CIP Code: 13.0301
Mission Statement
The Education Division at Missouri Baptist University seeks to develop reflective, problem-solving, professional educators of excellence from a Christian perspective; to enhance the lives of students in the classroom intellectually, spiritually, physically, and socially; and to significantly influence students through the demonstrated integration of Christian faith and learning in the classroom, so that they may become positive change agents in a globally and culturally diverse society.
Overview
The Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) program is intended for professionals in public or private schools who are seeking instructional leadership roles or administrative positions at the district level.
- The Superintendent concentration meets the competency requirements of DESE for certification as a School Superintendent. Individuals serving in Assistant Superintendent or Superintendent positions at public PK-Grade 12 schools in the state of Missouri must be certified at the superintendent level.
- The Curriculum and Instruction concentration is designed for master teachers or curriculum coordinators who wish to serve as exemplars of instructional strategies and learning processes.
Each Ed.S. degree candidate is required to develop a comprehensive plan of study indicating timelines and required courses with the Graduate Advisor. The worksheet for the plan of study is available in the Graduate Advisor’s office and must be completed and approved at the beginning of the student’s program. The plan of study should be reviewed periodically with a Graduate Advisor to ensure that the student is meeting desired academic goals.
Online Program
The Curriculum and Instruction concentration of the Ed.S. degree is offered primarily as an online program, although it may be offered face-to-face for a predetermined cohort. The Superintendent concentration of the Ed.S. degree is offered exclusively face-to-face.
Summary of the Specialist Degree Process
To earn the Ed.S. degree, a student must complete each of the following steps:
- The student must develop a comprehensive plan of study with the Graduate Advisor.
- The student must complete all coursework included in the plan of study.
- An Application for Graduation, signed by the student, Graduate Advisor, and Vice President for Graduate Studies, must be filed with the Graduate Office and the Records Office in the semester prior to the term in which the student intends to graduate.
- Students must pay the required graduation fee. Students are encouraged to participate in the graduation ceremony scheduled the first Tuesday evening after the last Saturday in April of each academic year. Students must notify the Vice President for Graduate Studies and the Director of Records if they choose not to participate. Students must pay the graduation fee whether they attend commencement or not.
- Specialist students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better in specialist coursework in order to earn an Educational Specialist degree.
Transfer Students/Transfer Credit
A total of six (6) hours may be transferred into the Ed.S. program from other accredited Educational Specialist programs. These credits must have been earned within seven (7) years prior to entry into the Graduate Studies Program from another regionally accredited college or university.
Transfer credits must be approved by the Graduate Advisor and the Director of Educational Administration and must have grades of A, B, S, CR, or P. Students may not take courses from other graduate programs while enrolled at Missouri Baptist without written approval from the Vice President for Graduate Studies. The total hours transferred to Missouri Baptist may not exceed six (6).
Directed Studies
Qualified students are permitted to engage in directed studies under graduate faculty supervision. Under this arrangement, students are enabled to explore subjects in depth, or examine new areas of study, beyond the opportunity afforded by the University’s curriculum. In some cases, catalog courses may be offered as directed studies. Graduate students may not earn more than six (6) credit hours of directed study in their master’s program unless special permission is received in writing from the Vice President for Graduate Studies. Certain courses may not be taken by directed study, as specified in the course description. Directed study forms are available in the Records Office and approval must be obtained from the student’s Graduate Advisor, the instructor of the course, Division Dean, and Vice President for Graduate Studies before the beginning of each term. The student and graduate faculty are expected to present the following items as part of the directed study: objectives, detailed description of the study, procedures for student-instructor interaction, method of evaluation, and anticipated resources needed for the study or a course syllabus may be attached to the directed study form.
Grade Requirements
Specialist-level graduate students must earn a grade of B or better in specialist-level courses in order to continue in the Educational Specialist program.
Research Requirements
All students pursuing the Educational Specialist Curriculum and Instruction track are required to take GRED 653CI Data Analysis for Decision-Making and GRED 673CI Professional Portfolio and Field Experience: C&I . Students will complete a 90 clock hour internship and demonstrate scholarship through the development and completion of a professional portfolio. The portfolio must be completed and scored before the degree is conferred. All students pursuing the Educational Specialist Superintendent track are required to take GRED 653S Data Analysis for Decision-Making and GRED 673S Capstone for Superintendent Certification . Students must complete 300 internship hours during their program and demonstrate scholarship through the development and completion of an action-research project.
Workshop Graduate Credit
No graduate credit earned in workshops or professional development seminars may be applied toward the Educational Specialist degree.
Exit Examination
Students in the Superintendent concentration must complete an action research project prior to graduation. For certification at the superintendent level, DESE also requires students to pass Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA) 059 - Superintendent. Students may register for the exam on the Missouri Educator Gateway Assessments website: http://www.mo.nesinc.com/.
Students in the Curriculum and Instruction concentration will complete an online written comprehensive exam. Students will register for EDUC 690CI Written Exam: Curriculum and Instruction in the term during which they are scheduled to graduate. All coursework must be completed prior to taking the exit examination.
Credit for Prior Learning for Completion of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) Portfolio
Students applying for the Educational Specialist degree with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction may be eligible to receive three (3) hours of advanced credit-for-prior learning for completing NBCT requirements. The Education Division Dean will review the substance of the NBCT portfolio content and determine whether it matches any current course content. There must be a clear correspondence between the content of the portfolio and an existing course in the Ed.S. program before credit is granted. Students must pay the regular credit-for-prior learning evaluation fees before credit is granted.
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