Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Curriculum and Instruction
Faculty
Dr. Clay Crowder, Chair
Preparing distinguished teaching and learning leaders to improve the lives of all children.
Program Overview
The goal of the Specialist Program in Curriculum and Instruction is to develop distinguished contributing teachers as leaders, mentors, and models across schools and systems. The primary purpose of schooling is instruction; therefore, all teachers, staff and administrators must focus through habits of mind on the ultimate goal of providing students with the best and most appropriate education possible through continuous school improvement. Regular classroom teachers, teachers in specialty areas, lead teachers, department heads, building level administrators, as well as staff and administrators at the district levels need to view themselves as instructional leaders and through proactive, scholarly and reflective professional and pedagogical development provide teaching and learning expertise and leadership to students and peers both formally and informally.
The Specialist Program in Curriculum and Instruction offers components that address the qualities necessary for distinguished teaching and leadership. The program provides a rigorous and scholarly pragmatic approach that meets the needs of candidates in various geographic and educational contexts. To that end, participants complete 30 hours of coursework, which combine theory and practice and culminate in a research based project aimed at school improvement.
Continuous themes and curricula guide, instruct, and develop the professional educator toward attainment of distinguished levels of theory and practice so that they may become contributing members in the professional discourse of improving schooling.
The Specialist program in Curriculum and Instruction is an approved program by the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) and The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). This program leads to an S-6 Certificate and requires successful passage of the GACE exam in Curriculum and Instruction. Candidates completing the program are eligible for a pay upgrade to a 6 year level.
Course Descriptions