Educational Leadership, Administration and Foundations

Educational Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) -School Administration

Program Description: The 66 credit hour maximum educational specialist degree (Ed.S.) is regarded as an intermediate practitioner’s degree and as such, is a continuation of work completed in pursuit of the master of education. The degree may serve as an avenue to professionalize the Elementary or Secondary School Administration License and/or it may qualify the student for the Indiana Standard Superintendent’s License and/or leadership positions in education. The objective of the degree is to develop those skills and competencies needed to serve in positions of leadership in school or district situations.

The distinct features of the program include:

• A program that is designed to build seamlessly upon previous graduate coursework and licensure professionalization such that previous graduate coursework is often applied toward the 66 credit-hour requirement.
• Blended distance education delivered program via interactive television and/or the Web augmented by on-campus Saturday sessions three times per semester.
• Designed to serve public and private sector working professionals for positions of leadership in either setting.
• Recognized field internship experience learning first-hand the work of district administration.
• Linkages with large network of alumni for mentoring and support, many of whom have won statewide honors for their work.
• ISLLC and Indiana Professional Standards guided curriculum.
• Rolling admission (students can start any semester or during the summer).
• Scholarship and grant opportunities available to help you to fund your degree.

Information on course substitutions:

Up to 39 hours of previous graduate coursework may be substitutable for select courses in the 66 credit hour Ed.S. curriculum. As such, students often complete their Ed.S. degree in as little as 15 months. Your specific circumstance will be evaluated by a member of the faculty at the time of admission.

Central Office Internship Experience:

The Central Office Intern Program is designed to provide students with a rich, summer long field experience under the guidance of a central office mentor and faculty supervisor. Students engage in approximately 15 hours/week of central office administration work in one’s own district or in another easily accessible district. In-field work is augmented by periodic seminar gatherings with other interns. The program is structured to provide an opportunity to apply course content knowledge to real issues of administrative practice and to the development and refinement of leadership skills and competencies. The Central Intern Program is a 6 credit hour summer experience (ELAF 790 & ELAF 792) that students take at the end of their Ed.S. studies.

Participation in the Central Office Intern program requires a supplemental Central Office Intern Program Application, signed by the supervising Central Office mentor and that also includes 3 letters of recommendation using the evaluation form included in the application packet. Applications are to be submitted by February 15 of the spring semester prior to beginning the experience in the summer.

Information on scholarship and grant opportunities:

There are a variety of sources of funding to support your studies. The federal, state, and institutional opportunities can be found on the School of Graduate Studies website. The department also has some limited scholarship and grant award opportunities (ranging from a few hundred dollars to $1-2,000). These are typically awarded every Spring via application from students who are enrolled in the program. Thus, you would be eligible once you have begun your studies. Please let the ELAF Office know of your interest so you can be contacted once the award programs are announced, generally in mid-March.

Program Curriculum:

While course sequencing is generally patterned, the curriculum is sufficiently flexible that a person can begin coursework in any semester or over the summer. A student generally takes two courses per semester and 2-4 courses during the summer semesters.

District-Level Required Courses

ELAF 710 Social Foundations of Leadership—3 hours. This seminar is designed to introduce advanced degree seeking students to three perspectives of the Educational Foundations of education - history, philosophy, and sociology - that will enable them to better understand the role of leadership in schools and districts today.

ELAF 751 Administration of School Personnel—3 hours. A study of the policies and practices of personnel administration in schools. The role of the personnel administrator in organization manpower planning, compensation, recruitment, induction, appraisal, development, continuity, security, and standards are important features of this course.

ELAF 753 Public School Finance—3 hours. Principles and issues of public school finance. Revenues, expenditures, indebtedness, and fiscal controls are dealt with in the course.

ELAF 754 School Business Administration—3 hours. A study of current practices and theory in the administration of school business affairs. The role of the school business administrator in budgeting, accounting, purchasing, personnel, facilities, transportation, food services, collective bargaining, financing, insurance, and computer services are some of the features of this course. Required for the Ed.S. program and for certification in the superintendency.

ELAF 757 Educational Facility Planning—3 hours. Current theory and practice in planning of educational facilities. Determining facility needs, roles of participants in the planning process, site development, specification development, and methods of financing capital needs are features of this course.

ELAF 759 Seminar in School Superintendency—3 hours. A study of contemporary problems of the school superintendent in the areas of leadership, community politics, organizational structure, and relationships with internal and external publics.

ELAF 790 Individual Research and Study—3 hours. Opportunities are provided for supervised and independent study in selected areas. Designed primarily for educational specialist degree students. All work offered on an individual basis with the approval of the instructor concerned and the Department Chairperson.

ELAF 792 Field Research Projects—3 hours. Designed to permit the advanced graduate student to test a theory or hypothesis in instruction, curriculum, or leadership. Emphasis will be placed on the design, application, and evaluation of the project by the student and the faculty.

Building Level Administration Pre-requisites

(Courses that many students may have taken as part of previous graduate level coursework and that may be applied toward the requirements of the Ed.S. Degree)

ELAF 605 Philosophy of Education—3 hours. Educational theories and practices are analyzed using the concepts and skills of philosophy.

ELAF 650 Foundations of Educational Leadership—3 hours. Emphasis on theories of leadership, management aspects of leadership, vision building, professional ethics, working with groups, educational program development, and the political, social, cultural, and legal aspects related to educational leadership.

ELAF 655 Legal Aspects of School Administration—3 hours. Origin and development of school law with emphasis given to its application in contemporary school problems.

ELAF 656 School and Community: Collaborating for Effective Schools—3 hours. Fundamental principles of school administration with emphasis placed upon the application of principles to the local administrative units.

ELAF 681 The School Principal: Leadership for Changing Schools—3 hours. A study of the role of the school administrator as it is concerned with instructional staff and programs, educational vision and values, diverse student needs, team leadership, continuous school improvement, change, and the effective leadership and management of the school setting.

ELAF 758 Principal Internship (or campus option)—6 hours. Practicum for students in the principal internship in a school under the joint supervision of a certificated school administrator and the University. This course is designed to provide students with practical experience related to the principal certification standards and effective practices. A portfolio will be developed to show performance activities that meet certification standards.

ELAF 793 Seminar in Effective Practices for Principals (or campus option)—6 hours. On-campus, regional seminars, and directed study on a variety of contemporary topics related to effective practices for principals. Such topics may be related to leadership and human relations, culture and climate, curriculum and educational program improvement, career planning, staff development, crisis intervention, educational technology, maintenance of facilities, professional ethics, and power and politics.

CIMT 610 Research in Education—3 hours. Instruction in the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to plan and understand research. Exemplary topics include library use, scientific methodology, observation, measurement, selection of a question, design, data collection, analysis of data, and generalization from data.

CIMT 611 Measurement and Evaluation in Education—3 hours. Planning and construction of educational tests and use of standardized tests. Exemplary topics include the role of measurement and evaluation, writing selection and supply items, observation, measurement, published tests, and test appraisal.

CIMT 660 Curriculum Fundamentals (or ELED 660)—3 hours. An introductory course in curriculum which includes the foundations and meaning of curriculum, principles and patterns of curriculum, forms and ways of organizing curriculum, development of curriculum for special groups, forces and processes in curriculum change, current criticisms of curriculum, and curriculum for the future school.

CIMT 770 Curriculum Development—3 hours. An advanced course for the curriculum specialist which will examine the processes and procedures of initiating curriculum change, follow through, and evaluation, with special attention being given curriculum laboratories, community committees, in-service training, articulation, and diversified programs for all students.

EPSY 521 Advanced Child Psychology—3 hours. The development and behavior of the child from birth to puberty, with attention to relevant research and theory.

OR

EPSY 522 Adolescent Psychology—3 hours. Research on the development and behavior of adolescents is reviewed in an attempt to determine how the adult may best foster favorable growth.

OR

EPSY 621 Development Through the Lifespan—3 hours. Students will undertake a thorough examination of developmental changes that occur throughout life. In addition to milestones of development, mechanisms of development and psycho-educational strategies to facilitate optimal development are considered.

How to Apply:

Admission Requirements:

1. Earned master’s degree from an accredited college or university.

2. Hold or be eligible for the Standard License for either Elementary School Administration and Supervision or Secondary School Administration and Supervision.

3. Have graduate work and experience commensurate with the student’s objectives as evaluated by the ELAF faculty.

4. Have an undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 or above.

5. Have a graduate grade point average of 3.25 or above with no deficiencies.

6. Additional requirements for admission and/or progress toward the degree may be applicable. See the Graduate Catalog from the School of Graduate Studies.

Application Materials Required:

1. The bulleted items below are to be sent to the ELAF Department via email attachment : ELAF@indstate.edu or Fax : 812-237-8041or Mail to :
   ELAF Office
   1202 College of Education
   Indiana State University,
   Terre Haute, IN 47809

   • Resume/vita

   • Personal Narrative of professional goals and past experiences.

   • Documentation of all licenses and certifications held.

   • Three letters of recommendation from persons who can comment on your potential as a school/district leader.

2. The items below are to be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies:

   • School of Graduate Studies application submitted on-line.

   • Official transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended sent to the School of Graduate Studies.

   • Official GRE scores sent to the School of Graduate Studies. Verification of three years of professional administration experience by Central Office administration can substitute for the GRE requirement.

     Students preparing for their central office internship experience are to fill out the application available for download.

     Failure to submit all of the above items in a timely manner can delay your admission decision.

GRE information:

We do not have minimum performance expectations on the GRE nor do we use GRE scores in isolation from other components of your application given that the research on its use for admissions decisions emphasizes the benefits of the GRE in combination with other application elements. However, stronger scores are always more advantageous than weaker scores. Thus, we advise that students take the time to adequately prepare for the exam, including purchasing a test prep guide, and/or consider taking a test prep course. Guide materials can be obtained from most bookstores. The GRE can be scheduled and taken at any Sylvan or Prometric Learning Center and your unofficial scores will be available to you immediately after the exam given that the test is taken on computer. Please email your unofficial scores to the ELAF Office immediately after taking the exam to: ELAF@indstate.edu since your official scores will generally not be received by the School of Graduate Studies for approximately 3 weeks.

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