Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) – Wayne State College Nebraska

School Administration Ed.S. program overview

The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) program prepares students for district-level administrative positions and an endorsement for Superintendent but requires less time and money than pursuing a doctoral degree in education (Ed.D.). Students entering the Ed.S. program must have completed a 36-credit hour MSE degree or 36-hour endorsement program in School Administration for Principal. The Ed.S. degree offers a chance to become more proficient in educational administration, while advancing your career and enhancing your credentials. The Education Specialist degree can also serve as a stepping stone toward getting your Ed.D. or Ph.D. in education, as some of the credits you earn in an online Ed.S. degree may be transferrable to your doctoral program.

If you're looking to qualify for a leadership role in education, enhance your credentials and salary, or become specialized in the field of educational administration, our online education specialist degree in school administration can help you achieve these goals. The convenience of our online Ed.S. degree allows you to continue working as a principal or teacher while balancing the demands of your busy life, and at less time and cost than other institutions. While doctoral degrees in education can typically require 60-90 credits to completion, the online Ed.S. degree from Wayne State requires only 30 credits for completion, and it's at an affordable price. What's more, our online education degrees are consistently ranked near the top for their value, quality, and successful graduate outcomes.

Download program handbook (PDF) View program courses

Licensure: Completing the online Ed.S. degree in School Administration from Wayne State College may certify you to work as a school administrator at any level in a P-12 school system in Nebraska. Upon degree completion, you should contact the WSC Director of Education and Counseling Services, Brook Jech, at 402-375-7373 to process the administrative endorsement to your teaching certificate. The Nebraska Department of Education requires successful completion of the Praxis II School Superintendent Assessment. Our program of study is designed to prepare you for such a test, but your performance may depend on many issues beyond the control of our department, including prior educational knowledge, teaching and administrative experiences, test-taking skills, and your retention of course material.
Licensure disclosure for all states
Student learning outcomes for the Ed.S. program:
1. Analyze literature to improve educational practices.
2. Develop learning environments that promote student achievement.
3. Cultivate professional relationships with all stakeholders.
4. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to lead and transform schools.
Iowa students have the option of substituting the Iowa School Finance Series (ISFLC) for Wayne State’s EDU 740, Educational Finance and Business Management. Graduate credit is offered through Drake, Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and Northern Iowa University. In addition, Iowa students will need to complete a course in the administration of special education. WSC offers SPD 611 online in the July summer session, which meets Iowa certification requirements, and this course may be used as an elective.
Iowa students must complete a course in special education when applying for their first administrative certificate. If a student desires to be licensed as an administrator in Iowa for the first time, they may need to complete a special education administration course. WSC offers SPD 611 online during all sessions, which meets Iowa certification requirements. Check with the Iowa Board of Examiners if you are unsure if you need a special education course for licensure.

Ed.S. in School Administration program of study

Students must complete the Ed.S. in School Administration courses. Up to 12 credit hours may be transferred in from another regionally accredited graduate institution and applied toward a degree. A minimum GPA of 3.2 and a total of 30 credit hours are needed to graduate with this degree. Transfer courses must have occurred in a degree program after completing the principal endorsement. While course substitutions are rare due to the program’s specific content for the Superintendency, exceptions may be considered. A course receiving an S/NC grade cannot be used in the Specialist in Education degree program.

Education Specialist courses (30 credits)

Credits: 3
Description: An examination of the administrator’s role in general supervision of education programs, to include a broad overview of the role and function of the school superintendent in the selection and development of staff and professional personnel, physical plant maintenance, transportation, public relations, planning, fiscal responsibilities and politics in the community.
Credits: 3
Description: A course designed for in-depth study of current state statutes, federal legislation, significant court cases and rulemaking which affect school financing, accreditation, contractual agreements, downsizing, consolidation, and teacher/student rights and responsibilities.
Credits: 3
Description: This course entails the study of systematic methods for analyzing and resolving major problems encountered by leaders of public and private school systems.
Credits: 3
Description: Course content includes learning organization theory, research on collaborative decision-making models for school improvement, and development of change models that can be applied in the local school setting.
Credits: 3
Description: Present and future building and equipment needs of school units; planning program through post-occupancy stages; field work as a part of a group school plant study.
Credits: 3
Description: A comparison of practices with principles governing the satisfaction of school personnel needs, including a study of tenure, salary schedules, unions, supervision, rewards, and other benefits.
Credits: 3
Description: Examines the fiscal environment of public education to include sources of tax revenue, allocation of resources, responsibilities of school board and administrators, trends in financing public education, and an analysis of selected funding programs. Special attention will be given to fiscal issues confronting administrators of Nebraska schools.
Credits: 3
Description: Course content will include utilizing and analyzing supporting spreadsheet budget documents which includes computing total staff cost, preparing a line-item budget, studying bond issues and debt services, comparing specialized funds, reviewing the audit process, and examining historical spending patterns.
Credits: 3
Description: The systematic exploration of education policy as it has organized, reflected, and influenced the lives of children, youth, and families, with particular emphasis on effective communication and practical applications. Roles of educational organizations and institutional change in such social issues as equity and cultural diversity will be studied.
Credits: 3
Description: Course content includes self-evaluation exercises, networking activities, and a major field project, all of which are designed to prepare the student for an entry-level position in school district administration. This class should be taken within the last 9 credit hours of coursework.
After the completion of at least 15 program hours, your advisor and one other faculty member in school administration will conduct an interview to assess your progress and garner feedback on the relevancy of the program. The interview will be conducted via an online video conference. A faculty determination will be made using the progress interview rubric regarding your suitability to continue in the school administration program.