Education Specialist in Leadership

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Department of Organizational Leadership
480D Pawley Hall (map)
(248) 370-3070 • Fax (248) 370-4605
www.oakland.edu/edleadership

► Apply Online

► Class Schedule Search

Coordinators:
Caryn M. Wells
480H Pawley Hall
(248) 370-3072
cmwells2@oakland.edu

Christine Abbott
480A Pawley Hall
(248) 370-2636
cabbott@oakland.edu

Program description

The nationally recognized and state approved Education Specialist program is based on the belief that leadership must be distributed throughout schools and school districts. Thus, this program prepares teacher leaders as well as administrators to provide the leadership needed by effective school organizations. The Ed.S. program emphasizes a cohort structure with the belief that learning is increased by the ongoing interaction of all members of learning communities. A mentorship is required with the belief that theory must be linked to practice. A program portfolio is required with the belief that reflection on practice is key to building leadership capacity. Cohort members will develop the skills, knowledge, and dispositions needed to play many different leadership roles within the education profession.

Program delivery

The Education Specialist in leadership degree program requires 34 credits, all of which must be taken within the 22-month, cohort-structured program. Prescribed courses are generally taken one week night for fall and winter terms with some courses scheduled on periodic Saturdays. Summer Sessions I and II, which are held back-to-back and are shorter in length, require two evenings per week. The action research project begins during the third semester and is presented during the final semester of the program.

Cohorts are formed at the main campus, online, and at various off-campus locations. Cohorts are limited to 20 students each.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Admissions by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

July 15 for fall semester
November 15 for winter semester
International applicants

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

Graduate Application Requirements
Additional department application requirements

Evidence of a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
Requirements for recommendations
The recommendation forms must be from supervisors familiar with the candidate’s current position
A statement indicating willingness to make a two-year commitment to the program and a statement of personal goals after completing the educational leadership program.
Candidates may be interviewed by the program coordinator, who will make admission recommendations to Graduate Admissions.
Curriculum Vitae or Resume
Site Preference Form

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

The Faculty Council for the Education Specialist program will screen candidates after all application materials have been received by Graduate Admissions.

Degree requirements

The Education Specialist in leadership degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 34 credits in an approved program of study as follows.

Course requirements (34 credits)

EA 701 - Internship Experience I (1 credit)
EA 702 - Internship Experience II (1 credit)
EA 740 - School as a Formal Organization (4 credits)
EA 741 - School Business Management (4 credits)
EA 742 - Educational Law (4 credits)
EA 743 - Professional Seminar (2 credits)
EA 746 - Curriculum and Staff Development (4 credits)
EA 747 - Program Assessment (2 credits)
EA 748 - Seminar on School/Community Development (2 credits)
EA 749 - Testing, Measurement and Data Analysis Techniques (2 credits)
EA 750 - Action Research I (2 credits)
EA 751 - Action Research II (2 credits)
EA 754 - Human Resource Management and Supervision (4 credits)

Satisfactory academic progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Department requirements: No grade below 2.8 may be applied to the degree, and an overall GPA of 3.0 must be maintained.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information

Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework. (See the Graduate Student Responsibility section of this catalog.)

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.

Internship and field experiences

All program participants are paired with a mentor, who is a practicing administrator. The internship begins during the initial course and continues throughout the entire program. Goals and activities are mutually agreed upon by the intern, mentor and cohort coordinator. Mentors will also provide support and assistance to Ed.S. students as they complete the field experience requirement of various courses during the program.

Academic portfolio

All program participants create an Ed.S. academic electronic portfolio during the initial course. Using this framework, students will organize artifacts collected throughout their courses, field work and internship. Portfolios will be presented during the final seminar of the program.

Ph.D. cognate option

Upon completion of the Education Specialist in leadership degree program, students who choose to apply and are accepted into the Ph.D. in Education with a major in educational leadership program can use 28 of the 34 credits from the Ed.S. and apply it to the cognate area of the Ph.D. program.