Educators seeking to advance their careers must also choose the degree program that best suits their goals and current workloads. In the case of educators considering a career as a high-level administrator or superintendent, those choices come down to an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) program or a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program.
The advantages of an Ed.S. are clear to graduates of the University of Wisconsin-Superior (UW-Superior) online Ed.S. in Educational Administration — Superintendent District Administrator program. Graduates can complete the program in as few as 18 months (actual completion time may vary and is dependent on student course load) and leave the program with the skills necessary to pursue administrative and superintendent positions as well as instructional design roles.
The Difference Between Ed.S. and Ed.D. Degrees
There are several key differences between the Ed.S. and Ed.D. degree programs. Students seeking an Ed.D. must typically complete between 55 to 60 credit hours, meaning that their degree will require between two and three years of coursework. Most Ed.S. programs, including UW-Superior’s, require about half of the credits of the Ed.D. With only 30 credit hours to complete, the program takes much less time. UW-Superior graduates can finish the program in under two years.
Pursuing an Ed.S. degree also allows educators to qualify for school administrator or superintendent positions while also potentially stepping into other leadership roles. While an Ed.D. program typically focuses solely on roles outside of instruction or classroom teaching, Ed.S. graduates could potentially use their skills to become lead instructional designers for a school district or university system.
The Advantages of Earning an Ed.S.
For educators who see themselves in leadership roles within a campus or school district, an Ed.S. is extremely valuable in developing skills such as budgeting, contract negotiations, conflict resolution and more, according to Indeed. Degree programs like UW-Superior offer options to specialize in different leadership areas, including principal and superintendent.
Graduates can expect to gain greater understanding of organizational leadership theories that will help them create strong, nurturing relationships among administrators, students and staff, according to the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments.
At UW-Superior, educators learn to manage human resources, implement effective strategies to improve school-community relations and navigate the often-challenging politics of education. Educators also learn the mechanics of operational issues in courses like Facilities Planning and Utilization and School Finance and Resource Allocation. In other courses, students also study statistical design and methodology with an eye toward applying it to educational data and discovering trends that can inform future decision-making.
The Ed.S. program also features a minimum 180-hour administrative internship, which provides educators with a mentor who demonstrates how to effectively and authentically lead in a school district setting. Over the six-month internship, students have the chance to see their newfound theoretical knowledge in action while developing their public speaking and writing skills.
Why Should You Get an Education Specialist Degree Online With UW-Superior?
Through UW-Superior’s online Ed.S. in Educational Administration — Superintendent District Administrator program, educators effectively develop the skills they need to become district leaders without completing another 30 credits of coursework necessary for an Ed.D. program. In addition, they complete a requirement for applying for a K-12 Superintendent license in Wisconsin — effectively moving educators closer to their ultimate career goals.
Learn more about UW-Superior’s online Ed.S. in Educational Administration — Superintendent District Administrator program.
