Educational Specialist in Educational Administration and Supervision (Online)

Admission Requirements

The following are the admission criteria for the EdS in Educational Administration and Supervision, effective fall 2020, as presented in the 2020-2021 DSU Graduate Catalog, and approved by the Mississippi Department of Education. Students seeking the Educational Specialist (EdS) degree in Education Administration and Supervision must meet the following minimum entrance requirements set forth by the College of Education and Human Sciences and the Division of Teacher Education, Leadership, and Research:

1. A master’s degree from an institution fully accredited by one of the recognized accrediting agencies;
2. A Class AA valid, renewable teaching certificate, or its equivalent, and a Master’s degree in a related field; EdS applicants seeking the career level track who hold a current administrator’s Educator License must provide documentation of that license.
3. A grade point average of 3.25 on coursework completed for the master’s degree;
4. A documented Praxis Core/Writing score of 162 or higher must be submitted (provided that the average score of the accepted cohort of candidates meets or exceeds the 50th percentile). Or a passing score on a department-administered writing assessment.
5. Three years of school-related work experience;
6. A letter of recommendation from the current school administrator that addresses the candidates’ ethics, leadership abilities and potential, collegiality, and ability to perform in the K-12 setting.

To provide the necessary evidence to evaluate whether the prospective student has met the above criteria, the applicant should submit the following documents to the DSU Office of Graduate Admissions:

1. A copy of the student’s valid Educator License.
2. Official copies of transcripts of all completed university coursework.
3. Job verification form to provide evidence of years experiences teaching. (form available through the DSU Office of Graduate Admissions)
4. Letter of recommendation from a school administrator.
5. Official copies of the Praxis CORE Writing score or department writing score.

Curriculum

Note: Courses are scheduled in five-week increments in fall and spring semesters. EDL 656 extends the full semester. The Comprehensive Exam and SLLA (School Leadership Licensure Assessment) are taken in the final semester of coursework.

Licensure

The Educational Specialist in Educational Administration and Supervision degree program ONLY leads to licensure in the state of Mississippi. If you plan to teach in another state, you are responsible for contacting that state’s Department of Education to find out the requirements for a teaching license in that state. Please contact the Office of Clinical Experiences, Licensure, and Accountability for questions concerning licensure.

Degree Requirements

Initial Licensure

EAS Initial Licensure candidates must successfully complete a thirty-hour program. Twenty-one hours of study are on the foundations and application of school leadership and clinical experiences in the field. Nine hours are devoted to the psychology of learning, education foundations, research, and statistics. Seven program learning outcomes (PLO) are assessed within the program. Four assessments were developed by the Mississippi Educational Leadership Faculty Association (MELFA) and are required at all Mississippi universities. Additionally, the candidates must earn a passing score on the EAS Comprehensive Exams. Candidates must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25.

Students who graduate from the program in the initial school licensure will be able to demonstrate knowledge, application, and understanding of the following:

• PLO1 Content and Pedagogical Content Knowledge (CAEP A.1; NELP 4; ELCC 2, 3 and 6; PSEL4) – SLLA
• PLO2 Program Specific Content (CAEP A.1; NELP 3-7; PSEL 1-10) – Comprehensive Exams
• PLO3 Instructional Leadership (CAEP A.1; NELP 1-5; ELCC 1- 4, and 6; PSEL 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10) – EDL 603/703 MELFA Assessment 4
• PLO4 Evaluating and Improving Instruction and Curriculum Systems (CAEP A.1; NELP 4 and 7; ELCC 2, 3 and 6; PSEL 3-5) – EDL620720 MELFA Assessment 3
• PLO5 Operations and Management (CAEP A.1; NELP 1-3 and 6; ELCC 1-6; PSEL 1-4 and 9-10) – EDL 624/724 – MELFA Assessment 5
• PLO6 Organizational Management and Community Relations (CAEP A.1; NELP 3, 5 and 6; ELCC 2-6; PSEL 3, 5, 8 and 9) EDL 628/728 – MELFA Assessment 6
• PLO7 Dispositions for Educational Leadership (CAEP A.1-A.5; NELP 1-8; PSEL 1-10) – EDL 656 MELFA Dispositions

Career Level

To graduate from the EAS Career Level program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Complete all program of study coursework
• Establish and maintain an adequate rating on the Professional Dispositions Rating Scale
• Successfully complete the comprehensive examination
• Maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA on program coursework

Program Learning Outcomes (Ed. S. for licensed administrators)

By the end of the Educational Specialist Program, the candidate will be able to:

• PLO1 Demonstrate an understanding of traditional leadership theories and critical perspectives. (COMPS)
• PLO2 Demonstrate knowledge and interventions that build the capacity to lead change and improve practice. (Mississippi Administrator’s Professional Growth Rubric)
• PLO3 Integrate principles of administration and management with organizational capability and systems thinking (Strategic Plan)
• PLO4 Demonstrate reflective practice, research skills, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving skills that improve problems in practice and educational policy. (Research Project)
• PLO5 Communicate effectively with varied and diverse audiences, value diverse perspectives and cultures, and engage in equitable practices. (Communication Plan with Artifacts)

For more information on degree requirements, specifics on courses needed to complete the degree, and policies, consult the Graduate Academic Catalog.

Fees

Tuition at Delta State University covers the cost of classes.

Online courses are assessed a $5.00 per credit hour distance learning course fee.

Review the graduate academic catalog for other course related fees.