Education Specialist (EdS)
Education Specialist
Develop the skills and knowledge within a certain education subject without investing the time and resources necessary for a doctorate with the 100% online Education Specialist (EdS) degree program at Berkshire University. Whether you are looking to advance in your chosen field or embark on a new career, the Education Specialist program is for you. No matter which of our 16 specializations you choose, you’ll learn to make informed, ethical decisions and help improve today’s educational, organizational, and societal issues.
Become an Expert with a Specialization
Our Education Specialist (EdS) program was designed to provide those who want to know more about a certain subject within education, but do not need a doctorate, the option of advancing their education. An EdS degree is more advanced than a master’s degree, but less time and resource-consuming than a doctorate degree. If you are looking for an education specialist program, NU’s online program gives you the opportunity to develop the same specialized knowledge that you would find in NU’s EdD program, but without the requirement to write a dissertation.
Estimated Time to Complete: 18 months
EDU-8050 – Foundations of Advanced Graduate Study and Research
This foundational course will introduce you to the concepts and practices of advanced graduate study. You will examine concepts and expectations of advanced graduate study and academic integrity as well as investigate best practices of scholarship and research. You will explore university resources and supports associated with student success, including technologies for learning and research. You will also evaluate the program process and requirements for success. Finally, you will advocate for self-care and reflection during your studies.
EDU-8060 – Foundations of Academic Writing, Conceptual & Theoretical Frameworks
Academic writing is at the heart of scholarly writing. How you explore and navigate your topic of interest is both a personal and professional matter. In this course, you will integrate effective research and writing skills, and evaluate standards of academic writing, honesty, and integrity. Literature and writing are closely related, so this course also offers you a first chance to examine the elements of conceptual and theoretical frameworks and critique the role of supporting literature and inquiry with conceptual and theoretical frameworks. Finally, you will synthesize the frameworks commonly used in educational research.
EDR-8300 – The Research Process
In this introductory research course, you will explore the underpinnings of the research process, examine research paradigms, and investigate theoretical and practical foundations of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies used within educational research. You will identify criteria for the development of a quality research study that is ethical, accurate, comprehensive, cohesive, and aligned. Specific course topics will involve the ethics of conducting research; data collection and analysis techniques; and issues of feasibility, trustworthiness, validity, reliability, generalizability or transferability, and rigor. This course is intended to familiarize you with concepts and skills associated with conducting theoretical and applied research.
EDR-8400 – Advanced Qualitative Methodology and Designs
This course focuses on qualitative research methodology and designs and the methods used to collect and analyze data in educational research. You will examine the principles of qualitative research and explore commonly used designs (also referred to as qualitative traditions or genres) with a focus on application and feasibility. Qualitative data collection and analysis methods will be examined for their suitability with regard to the research design selected. Alignment between qualitative designs and research methods, issues of trustworthiness pertaining to qualitative research, and the role and responsibilities of the qualitative researcher will also be explored.
OR – EDR-8500 – Advanced Quantitative Methodology and Designs
This course explores the quantitative research methodology and associated designs and methods. You will examine paradigmatic perspectives along with the tenets and conventions of quantitative research. This examination of designs and methods will include topics such as feasibility, validity, reliability, variable operationalization, inferential designs, and analytic software applications used within the quantitative research paradigm. You will also explore the components of aligned and coherent quantitative research designs that support meaningful research within the field of education.
ED-7053 – Education Specialist Capstone Project
This course is the culmination of the Education Specialist (EdS) program. You will conclude your program by working with a specific educational program relevant to your current or future context. You will review the related literature and evaluate data that will help you to develop potential solutions and future areas of research related to your identified problem. Finally, you will reflect on your personal learning journey throughout your program.
Degree and Course Requirements
The EdS Program may be completed in 33 credits. An Academic and Finance Advisor or Enrollment Specialist evaluates each student individually and works with the student to create an academically sound Learning Plan based on prior academics and their professional goals.
The University may accept up to 12 semester credit hours in transfer with a maximum of 9 semester credit hours in transfer eligible toward the specialization courses in the Education Specialist degree for graduate coursework completed at an accredited college or university with a grade of “B” or better. Transfer credit is only awarded for coursework that is evaluated to be substantially equivalent in content with the required coursework for the EdS program. See the Transfer Credit Policy in the Course Catalog for additional information.
Individuals with a previously completed master’s degree will meet the basis of admission to the Education Specialist Program. Students enrolled in the Education Specialist program are required to complete foundations, scholarly writing, specialization courses, and the capstone course with a Grade Point Average of 3.00 (B) or higher.
The Education Specialist (EdS) program emphasizes an applied, project-based approach to development of appreciable improvements in the body of educational practice. The EdS attracts individuals who are primarily professionals either at the PK-12 level or the higher education level. (Enrollment managers, superintendents, principals, teacher leaders, and education faculty who primarily teach – not do research, educational consultants, trainers in organizations). The EdS capstone focuses on solving a problem in the workplace or in the professional field of education and results in a “product” or solution. This degree is also intended to help students increase their own workplace Leadership Skills
Program Learning Outcomes
As a graduate of Berkshire University’s BA in Early Childhood Education program, you will be able to:
- As a graduate of National University’s Education Specialist (EdS) program, you will be able to:
Develop skills to support educational practices across diverse instructional and organizational settings
Communicate with diverse audiences about educational theories, research, and practices
Analyze professional skills, dispositions, and technology options for learning and educating diverse groups
Apply evidence-based solutions for addressing educational, organizational, and societal issues
Analyze current research, theories, and instructional practices in educational and organizational environments
Admissions
National University’s dedicated admissions team is here to help you throughout the admissions process. We accept and review applications year-round and, once you are admitted, you can begin your studies as soon as the next week.
Admission to the Education Specialist (EdS) program requires a conferred post-baccalaureate master’s degree and/or doctoral degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution or an international institution determined to be equivalent through an approved evaluation service.