Education Specialist Degree
Academic title: Specialist in Education in General Educational Administration (EdS)
30 Credits
to Graduate
January 11
Next start date
*Apply by December 1
Online education specialist degree: Make your move to administration
An online education specialist degree prepares you for district-level leadership roles. You’ll learn to lead across schools, departments and district systems.
Our online EdS is designed for two specific groups of educational professionals. The certificate option for those looking to become school or district administrators and the thesis option for those who wish to go on and complete their doctorate degree.
- Organizational change in educational institutions
- Instructional supervision and leadership
- Educational policy analysis
- Action research
Our online program is aligned with Michigan’s School Administrator and Central Office certification expectations and completion qualifies you to apply for the Michigan School Administrator Certificate with ES and/or CO endorsements.
You’ll be ready to expand your leadership scope now, and you can transfer up to 24 credits of your EdS into our EdD in Educational Leadership if you decide to continue on to earn your doctorate.
Central Michigan University is Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation CAEP accredited.
Online Specialist in General Educational Administration degree overview
| Core credits | 9 |
|---|---|
| Concentration credits | 21 |
| Total credits to graduate | 30 |
How much does an online Specialist in General Educational Administration degree cost?
The cost shown below is based on the current tuition and fee estimate. Your actual cost of attendance for financial aid purposes may vary based on your assigned tuition rate, the number of credits you're enrolled in and the length of your enrollment period. If you're enrolled in a single module instead of a full semester, your housing and food, transportation and personal expenses will be adjusted based on the number of weeks you're enrolled (for example, 12-week or 8-week modules). If you're enrolled less than half-time, your cost of attendance will not include housing and food, personal expenses or loan fees.
- Military tuition benefits: Active duty, veterans and military-affiliated students may qualify for reduced tuition, waived fees and need-based awards.
What can you do with an online education specialist degree?
The online specialist in educational leadership program is the perfect program to prepare you for district-level and central office roles, including principal, athletic director, director of curriculum and instruction, special education administrator, operations or compliance leader and more.
This online EdS program is also a great first step for practicing or aspiring superintendents who want to work up to their EdD.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary is $111,000 and almost 300,000 people hold this position in elementary and secondary schools and school districts.
| Career | Projected Salary |
|---|---|
| Elementary & Secondary School Administrator | $111,020 |
| School Principal | $104,070 |
| Superintendent (Education) | $105,350 |
All data and statistics in this section are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Online Specialist in General Educational Administration concentrations
Administrative leadership
Prepare for Central Office (CO) administrator certification. Study real-world topics like organizational change in educational institutions, administration of the school district, leadership theory, public school finance and advanced educational law.
Instructional leadership
Prepare for Elementary and Secondary (ES) certification. You’ll prepare for principalship and study public school law, community relations, administration of school curriculum, organizational change in schools and PK-12 educational policy.
Admission requirements
- You must meet the requirements for admission to Graduate Studies.
- You must have completed a master's degree in education or related field.
- Regular admission in the program requires a graduate grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4‑point scale).
- You must provide evidence of promise as an administrator by preparing and submitting an admission portfolio directly to the Department of Educational Leadership. The following items must be included in the contents of the portfolio:
a. Current résumé identifying training, experience and professional accomplishments.
b. Minimum of two letters of reference (dated and submitted on organizational letterhead) from individuals who can appropriately address your potential as an administrator and attest to your potential for success in the program.
c. Two-page statement incorporating how your program goals and beliefs about leadership connect to the Educational Leadership program and these principles: Visions for student success and achievement, involvement for all stakeholders, leadership for a diverse and complex society and demonstration of ethical behavior.
d. Identify a minimum of two significant activities that indicate your experiences, abilities, and potential for educational leadership. For each activity identified, you should clearly describe the activity and the role and responsibilities you assumed, including the number of people involved or impacted by the activity; describe the budget (if applicable) or resources used; and summarize with a self-reflective statement addressing the insight and learning that occurred. - Regular admission will be granted only after your admission portfolio has been reviewed and deemed acceptable by a committee of Educational Leadership faculty. Acceptability will be judged on the appropriateness of the contents of your admission portfolio relative to the Educational Specialist degree. Your statements about beliefs, professional goals, and activities must show evidence of thoughtfulness, thoroughness, and congruence with the Educational Specialist degree.
Additional Admission Requirements -
You must have three years of experience in an educational setting. DSE concentration candidates must comply with the MARSE special education requirements to fulfill the Director of Special Education qualifications: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/special-education/laws-regs/marse
It is advantageous for you to submit your admission portfolio as early as possible. You must submit a complete admission packet and it must be approved before you are granted regular admission. This is an open enrollment program with a rolling application review.