Expand Your Role and Impact
Education leaders today deal with rapidly changing environments and need to be able to collaborate with others to develop sound policies, listen well to and facilitate diverse points of view and think critically while acting ethically. Through this program, you will develop a strong foundation and understanding of leadership in education. These skills will help you analyze and implement sound administrative policies, create successful strategies for change and put into service leading practices for the day-to-day needs of your schools.
The Education Specialist in Educational Leadership degree is designed for busy working professionals. Classes are typically held online or one evening per week and occasional Saturdays. This program is designed for individuals with a master's degree in educational leadership looking to fulfill required competencies for a K-12 Principal licensure, Superintendent licensure or Director of Special Education licensure. See the Education Specialist and Administrative Licensures flyer.
Principal License: Completed as part of EdS degree requirements
Director of Special Education License: Required additional credits can be completed concurrently with the EdS degree
Superintendent License: 7 additional credits to be completed after the EdS degree program
EdS and Principal License: 31 credits
Required Courses for the Principal Licensure:
EDLD 621 Research Design, Analysis and Critique I
EDLD 770 Professional Pre-Assessment
EDLD 884 Social Justice Leadership and Pedagogy
EDLD 801 Leadership and Organizational Theory
EDLD 805 Supervision and Professional Development
EDLD 807 Foundations of Leadership: An Intellectual and Ethical Practice
EDLD 820 School Law
EDLD 826 School Finance
EDLD 840 Administration of Special Programs
EDLD 874 Principalship K-12
EDLD 877 Portfolio and Reassessment
EDLD 885 Clinical Practicum: Principal Internship
Full course catalog with descriptions [Link]
Find current course offerings [Link]
Ed.S faculty are experienced practitioners and licensed administrators.
Dr. Wharton-Beck began her career as a teacher for hearing impaired students in the Chicago Public Schools. Her leadership positions include mentoring and coaching teachers, serving as an adjunct faculty in higher education and as an elementary school principal.
’02 MA, ’05 EdS, ’17 EdD
During her 24-year education career Dr. Rens has been a director of curriculum and instruction, an elementary principal, curriculum coordinator and high school English teacher. In each role, her focus has been on the students and making sure that every decision is made with them in mind.
Dr. Alecia Mobley is the Director of Special Education for Richfield Public Schools. She has been in district-level leadership for the past eight years and is an expert in designing programs to effectively serve and support students who have typically been underserved by educational systems.
01 Growing Together
The National Urban Alliance for Effective Education (NUA) and the University of St. Thomas teamed up for a three-day Summer Institute focused on training K-12 educators to help every child reach their potential.