Educational Specialist in Leadership (Ed.S.)

Ed.S. Overview

Grand Valley State University’s Education Specialist in leadership degree builds upon the master’s degree to prepare future leaders who are well equipped to deal with the complex challenges of an ever-changing educational environment.

About the Educational Specialist in Leadership (Ed.S.) Degree

The Ed.S. program is offered through Grand Valley’s College of Education and offers candidates the opportunity to expand their knowledge skills, networking, and career opportunities. In addition, it makes for an excellent transition to an Ed.D. program.

• Career oriented. The program's meaningful clinical experiences, case methods of teaching, and pragmatic curriculum are geared to the specific knowledge and skills required by district leaders and superintendents at different career stages.
• Flexibility. Evening, weekend, and summer classes make it easier for teachers and administrators to plan their schedules.
• Convenience. Courses are offered primarily at the L.V. Eberhard Center and the Richard M. DeVos Center in downtown Grand Rapids. Cohorts are also formed in northern, eastern and southern Michigan.
• Accreditation. Grand Valley State University’s College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation 
  of Teacher Education (NCATE).
• Service. Our full-time student services office offers expert advising, program planning, field placement and more.

The Ed.S. degree is 30 credit hours, divided into three components: 18 hours in the degree area, 9 hours in cognates, and a 3 hour culminating experience which is designed to apply the knowledge, skills and dispositions acquired throughout the program in an internship/practicum during which candidates do action research and prepare a portfolio.

Related Programs

• Grand Valley State University/Eastern Michigan University Cooperative Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership
• M.Ed. in Educational Leadership – educational leadership emphasis
• M.Ed. in Educational Leadership – special education administration emphasis

Admissions

Graduate applications for admission are available online. The university application fee is waived for undergraduate alumni of Grand Valley.

Cost

Grand Valley offers an excellent education at a reasonable cost and offers a number of ways to finance your graduate degree. College of Education students may be eligible to receive a Federal TEACH Grant of up to $4,000 per year.