Who is an EdS degree for?
An Education Specialist degree is geared toward current educators who are looking to add specialized skills to their repertoire. The program is ideal for professionals who are seeking advanced proficiency in fields like:
• Computing technology
• Educational leadership
• Training and development
• School psychology
• Counselor education
• Special education
• Curriculum and instruction
• Adult education
The Bellarmine University EdS program focuses on Instructional Leadership
and School Administration, geared toward aspiring elementary, middle, and high school principals. This program gives students the knowledge and training necessary to pass the exams and obtain certification necessary for becoming a principal in Kentucky.
To further explore this unique degree, we consulted Dr. Rosie Young, chair of the Advanced Education and Graduate programs at Bellarmine. Dr. Young worked for 28 years as an elementary school principal and has trained hundreds of school leaders as a professor
in the EdS program. Keep reading for a detailed breakdown of this unique program.
What can you expect in the EdS program?
Bellarmine’s EdS degree is designed to develop caring and effective educators who are capable of leading in the 21st century. Principals hold a lot of responsibility and need to juggle many competing priorities and tasks to be effective in their
roles.
In our principal preparation program, you’ll learn everything you need to become a certified principal and a reflective educator. Bellarmine’s EdS philosophy emphasizes the importance of meaningful self-analysis and evaluation.
In order to do this effectively, students are taught to engage in five types of reflection, a framework developed by academic author Linda Valli. These are as follows:
• Technical reflection: Educators match one’s own performance to external guidelines. Content of this form of reflection centers on general instruction and management behaviors based on research of teaching.
• Reflection-in and on-action: Educators base decisions on one’s own unique situation and consider personal teaching performance.
• Deliberative reflection: Educators weigh competing viewpoints and research findings regarding a range of pedagogical concerns and decisions (e.g., curriculum, instructional strategies, rules and organization of classroom, etc.).
• Personalistic reflection: Educators listen to and trust one’s own inner voice and the voices of others.
• Critical reflection: Educators consider the social, moral, and political dimensions of schooling and judge these dimensions in light of the ethical criteria, such as social justice and equality of opportunity.
What do you learn in an EdS program?
Our EdS program strives to prepare principals who have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to make positive change and increase student success. According to Dr. Young, students spend a significant amount of time at the start of the program
getting to know themselves.
“We help them determine their mission, vision, core values, and reasons for pursuing a principal role,” she explains. “It gives them a centering, a North Star, for making good decisions.”
As a student in the EdS program, you’ll learn how to:
• Hire and retain new teachers
• Influence and shape school culture to be inclusive, supportive, and equitable
• Observe and evaluate educators; give construction feedback
• Build and maintain strong relationships with students, teachers, staff, parents, and the community at large
• Manage a large budget and allocate resources
• Create programs for special populations like gifted and talented, remedial and compensatory services, bilingual/ESL, vocational and career education, etc.
• Make instructional decisions based on individual learner needs
• Analyze data to make pedagogical and content-based decisions that inform teaching, learning, leading, and achievement
Bellarmine’s EdS cohorts are small and tight-knit. They support one another and become “like a family” during the two years they spend together, often forming lifelong friendships.
“The growth from one summer to the next is amazing. They do a lot of presentations and public speaking, and they are so much more confident and surer of themselves,” Dr. Young reflects.
What’s included in the EdS curriculum?
Aspiring principals hone their skills by studying theory and best practices informed by evidence and research, plus a plethora of hands-on work in the field. Our EdS curriculum is designed to prepare students with the knowledge they need to pass the state
certification exam and become a successful principal.
Examples of core courses include:
• Leadership and the Role of the School Principal
• Data Management and School Leadership
• The Human Resources Function of the Principalship
• Parents, Community and the Role of the School Principal
• Financial, Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of the Principal
• Creating a School Culture that Promotes High Levels of Student Learning
Over the course of four semesters, EdS students partake in at least 240 field hours, which includes stints in elementary, middle, and high schools to ensure they have experience in the entire P-12 spectrum.
Bellarmine EdS students also complete a hands-on capstone project in collaboration with a local school. They work with the school staff to gather data and identify learning gaps and professional development needs. Under the professor’s guidance,
they choose an issue to focus on and must develop, propose, implement, and evaluate an action plan to address the problem.
What are the admission requirements for the EdS program?
Admission requirements vary according to the specific program and university.
Aspiring candidates for Bellarmine’s Education Specialist degree will need to submit the following as part of their application:
• Completed application
• Master's degree in teaching or education
• Official college transcripts of all graduate and undergraduate credits from accredited institutions
• Current resume
• Three years of successful teaching experience in a P-12 setting
• Copy of valid state-issued Professional Teaching Certificate
• Two recommendation forms from individuals who have supervised the applicant in a school setting.
• Responses to essay questions
• Educational autobiography
• Interview with School of Education representative and appropriate school district/school-based administrator
What can you do with an EdS degree?
Most Bellarmine EdS degree holders are destined to become principals or assistant principals. Some may also pursue administrational leadership positions that require advanced education.
According to the Bureau of Labor Services (BLS), employment of elementary, middle, and high school principals is projected to grow
eight percent from 2020 to 2030. On average, around 22,100 openings for principals are projected nationally each year. Many of those jobs are expected to result from the need to replace workers who retire or transfer to different occupations.
The steady growth in the field is promising, as well as the earning potential that comes with it. The BLS reports the median annual wage for principals in Kentucky in
2020 was $80,060. This is a significant increase from the median annual wage for teachers in Kentucky, which was $52,950 in the same time period.
Take the next step toward becoming a school leader
Now that you have more information on the curriculum, requirements, and outcomes associated with earning an Education Specialist degree, it’s up to you to take the next step. If you’re ready to level up your career and take on new challenges,
Bellarmine University is here to help!
Learn more about our EdS in Instructional Leadership and School Administration degree today.
Have questions or need help with your application? Contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 1-800-274-4723 (ext. 8258), 502-272-7200, or gradadmissions@bellarmine.edu.