Specialist in Education with a Major in Elementary Education
Credit Hours: 27
Our Educational Specialist (Ed. S.) degree program is designed to prepare teacher leaders who are instrumental in the creation and implementation of instructional policies and practices that ensure that all students can and do learn. Program coursework and field experiences expand and deepen graduates’ theoretical and pedagogical knowledge and enable graduates to understand and apply innovative, emerging research on developments in Elementary Education.
For more information, please see the Academic Catalog. A program sheet, which provides a required coursework sequence, is available for download in the Courses tab below.
Our Educational Specialist (Ed. S.) degree program in Elementary Education is designed to prepare teacher leaders who are instrumental in the creation and implementation of instructional policies and practices that ensure that all students can and do learn. Program coursework and field experiences expand and deepen graduates' theoretical and pedagogical knowledge and enable graduates to understand and apply innovative, emerging research on developments in Elementary Education.
As a student in our degree program, you'll learn strategies to help all students succeed by focusing on subjects such as: Students as Learners Teachers as Leaders Societal Issues Classroom Issues Research and Inquiry.
Program website and contacts: The Early Childhood Education Through Secondary Education Department Website includes projected course offerings, program sheets, and other vital information.
Career Opportunities
Link to Additional Career Information:
https://www.buzzfile.com/Major/Education
External Resource
Program Location
Online
Method of Delivery
100% online.
Accreditation
The University of West Georgia is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Credit and transfer
Total semester hours required: 27
A transfer credit evaluation will be completed by the UWG Transfer Team (transfer@westga.edu). Course application to a program is subject to review by the department.
Graduate students may be able to reduce their cost through prior learning, previous degrees earned at UWG, or transfer credits. We have created a tool to help students estimate their tuition costs.
This program is offered entirely online. Though a student may choose to sign-up for a face-to-face elective or core course, one can earn this degree completely online.
Save money
UWG is often ranked as one of the most affordable accredited university of its kind, regardless of the method of delivery chosen. In addition, online courses and programs can mean a huge cost-savings in many non-evident ways: No more high gas charges. No childcare needed. The flexibility can allow one to maintain a job while attending school. Regardless of state residency, out-of-state non-resident students are not charged non-resident tuition for online course credit hours.
Details
- Total tuition costs and fees may vary, depending on the instructional method of the courses in which the student chooses to enroll.
- The more courses a student takes in a single term, the more they will typically save in fees and total cost.
- Face-to-Face or partially online courses are charged at the general tuition rate and all mandatory campus fees, based on the student's residency (non-residents are charged at a higher rate).
- Fully or entirely online course tuition rates and fees my vary depending on the program. Students enrolled in exclusively online courses do not pay non-Resident rates.
- Together this means that GA residents pay about the same if they take all face-to-face or partially online courses as they do if they take only fully online courses exclusively; while non-residents save money by taking fully online courses.
- One word of caution: If a student takes a combination of face-to-face and online courses in a single term, they will pay both all mandatory campus fees and the higher eTuition rate.
- For the cost information, as well as payment deadlines, see the Student Accounts and Billing Services website
There are a variety of financial assistance options for students, including scholarships and work study programs. Visit the Office of Financial Aid's website for more information.
Coursework
NOTE: Not all of the courses listed below are required.
This program requires only 27 credit hours.
The courses you will take will depend on your desired content specialization. See the program sheet for more detailed information:
Downloads
General
This graduate course is a study of human growth and development from birth through aging and death. The course focuses on areas of physical, cognitive, social, personality, and emotional development as a series of progressive changes resulting from the biological being's interactions with the environment. Special emphasis is placed on the development characteristics of school age youth within a multicultural and diverse society.
This course is designed to aid in the understanding of the effects of home, community and society on the life of young children.
An in-depth study in a seminar setting of curriculum trends, problems, and issues facing educators of children in P-5 environments.
Designed to provide students with knowledge of factors and processes related to teacher leadership roles within schools. Topics such as mentoring, peer coaching, community relations, organizational change, and advocacy will be addressed.
A study of the basic elements of research and research design as it relates to the development of research in early childhood education.
A course designed to provide a forum for professional interaction between students and professors on critical issues in the profession. Prerequisite: ECED 8284 Research Seminar
A critical analysis of cultural and sociological factors and their effect on issues affecting educational thought and schooling practices.
A survey of the development and patterns of public education in this country.
A study of selected issues affecting educational thought and schooling practices emphasizing critical analysis of the cultural and sociological contexts of school-societal problems.
A survey of philosophical thought foundational to educational theory and practice.
This course provides a survey of traditional and contemporary ethics as a foundation for examining selected educational policies, practices, and case studies.
Students will gather, analyze, and critique academic research within their program area and topic of study to compose a detailed synthesis in a literature review outline. This literature review outline will directly inform either Chapter 2 of the student's dissertation or a research capstone project related to their degree program.
This course is designed to compare the educational system of the United States with selected educational systems of the world.
Rebecca Bowman, Ed.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Stacey Britton, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Cliff Chestnutt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Andrea Crenshaw, Ed.D.
Associate Professor
Jennifer Edelman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Rebecca Gault, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Tiffany Jacobs, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Kayla Myers, PhD
Assistant Professor
Natasha Ramsay-Jordan, Ed.D.
Associate Professor & Assistant Chair of Elementary Programs
Janet Strickland, Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorGuidelines for Admittance
- All graduate applicants must complete the online Grad Application. A one-time application fee of $40 is required.
- Applicants should also review the Graduate Studies Website for individual program specific requirements and tasks that must be completed prior to admission. See Graduate Studies Application Process.
- International applicants are subject to additional requirements and application deadlines. See Procedures for International Students.
Program Specific Admittance Guidelines
- Official transcripts from all schools that have conferred degrees (Bachelor's, Master's, etc.) are required and should be sent directly to the UWG Graduate Admissions Office.
- A Level 5 clear and renewable professional certificate in Elementary Education based on a Master's degree in Elementary Education or Early Childhood Education is required.
- Any other Master's degree with a Level 5 certification must meet the Content Specialization requirements in the Elementary Education Master's degree program in order to be admitted into the Ed.S. program.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 in graduate coursework
- A professional resume reflecting a minimum of 1 year of full-time teaching experience, that includes current grade level and school name.
Application Deadlines
Specific Graduate Admissions Deadlines are available via the Graduate School
* Application, app fee, and document deadline
See The Scoop for more specific deadlines.
Admission Process Checklist
The Graduate Studies Application Process checklist is available here
One exception: If you will not ever be traveling to a UWG campus or site, you may apply for an Immunization Exemption. Contact the Immunization Clerk with your request.
Contact
Graduate Admissions
678-839-1394
graduate@westga.edu
College of Education:
The The Department of Early Childhood through Secondary Education website includes projected course offerings, program sheets, and other vital information.
Dr. Brent Gilles
Pre-enrollment Contact
bgilles@westga.edu
Phone: 678-839-6138
Specific dates for Admissions (Undergraduate Only), Financial Aid, Fee Payment, Registration, Start/End of Term Dates, Final Exams, etc. are available in THE SCOOP.
Specific Graduate Admissions Deadlines are available via the Graduate School
- Specialist candidates know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students. They seek out opportunities to lead other's through professional development and collaboration.
- Specialist candidates are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning. They are leaders in their schools in identifying effective practices and at sharing that knowledge with others.
- Specialist candidates think systematically about their practice and learn from experience. They research effective practices and share knowledge through scholarly publications and presentations.
- Specialist candidates are members of learning communities. They are recognized leaders in their schools and communities.