Education Specialist Degree offered by UMass Amherst College of Education
The College of Education offers an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree, which is an advanced terminal degree in the U.S. that is designed for individuals who wish to develop advanced knowledge and theory beyond the master's degree level, but may not wish to pursue a degree at the doctoral level. The College’s Ed.S. provides an intensive, cohesive program of professional development for educational specialists beyond the master's level. The Ed.S is a minimum of a 30-credit-hour program of study beyond the master's degree. All 30 credits must be taken at the university within a four-year period, and at least 15 credits must be taken in the College of Education. A minimum of 18 credits used toward fulfillment of the requirement must be at or above the 600 level.
The College of Education offers two highly structured Ed.S. programs leading to licensure as a school psychologist and as a special education administrator. The school psychology licensure program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists and leads to state licensure. The special education administrator program has a distinct focus on the skills that leaders need to address the growing demands in the field and of an increasingly diverse group of students.
The College of Education also offers educational practitioners the opportunity to pursue an organized, post-master's course of study which will prepare them for the role of master teacher and enhance their ability to be leaders in educational reform. This course of study leads to the Educational Specialist degree. Ed.S. students may select a focus for their professional study from any of the College's concentrations. Education Specialist Programs are NOT eligible for Optional Professional Training (OPT) for International Students.
| Programs | |
|---|---|
| School Psychology | Prepares students to practice as school psychologists in public schools and related educational settings. |
| Special Education | Ideal for special education teachers on an administration path who have already earned a masters in special education or a related field. |
| Language, Literacy, and Culture | Developing language and literacy in first and second languages, bilingual and multicultural education, and children's literature. |
| School Counselor Education | Students have the option of obtaining a master’s and then completing additional course work to earn the Ed.S. |
| Social Justice Education | Understanding of various manifestations of social oppression in educational settings, and the advancement of educational opportunity and equity. |
| Children, Families, and Schools | Developing more effective approaches to the promotion of learning and development in young children. |
| Science Education Online | Intended for elementary and middle school classroom teachers and special education teachers who wish to increase their science content knowledge, teaching skills. |
Children, families, and schools offers a program of study in child development, childhood studies, and learning, examining how they relate to educational practice from birth through the the elementary school years. It includes our undergraduate early childhood education concentration, leading to Pre-K through 2nd grade licensure.
Language, literacy, and culture scholars focus on a wide range of topics, including language acquisition, ESL, multicultural education, critical multiliteracies, children’s and young adult literature, and critical media literacy, seeking to transform education to better meet the needs of all learners in multicultural and multilingual contexts.
The mathematics, science, and learning technologies doctoral program prepares students to improve learning and instruction in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines and to challenge inequities in STEM education.
The school counselor education program prepares professionals who will nurture children's academic, vocational, personal, and social development and create school environments where all students can thrive.
Students in the school psychology program train to be school psychologists or to work in health-service settings by studying the theoretical foundations of the field while developing the skills they’ll need for their day to day work.
Science Education Online prepares elementary and middle school teachers to create inquiry-based science classrooms in a fully-online program.
Social justice education prepares teachers, leaders, and scholars to foster educational environments that are socially just, diverse, inclusive, and equitable.
Special education students become catalysts for change, helping increase educational opportunities and improve outcomes for children with disabilities and their families.
