In the Educational Specialist Degree Program at Carson-Newman University, you will develop advanced skills in analyzing theory and research findings for application in a variety of educational settings. Designed for full-time educators who already possess a master’s degree, the educational specialist program at Carson-Newman takes you to the next level in your career. Through the program, you’ll develop advanced skills in analyzing theory and research findings for application in a variety of educational settings. You’ll also build leadership skills required for implementation of research-based change strategies. Complete assignments online and participate in online discussions and group activities, all in a flexible format. During the fall and spring semesters, you will finish one three-credit course every seven weeks, and during the summer, you may complete up to four courses.
If you are seeking administrative licensure, the Administrator’s Licensure Specialization, which results in the ILL-B license, can be added to the Ed.S.program. Upon passing the Praxis Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA), you may be recommended for the Beginning Administrative License (ILL-B) in Tennessee. Requirements to become a candidate for administrative licensure include, but are not limited to, two completed years of successful teaching, practicum hours completed in a Tennessee public school under supervision of an approved mentor, and a recommendation from your current school system.
EMPHASIS OPTIONS
All courses in the Ed.S. program apply towards the Carson-Newman’s Doctor of Education degree, which can be earned by taking an additional 9 hours in research courses and completing a dissertation.
A graduate degree is an investment in your future, and we want to equip you to succeed.• As a graduate student at Carson-Newman you’ll receive access to the full Microsoft Office suite.• Graduate students enrolled in at least six credit hours qualify to apply for federal financial aid. If you qualify, you can borrow up to $20,500 per year, which is more than enough to cover the total program cost.• You’ll be assigned a personal faculty advisor, who will help draft a course plan tailored to your specific goals.
Our no interest payment plans help reduce up-front costs. Enrolling in a payment plan allows you to make monthly payments on your direct charges instead of paying your full balance before classes start.
Our Office of Financial Aid is available to guide you through the many options available to graduate students at Carson-Newman.
Accreditation
The Educator Preparation Program (EPP) at Carson-Newman University is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The Administrative Licensure mentioned on this page was part of the most recent review, jointly conducted by CAEP and the Tennessee Department of Education. For information regarding the CAEP Annual Reporting Measures, click here.
AT A GLANCE
36 credit hours
Approximately 2 years
Fully online
To apply for the Carson-Newman educational specialist program, please follow these steps:
After submitting an application, any application materials can be sent to the Graduate Admissions Department at adult@cn.edu.
Our admissions requirements for our Ed.S. program are the same as our Ed.D. program and include:
There are typically three reasons why a teacher would decide to pursue an Ed.S.:
Students who earn their education specialist degree may enjoy additional job benefits such as a faster track to promotion, a larger annual salary, and increased job security. They may also enjoy the reputation of being a highly educated specialist within their chosen industry.
An Ed.S. degree is also sometimes an attractive alternative to earning your Ed.D. or Ph.D. An Ed.S. may give you the added career benefits and recognition you desire in much less time. While it may require 86 credit hours to earn a Ph.D. or 57 credit hours for an Ed.D., earning an Ed.S. at Carson-Newman only requires 36 credit hours of coursework.
Other than the number of credit hours, the biggest difference is that you will not need to complete a dissertation for your Ed.S. degree, and a Capstone Project is required following completion of coursework.
Our Ed.S. students complete the same initial coursework as our Ed.D. students, and many of our Ed.S. students make the decision to go on to complete their Ed.D.
For more information or for next steps, please contact us at adult@cn.edu.
THERE ARE FLEXIBLE OPTIONS FOR FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION SPECIALIST DEGREE.
Graduate students at C-N may also be eligible for federal and state financial aid. Student loan payments may be deferred until program completion. Additionally, the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program is available for up to $5,000 for graduates who teach for five years in low-income schools and meet other
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