About Ed.S.
The fully-online Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree is a post-master's program in which candidates attain a broad and systematic understanding of professional education, knowledge of a particular field of specialization, and an ability to apply theoretical concepts of education in an actual educational context.
This program is designed for the experienced practitioner who holds a master's degree and administrative certificate and wishes to complete the requirements for a superintendent's certificate from area states.
Program Requirements
Requirements for admission are usually met by those who hold a current administrative certificate. In special circumstances, individual plans of study can be formulated to complete all requirements for candidates who hold a master's degree and valid teaching certificate.
Application to the program should be completed online by October 1, April 15, or June 1 for the following semester.
Before beginning an application, please contact the department at 402.554.2721 or email edleadership@unomaha.edu for more details.
The 100% online Ed.S. degree is 69 hours, 30 which must be completed within 10 years, and 15 which must be completed after acceptance to the program. If a required course has been taken previously, an elective may be substituted. A tentative list of classes and calendar are part of our plan of study.
Should I Apply for Ed.D. or Ed.S.?
Candidates in either concentration usually possess a PK-12 school leadership background and career focus.
Most Ed.D. candidates continue to work full time, take classes one night a week, and complete their degree program within three to five years. Other certifications (i.e. Superintendent's Certificate), concentrations (i.e. school library leadership), or areas of emphasis (i.e. STEM) may be embedded within the Ed.D. program.
Ed.D. candidates choose that degree program because they understand that an Ed.S. is separate from a doctoral path, not a stepping stone. Ed.D. candidates seek to be educational experts in their area of emphasis and favor the focus blends of practitioner and researcher to meet or exceed personal and professional goals.
Ed.D. programs are often chose by students interested in higher education administration, community college and adult education, student affairs leadership, and organizational leadership.
Ed.S. candidates choose the Specialist pathway rather than the Ed.D. because the Ed.S. is an expedient route to earning Superintendent Certification. Ed.S. coursework includes the completion of a field project versus a dissertation to fulfill academic requirements. Coursework may cover similar topics to the Ed.D. yet the two programs are quite different in intent.