Specialist in Education

SPECIALIST IN EDUCATION

INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP (ONLINE)

Mission

The program mission is to prepare instructional leaders to be caring, reflective decision makers equipped to build the 21st century schoolhouse. This program will equip instructional candidates to become change agents for positively impacting students’ lives socially, emotionally, and academically.

Overview

This program is intended for educators interested in careers in public, parochial or private school leadership. Likely career paths for program graduates include leadership roles in school districts as principals, vice principals, superintendents, deputy superintendents of assessment or curriculum improvement, directors of educational programs for exceptional children, and conservators of failing school districts. The program offers two tracks of study: one in instructional leadership and the other in instructional assessment.

Admission Requirements

No student will be admitted on a probationary or provisional basis. Students may transfer hours of approved coursework from an institution that is fully accredited by a recognized accrediting agency. Coursework used in a previous degree may not be used toward the specialist degree.

To fulfill requirements for admission to the specialist in instructional leadership degree program, the student must:

(1)Hold a master’s degree from an institution fully accredited by a recognized accrediting agency;

(2)Meet the university’s general requirements for graduate admission;

(3)Have a GPA of 3.50 in a related master’s program;

(4)Have completed 30 hours of graduate work;

(5)Have passed basic statistics and have knowledge of basic research methods;

(6)Submit two letters of reference which may include a letter from a superintendent, professor, principal or supervisor.

Progression

To progress through the specialist in instructional leadership degree program, the student must:

(1)Maintain a 3.00 GPA;

(2)Complete a minimum of 24 hours through William Carey University, not to include credits from a prior degree earned through WCU;

(3)Complete all required work within a period of six years after enrolling in the program;

(4)File a signed program of study prior to completing 9 hours.

Requirements for Candidates

The academic requirements for a specialist in instructional leadership are the 30-hour program outlined below, and successful completion of a comprehensive examination taken during the final trimester of coursework.

Professional Academic Core (12 hours)

EDL 702Ethical Issues in Administration

EDL 703Learning Research Based in Instructional Theory

EDL 792Primary and Secondary Interpretation of Quantitative Data

EDL 788Schools and Community Safety Management

Professional Education Electives (Choose 2 courses from the following with approval of advisor)

EDL 704Data Driven Decision Making

EDL 701Advanced Organizational Leadership Models

EDL 717Innovative Approaches Leading to Administration in a Diverse Culture

TRACK ONE: Instructional Leadership Requirement (12 hours)

REQUIRED COURSES

EDL 730 School Finance Influenced by Current Trends and Issues in Public Education

EDL 727Theories of Educational Leadership

Choose 6 hours from the following courses:

EDL 735Employees and Faculty Conflict Resolution

EDL 736Advanced School Law Issues

EDL 786Qualitative Methods for Educational Research

EDL 737Analyses and Problem Solving for Education Organizations

EDL 738Building Professional Learning Communities Internally and Externally

TRACK TWO: Instructional Assessment Requirement (12 hours)

REQUIRED COURSES

EDL 732 Effective Data Analysis for Instructional and Performance Improvement Using

Technology Tools

EDL 791Data Analysis Program Improvement through Professional Learning Communities

Choose 6 hours from the following courses

EDL 786Qualitative Methods in Educational Research

EDL 789Educational Unit Self-Study through Assessment Inquiry Research

EDL 795Global Analysis of Student Data and its Impact on Local Instruction

EDL 796Educational Internship through Global Learning and Assessment

EDL 797Assessment and Curriculum Design