Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) Coursework

EDUC 7090 Research Methods
(3)
This course focuses upon theory, methods, and basics of educational research. Candidates explore the inquiry process, fundamental statistics, and consider issues of reliability and validity. Use of Galileo, reference sand resources, statement of a problem, expression of hypotheses, research design, organizing the review of literature, gathering data, basic statistical analysis of data, reporting and discussing findings, and drawing conclusions are components of the course. Candidates will consider research opportunities for their Graduate Project.

EDUC 7035 Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction
(3)
This course is designed to strengthen and enhance competency levels for candidates to serve as classroom teacher leaders. The course is designed to provide students with knowledge of factors and processes related to teacher leadership roles within schools. Topics such as mentoring, peer coaching, community relations, organizational change, and advocacy will be addressed. Possible learning outcomes include: 
    1.  The development of classroom observation and collegial consulting skills.
    2.  The examination of organizational change issues.
    3.  Learning and applying advocacy strategies.
    4.  The development of a professional voice.

EDUC 7050 Comparative Education I
(3)
This is a research base course in which candidates are challenged to critically evaluate educational systems, traditions and policy in other nations and compare those systems to practices in the United States. Travel outside of the United States may be apart of the course.

EDUC 7060 Comparative Education II
(3)
This is a researched base course in which candidates are challenged to critically evaluate educational systems, traditions and policy in other nations and compare those systems to practices in the United States. Travel outside of the United States may be a part of the course.

EDUC 7100 Research Topics and Methodology
(3)
This course requires an extensive review of the scholarship published in the educational literature and the completion of the methodology chapter for the graduate project. In the literature review chapter,that candidate explores research that is aligned to the focus questions pose din the project. Following the completion of the literature review chapter, the candidate will develop a methodology chapter that includes both quantitative and qualitative approaches to assessing the problem presented in the graduate project.

EDUC 7015 Management and Analysis of Educational Data 
(3)
This course will explore curriculum assessment and evaluation practices that enable learning organizations to use data for decision-making purposes.

After completing this course the student should be able to:
    1. Apply principles of curriculum development,implementation, and evaluation.
    2. Evaluate various perspectives on curriculum assessment and evaluation.
    3. Explain curriculum development as a collaborative problem-solving process.
    4. Interpret data for curriculum improvement.
    5. Generate possible solutions to curriculum problems.
    6. Develop a curriculum improvement plan.
    7. Develop a conception of teacher leadership that emphasizes using data driven decision making for
        curriculum improvement.

EDUC 7200 Directed Research Seminar
(3)
Directed Research Seminar is designed to meet individual needs of the education specialist candidate who is prepared to begin collecting and reporting on his/her project's data. Final completion of chapter four, the results section, is required for the course.

EDUC 7080  Theories and Models of Leadership
(3)
Students would work with content specialists to design an individualized directed studies plan focusing on the student's area content certification.

EDUC 7070  Internship in Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction
(3)
This course focuses on the development of applicable knowledge, skills and dispositions that teacher leaders must possess for successful school improvement. Students will work under the supervision of field mentor within the local school or system that agrees to assist the student with acquiring and completing their field experience. The basis for this course is performance bases assignments which integrate student knowledge,skills and dispositions with applicable issues and problems in their school or system.

EDUC 7300 Specialist Project Seminar
(3)
Working under the guidance of the candidate's advisor,this course is taken during the semester in which the candidate plans to defend her/his project.