Education Specialist Degree Program Comparison Chart forCohort Beginning 2015-16

Georgia College and State University / Georgia State University / Mercer University
Institution Admission Requirements / Institution Admission Requirements / Institution Admission Requirements
  • Completed graduate application -
  • Pass an onsite writing assessment
  • Meet minimal Grade Point Average of 3.25
  • Satisfactory completion of interview by faculty admissions committee
  • Verify two years teaching experience
University Graduate Admissions Deadlines:
April 1Summer Semester (including Maymester)
July 1Fall Semester
November 14 Spring Semester /
  • Completed graduate application -
  • Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.5
  • Entrance scores no more than five years old
  • GRE or MAT required for EdS; Test scores will be considered as part of total application package.
  • Prerequisites: A graduate-level course in school law and a graduate-level course in school leadership
University Graduate Admissions Deadlines:
April 1 Summer Semester (cohorts begin in summer)
November 1 Spring Semester for those who need prerequisites /
  • Completed graduate application –
  • Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.00
  • Three years of certified school experience
  • Transcripts from all higher education institutions attended
  • Three letters of reference
  • Entrance scores no more than six years old
  • GRE – 900 (verbal and quantitative combined)
  • Current vita or resume
  • Signed and dated narrative of career and academic goals
  • Writing sample
  • Interview
University Graduate Admissions Deadline:
Mercer admits students every 8 weeks. Check the Graduate Admissions website for more information:
Program / Program / Program
Description: The Specialist in Education degree program in Education Leadership is organized around cohorts with a strong residency (internship) program. Coursework is organized around thematic blocks that address school improvement issues.
Credential: Candidates may complete either the Building-Level and District-Level requirements in 36 semester hours.
Grading system: Traditional A-F; Residency: Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory
Faculty: Content is developed and taught by Georgia College and State University Faculty
Delivery Format: Online / Description: Research indicates that quality leadership significantly impacts student achievement. Therefore the leadership program at GSU prepares its students to meet the national and Georgia Standards in the areas of Instructional Leadership, School Climate, Planning and Assessment, Organizational Management, Human Resources Management, Teacher/Staff Evaluation, Professionalism, and Communication & Community Relations. All faculty members in the program have leadership experience in P-12 schools.
Credential: GSU offers courses and performance-based activities to meet the requirements for Building-Level and District-Level certification.
Grading system: Traditional A-F
Faculty: Content is co-developed and taught by full-time and adjunct faculty from Georgia State University; RESA; and Participating Districts.
Delivery Format: Cohort from Districts within Northeast Georgia RESA (minimum 20; maximum 25); face-to face classes held at RESA; some classes offered via web; (Note: If cohort class at NEGA RESA does not make, students will meet on GSU campus.) / Description: The performance-based program of study is designed to prepare dynamic building-level and system-level leaders for Georgia’s schools who will be transformational I the professional community.
Credential: Candidates may complete either the Building-Level or District-Level requirements in 36 semester hours. Candidates may add the second level to their license through yet to be specified requirements.
Grading system: Traditional A-F; Residency: Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory
Faculty: Content is developed and taught by Mercer faculty
Delivery Format: Most classes are face-to-face and held in the evenings at Mercer in Atlanta. Some classes are online.
Proposed Plan of Study - 36 Hours / Proposed Plan of Study – 30 Hours / Proposed Plan of Study – 36 Hours
EDEL 7000 Architects of Change
EDEL 7100 Residency I
EDEL 7200 Curriculum and Instruction
EDEL 7300 Residency II
EDEL 7600 Resources
EDEL 7900 Synthesis and Closure
EDEL 7700 Residency III
Other requirements for graduation and/or recommendation for certification include satisfactory completion of electronic portfolio. / EPEL 8000: Research in Educational Leadership and Organizational Culture
EPEL 8020: Leadership for Change in a Diverse Society
EPEL 8650: The Principal
EPEL 8420: Advanced Instructional Leadership
EPEL 8690: Research-Based Decision Making for School Leaders
EPEL: 8970 Seminar in EducationalLeadership
EPY 8250: Psychology of Inner-City Children
EPSF 8440: Curriculum Design and Analysis
Elective - Residency: Either Building-Level OR District-Level Residency / EDEL 605 Leadership in Curriculum
EDEL 615 Leadership in Today’s Schools
EDEL 625 Managing the School Environment
EDEL 635 Assessment and Evaluation
EDEL 655 School Law
EDEL 665 Leadership in Instructional Supervision
EDEL 645-A Internship I
Building-Level
EDEL 703 The Principalship
EDEL 645B Internship II
EDEL 697 School, Community & Society
EDEL 645B Internship II / OR / District-Level
EDEL 704 The Superintendency
EDEL 645B Internship II
EDEL 832 School Finance and Budgeting
EDEL 645B Internship II
Tentative Cost
For specific information on costs for tuition and fees, please visit the Business Office website at

2014-15 tuition - $283 per hour;(with fees - $780.50 per hour) / Tentative Cost
Performance coaches will be hired by Georgia State University. Coaches will be selected from the NE GA RESA cadre of performance coaches which includes former and current building and system-level leaders.
For specific information on costs for tuition and fees, please visit the Business Office website at or
2014-15 tuition - $362 per hour; (with fees - $674.01 per hour) / Tentative Cost
For specific information on costs for tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s website at
2014-15 tuition - $575 per hour; (fees - $150 per semester)
University of Georgia
Institution Admission Requirements
  • Completed graduate application –
  • Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.00
  • Transcripts from all higher education institutions attended
  • Three letters of reference
  • Entrance scores no more than six years old
  • GRE – 900 (verbal and quantitative combined)
  • Miller Analogy Test – 415 minimum
University Graduate Admissions Deadline:
July 1 Fall Semester

Program
Description: The performance-based program of study is designed to prepare school and system leaders who can advance the knowledge and practice of PreK-12 educational administration by supporting school and system improvement. This program of study, in partnership with school districts, will develop scholarly practitioners who can effectively lead schools and school districts in the 21st century. The program integrates coursework, research, and practice. Studies in learning communities and professional development, politics of education, and school-community relations are emphasized in addition to specialized investigations of law, finance, leadership, and curriculum.
Credential: Candidates may complete either the Building-Level or District-Level requirements in 30 semester hours. Candidates may add the second level to their certificate by taking an additional 6 semester hours.
Grading system: Traditional A-F; Residency: Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory
Faculty: Content is developed and taught by UGA faculty
Delivery Format: Classes are face-to-face, blended, and onlineand are taught at UGA in Athens and Gwinnett.
Proposed Plan of Study – 30 Hours
EDAP 7040: School Law
EDAP 8000: Leadership in a Diverse Society
EDAP 8290: Politics of Education
EDAP 8130: Leadership for Learning
EDAP 7060: Resource/Operational Management
EDAP 8600: Management and Analysis of Administrative Data
EDAP 8115/EDAP 8120: Building or system-level Administration
EDAP 8611/EDAP-8711: Residency I
EDAP 8612/EDAP8712 : Residency II
EDAP 8613/EDAP 8713: Residency III
Tentative Cost
For specific information on costs for tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s website at .
2014-15 tuition - $384 per hour; (with fees - $1357 per hour – Athens; $1014 per hour - Gwinnett)