If you are an educator ready to advance your career, you may want to consider an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree. This postgraduate degree equips experienced educators with the requirements for advanced leadership and administration roles, including those with and without certificate requirements.
An Ed.S. is more advanced than a master’s, allowing educators to prepare for higher-level roles such as special education director, principal and superintendent without committing to a doctoral degree. Northwest Missouri State University (Northwest), for example, offers three distinct Ed.S. programs. Following is a look at how these programs can advance your career.
Ed.S. – Superintendent
Northwest’s Ed.S. Superintendent program prepares educators and administrators with the knowledge and skills for superintendency. This Ed.S. program leads to eligibility for superintendent certification in Missouri. Coursework builds competencies in areas such as:
- Leadership in diversity, equity and inclusion
- School law
- Advanced curriculum design
- School finance and budgeting procedures
- Statistical methods for educational research
- School buildings and equipment
- Personnel policies and collective bargaining
Ed.S. – Educational Leadership K–12
With this Ed.S. program, teachers can leverage their success in the classroom to prepare for leadership roles such as assistant principal and principal, public or private school administrator, education program coordinator and athletic director.
Coursework emphasizes the development of effective and healthy school culture, with topics that include:
- Protocols for ensuring equitable schools
- Diversity, equity and inclusion
- Legal and ethical responsibilities
- Personnel management
- Curriculum design and development
- Interpretation and evaluation of educational research
- Organizational, fiscal and political management of schools
Some students may meet criteria to qualify for superintendent certification and/or special education director certifications; students must work with an advisor to determine eligibility.
Ed.S. – Generalist
This Ed.S. program is for educators who want to pursue advanced knowledge on current topics and issues in education. With electives that make up more than half of the coursework, students can customize this program for specific interests.
Core coursework develops leadership essentials in areas such as superintendency functions, personnel practices and management of school buildings and equipment. Electives cover topics such as:
- Classroom culture, student engagement and student performance
- School law
- Trends in curriculum, instruction and assessment
- Personnel management
- Digital leadership proficiencies
- Leadership in special education
- Web-based instructional design
- Change management
- Relational leadership
Northwest’s Ed.S. – Generalist is a non-certificate program that prepares educators to advance their careers in roles such as lead teacher, departmental administrator, instructional specialist and instructional designer. With this credential on their resumes, educators can expect to stand out when seeking new opportunities.
What Is the Earning Potential of an Ed.S.?
Earning an Ed.S. provides a clear path for achieving professional goals. In addition to opening up various career avenues for graduates, as the following information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows, earning an Ed.S. can also lead to career advancement that more than doubles your salary:
- Elementary teachers earn a median annual salary of $61,400, with the top 10% earning more than $99,420
- Middle school teachers earn a median annual salary of $61,320, with the top 10% earning more than $99,470
- High school teachers earn a median annual salary of $61,820, with the highest 10% earning more than $100,310
- Principals in elementary, middle and high schools earn a median annual salary of $98,420, with the top 10% earning more than $153,520
- Superintendents are considered the chief executive officers (CEOs) of a school district, earning a median annual salary of $179,520, with the top 10% earning more than $208,000
Educators pursue higher levels of education for different reasons. Do you want to model a growth mindset for your students? Are you interested in developing advanced competencies in classroom culture or educational technology? Is it time to make a difference as principal or superintendent?
Northwest’s three Ed.S. degree programs offer an affordable and effective way to achieve these professional goals. With Northwest’s online format, you can continue building the experience higher-level roles require while gaining the necessary credentials to take your career as far as you want to go.
Learn more about Northwest Missouri State University’s online Educational Specialist programs.
