Nov 22, 2024  
2015-2017 Graduate Catalog 
    
2015-2017 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Education Specialist in Leadership


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

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

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

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Graduate Catalog Addendum  

Program description

The state approved Education Specialist (Ed.S.) program is based on the belief that effective leadership is learned by the content of the courses and the field experiences that are offered throughout the program. This program is practitioner oriented, offering opportunities to apply theoretical learning with practical and authentic assignments. The learning laboratory for the program is the school or school district where assignments are completed and internships are conducted. The Ed.S. program utilizes a cohort program that develops a sense of community like that which is developed in a school; in this sense, the same practices that build capacity in an organization are cultivated and modeled in the program.

The Ed.S. program includes a two-year Internship in which the students work with a mentor of their choice, building practice in leadership activities that serve students, faculty, and the larger educational community. The students complete the required 220 hours for State of Michigan and are eligible for building level certification after satisfactory completion of the 34 credits of the program, and this Internship.

Program delivery

The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in leadership degree program requires 34 credits, all of which are taken within the 22-month, cohort-structured program. Prescribed courses are generally scheduled one night per week for fall and winter semesters, with the two-credit research courses scheduled for selected Saturdays throughout the semester. Summer semester requires class meetings twice a week for the 4-credit courses. The action research courses begin during the third semester of the program, and they culminate with group presentations of the research findings by cohort teams during the Annual Graduate Research Symposium.

The Ed.S. program is offered as a hybrid design at on-ground locations such as main campus, Grand Blanc, Bloomfield Hills, and others depending on requests of local districts.  The course delivery for the Ed.S. program is hybrid, with some class meetings on ground and others online. We also offer a fully online program that offers an asynchronistic schedule.

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.

Current Deadline

 

Beginning FALL 2017 Semester

  • February 15 (early) April 15 (regular) and July 15 (late) for fall semester
  • October 1 (early) and November 15 (regular) 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:

  1.    
     
  2. 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.
  • Curriculum Vitae or Resume
  • Candidates may be interviewed by the program coordinator, who will make admission recommendations to Graduate Admissions.

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  coordinators for the Ed.S. 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. All program participants select a mentor who is a practicing administrator. The Internship begins during the initial semester and continues throughout the entire program. Goals and activities are mutually agreed upon and reflect the state approved ELCC Standards. The students complete the required 220 internship hours for State of Michigan and are eligible for building level certification after satisfactory completion of the 34 credits of the program, and this Internship.

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.