Education Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction

The Ed.S. in Curriculum & Instruction degree is a 30-hour (minimum) terminal graduate degree designed for the long-term professional educator. Applicants must have earned a master's degree prior to this degree.

The Education Specialist degree prepares students to become teacher leaders within schools and school districts, museums, non-profits, and other community settings.  The program is personalized and flexible.  Advisors meet with students to design a program of student that incudes core and elective courses that complement professional goals.

The Ed.S. degree is NOT a stepping stone to the Ed.D. degree.  Both the Ed.S. and the Ed.D. are separate, terminal degrees.  The Ed.D. requires a minimum of 72 hours and includes a research component.

Students may choose to enroll in the educational specialist program to extend and deepen their personal knowledge of professional practice, to enhance their skills for new responsibilities, and to become more engaged in persistent problems of professional practices.  These positions might include community college teaching, central district office supervisory positions, education departments at museums, and policy work at foundations and other non-profits. 

Potential specialization areas include English Language Learners, Instructional Technology, Literacy, Gifted Education, Science Education, Applied Behavior Analysis, Curriculum & Instruction, Special Education, and Social Foundations.

Note: The Ed.S. degree with a literacy emphasis is NOT the same as the state preK-12 reading specialist endorsement.