Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership
(Non-certification Option)
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has.
--Margaret Mead The Educational Specialist Program in
Educational Leadership prepares a new vanguard of professionals: leaders
of learning for the 21st century. Equipped with skills for distributive
leadership, knowledge of subject fields, an understanding of human diversity
and critical thinking skills, graduates of the program will combine
practical expertise and research to provide leadership that is informed
by reflective practice, critical pedagogy, and social justice. In addition,
students will engage in practices of authentic engagement in community
partnerships that are essential for educational change.
Program Overview
The University of Alabama’s Educational Specialist Program in
Educational Leadership (non-certification) provides an option for aspiring
educational leaders who are not seeking state administrative certification.
It serves individuals who are preparing for organizational leadership
positions in a variety of settings with a focus on becoming competent
and creative leaders of learning. The program comprises four semesters
of intensive coursework including a common introductory course about
what it means to be an instructional leader and a culminating course
experience that involves students in school-community partnerships.
The cohort design allows students to take their beginning and culminating
courses together, but provides options in selecting other coursework.
This program is staffed with highly qualified faculty. To find out more
information about program faculty, click here. Classes are held at the
Gadsden Center in the evenings and on weekends, and in the summer, to
facilitate the participation of working professionals. Those seeking
AA state administrative certification need to apply to the Ed.S. (with
certification) program in Educational Leadership.
Program Participants
The University of Alabama’s Educational Specialist Program in
Educational Leadership strives to recruit a diverse student body that
reflects the wide diversity of the southeast including such factors
as race and ethnicity, age, gender, professional backgrounds, and teaching
and leadership experience. The one factor that characterizes all participants
is the desire to engage in a rigorous, intensive, and highly focused
educational experience.
Program Goals
The goals of the program are to provide students with opportunities
to:
--respond to the challenges of creating inclusive, socially just schools
for all students
--reflect critically on effective strategies of teaching and learning
that ensure the success of all students
--enhance their understanding of the politics of school culture
--form a critical understanding of the social, political, and moral
goals of schooling
--assess the barriers to school change and develop strategies to overcome
them
--learn to utilize community networks and coalitions for the advancement
of --equitable educational opportunities for all students
--reconceptualize the role teachers play in decision-making at the local,
state, and national level; and
--analyze new models of ethical leadership and meaningful collegiality.
Program Requirements
Admission into the program is selective and placement is limited. Entrance
criteria include an earned Master’s or higher level degree; a
minimum graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.5; and competitive scores
on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination
(GRE) and/or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Generally, successful
applicants score at least 50 on the MAT or at least 1,000 on the combined
verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE. Letters of professional
and academic reference, a purpose statement, a writing sample, and educational
experience in teaching and/or leadership are also factors considered
in the admission process.
How to Apply
Click here for admissions
requirements.
CORE COURSES (15 hours)
AEL 697 Seminar in Instructional Leadership (introductory course)
AEL 602 Educational Leadership and School Restructuring
AEL 612 Instructional Supervision and Mentoring
AEL 620 Curriculum: Theory and Practice
AEL 630 School-Community Partnerships (culminating course)
COGNATE AREA ELECTIVES (9 hours)
The cognate area electives provide students the flexibility to choose
courses that will best meet their individual professional goals, as
approved by their program adviser. Courses in the cognate might include
courses in a teaching field.
Teachers with national board certification may apply 6 semester hours of credit from the American Council on Education (ACE) toward their electives in this program.
SOCIAL FOUNDATIONS (3 hours)
The social foundations electives provide students the flexibility to
choose courses that will best meet their individual professional goals,
as approved by their program adviser.
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH (3 hours)
The educational resarch electives provide students the flexibility to
choose courses that will best meet their individual professional goals,
as approved by their program adviser.
FINAL PROJECT
An action-based research project presented at the completion of the
program. For more information, click here.
Comprehensive Exams
The comprehensive examination will include the development and presentation
of a portfolio that demonstrates the student's success in meeting the
goals of the program.
For further information, please contact Dr. Becky Atkinson at atkin014@bamaed.ua.edu.