educational Leadership programs at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Arkansas State University.  In addition, several out of state Ed.D. programs also have agreements with HSU.  These agreements allow the HSU Ed.S. candidate to transfer hours from the HSU Ed.S. program to the Ed.D. programs at these institutions.  For further information, please contact the Graduate School. 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The Graduate School will receive the admission packet which requires:

1. Completed Henderson State University Graduate School application including immunization and selective service status forms.
2. Master’s degree in educational leadership or in a related discipline from an accredited institution as verified by official transcript.
3. Current principal’s license.
4. Official copies of all transcripts with a 3.2 grade point average on all master’s level coursework is required for full admission. Candidates with a 3.2 GPA on all master’s level coursework must submit a score from the Graduate Record Examination   (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) during the first semester of enrollment.  Candidates with a GPA of 3.0, but less than 3.2 on all master’s level coursework must submit a score of 950 on the GRE or a score of 400 on the MAT at the time of admission. 
5. Five (5) years of teaching experience at an accredited P-12 school district as documented by ATRS records or letters from superintendents.
6. Two (2) years of educational administrative experience as documented by employers. Related administrative experience may be considered.
7. Three (3) support letters of recommendation with one from current supervisor. Other letters may be from former employers, colleagues or university professors.
8. Current professional resume detailing all employment experiences.
9. A score of 950 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) by the end of the first semester of enrollment.
   

10. The admissions interview will require the student to show evidence of written and oral competencies.

Following the interview, the Ed.S. Coordinator will notify the student of program acceptance or non-acceptance with a copy to the Graduate Dean to be placed in the student’s Graduate School file.

Transfer
Students wishing to transfer to the Henderson Ed.S. program from another accredited Ed.S. program may make application as outlined above. Transfer credit will be considered on an individual basis.

EXIT REQUIREMENTS
Program of Study
The Ed.S. Degree program requires thirty (30) hours of course work as outlined in the modules and competencies.

Thesis
A scholarship research paper based on active research is required as outlined in the modules and competencies. The topic will be approved by the advisor and Ed.S. Coordinator with development throughout the degree plan. Completion is in collaboration with an approved public school administrator mentor plus faculty support in technological reporting and statistical research.

Portfolio
The Ed.S. portfolio will be a continual compilation demonstrating a composite of learning related to the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) & Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) standards.

Candidacy After six (6) hours of course work, the student will meet with the Ed.S. advisor and complete the candidacy form or declaration of intent, which will serve as the student’s degree plan.

Ed.S. Defense Committee
The Ed.S. defense committee will be comprised of the student’s advisor, who will act as Chair, a faculty member in the Ed.S. program selected by the student, a faculty member from the research and statistical course, and a public school mentor. The committee will convene during the student’s final semester for the student’s written and oral defense, which will be based on the portfolio contents including the research paper.

Time Limit
The Ed.S. degree must be completed within six (6) years of date of admission. Any extension must be approved by the Ed.S. advisor and the Graduate Dean according to the policies of the Graduate Council.

Credit Toward Ed.D. Degree
HSU has articulation agreements with doctoral granting institutions, and credit for the thirty (30) hour ED.S. degree program may be counted toward the Ed.D. Contact the Graduate School for more information.


PROGRAM OF STUDY ( 30 Hours)
The Ed.S. degree in Educational Leadership consists of 30 credit hours arranged in sequential modules. Each module provides a knowledge base and experiences that are subsequently built upon in the following module. All modules and courses cover particular competencies required by the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium, National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Arkansas Department of Education.


MODULE I (6 Hours)
EDL 7113 - EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
GOAL: HSU seeks to develop educational leaders who promote success of all students by facilitation development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community. The module will provide opportunities to explore personal leadership style, knowledge, skills, and attributes to identify contexts; develop with others vision and purpose; use information; frame problems; and act ethically for educational communities.

EDL 7123 - ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT
GOAL: HSU seeks to prepare school leaders with knowledge, skills, and attributes to understand the day-to-day operation of preschool through grade 12 educational settings, improve the organization, implement operational plans, manage financial resources, and apply decentralized management processes and procedures.


MODULE II (6 Hours)
EDL 7236 — ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS AND EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT OF DATA AND TECHNOLOGY
GOAL: HSU seeks to prepare school administrators to provide effective leadership in their schools by possessing knowledge and understanding of the issues and capabilities of technology. Collection and statistical analysis of data will be a major emphasis. The assignment of a faculty advisor and completion of degree candidacy will be included. A preliminary proposal for the degree requirement of a scholarly research paper will be developed, defended, and approved by the Education Specialist Faculty Committee. A mentor will be selected in consultation with assigned faculty advisor. Skills to initiate, maintain, and refine a personal, professional career digital portfolio will be developed and demonstrated.


MODULE III (6 Hours)
EDL 7353 - ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL LAW AND POLICY
GOAL: HSU seeks to prepare educational leaders who promote the success of all students by understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, economic, legal, and cultural context. Building on the master’s level courses in school law, this module will address constitutional, statutory, administrative, and judicial law that is involved in school management and operation.

EDL 7363 - GOVERNANCE AND POLITICS
GOAL: HSU seeks to prepare educational leaders who have the knowledge, skills, and attributes to act in accordance with legal provisions and statutory requirements, apply regulatory standards, develop and apply appropriate policies; be conscious of ethical implications of policy initiatives to student welfare; understand schools as political systems; involve citizens and service agencies; and develop effective staff communications and public relations programs.

MODULE IV (6 Hours)
EDL7473 - LEADERSHIP FOR CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
GOAL: HSU seeks to assist students in the development of the knowledge, skills, and attributes to design with other appropriate curriculums and instructional programs; develop learner centered school cultures; assess outcomes; provide student personnel services; and plan with faculty professional development activities aimed at improving education. Emphasis will be on the belief that school administrators are instructional leaders and should understand curriculum alignment and instructional outcomes including state, regional and national standards

EDL7483 - HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION
GOAL: HSU seeks to prepare educational leaders who promote the success of all students by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth. A study of the administrator’s role in recruitment, selection, induction, retention, classification, evaluation, and dismissal of school employees, including certified and non-certified personnel is included. Legal authority sources for these functions will serve as the foundation for the development of policy and procedure.


MODULE V (3 Hours)
EDL7593 - FISCAL RESOURCES AND ACCOUNTABILITY
GOAL: HSU seeks to prepare educational leaders who promote the success of all students by ensuring sound fiscal management procedures and understand the accountability and auditing factors associated with effective school management.

MODULE VI (3 Hours) EDL7613 - MENTORSHIP IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
GOAL: Mentorship is defined as the process and product that result from specific and structured activities which will be completed under the supervision of leadership mentors selected and approved by the Educational Specialist Advisory Council. Assignments in diverse settings over an extended period of time will consider the candidate’s prior experience and personal professional leadership inventory. Significant observation opportunities in the workplace will give the candidate opportunity to synthesize and to apply the strategic, instructional, organizational, and contextual leadership competencies. In addition, the intern will continue to maintain, clarify, and present the comprehensive digital portfolio of all coursework and practical experiences. The Mentorship includes a seminar which will allow the completion and defense of the candidate’s scholarly research paper.