Education Specialist in Educational Leadership and Administration

Cultivate Exceptional Learning Through Leadership

Prepare to lead and promote high-quality student achievement on a broad scale by earning an Education Specialist (EdS) degree in Educational Leadership and Administration at GW. The program is ideal for those with a master’s in education that want to further their professional skills in facilitating positive change, creating and sustaining a culture of shared leadership and collaboration, and promoting the success and well-being of all school members.

The program serves educators working in a variety of diverse school communities and are interested in ensuring equitable outcomes through their aspired or current role as a PreK-12 school-based or central office leader/supervisor position. Whether on the local, state, or national level, the GW-ELA EdS program curriculum will prepare leaders searching for increased responsibility in teaching, and/or advanced levels of professional responsibility.

• Nationally Recognized + Accredited: GW’s ELA program has garnered national recognition as a program of distinction from the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA) and is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
• Experience + Specialized Skills: Develop specialized skills through theory, practice, research, and required high-quality internship opportunities to help make you more competitive in the job market.
• Licensure Preparation: Academically prepare for licensure eligibility as an administrator or principal with academic and field experiences designed to meet the academic requirements and eligibility for administrative certification/licensure requirements of D.C. and partner states of the interstate compact agreement.
• Accelerated Format: Designed for the working PreK-12 professionals, the EdS is a 30-credit hour degree that can be completed part-time, in our off-campus classrooms or online, in as little as 2 years, generally shorter than most doctoral programs.

The GW Advantage

Whether attending off-campus or online, GSEHD students benefit from our unique location in the heart of our nation’s capital and the University’s extraordinary access to leading national archives and libraries, international organizations, diverse school settings, and research opportunities.

Within its 30+ year history, our research productive faculty, who possess extensive professional practitioner experience, have built a program that has garnered national recognition as a program of distinction from the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA). Our ELA program is accredited by The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Our diverse student body comes together from across the country and around the globe, bringing a wide range of professional experience, skills, and enriching knowledge.

Our Mission

The Educational Leadership and Administration Program at the George Washington University develops thoughtful and reflective educational leaders prepared to critically use evidence and to use appropriate judgment in making decisions that promote excellence through equity and social justice in meeting the needs of all students. Leaders are prepared to engage with a variety of stakeholders in schools and communities to improve student learning.

Through internships, team-based projects, and individual assignments, students gain hands-on, relevant experiences in schools and diverse opportunities to reflect and think critically about those experiences as they connect research and theory to practice.

Students learn from faculty who are engaged in both research and practice in the field of educational leadership, and value our commitment to student learning and development and the rigorous expectations that promote them. Our program values our partnerships with school organizations and educational institutions, both locally and around the globe, as well as a network of alumni with whom we continue to partner and support.

Curriculum

The following requirements must be successfully fulfilled: 30 credits in required courses and all required internship hours and criteria.

The ELA courses below, unless designated by a *, are 8-week courses. This format allows two instructional sessions within a 16-week semester/term and has been found to at most times, provide an option to students who desire an accelerated time to completion. (Closed cohorts may experience different session models).

Required

• EDUC 6232 Supervision of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
• EDUC 6234 Foundations of K-12 Educational Leadership
• EDUC 6236 School Law and Policy
• EDUC 6238 Leadership for Equity and Social Justice
• EDUC 6240 Instructional Leadership for School Improvement
• EDUC 6244 School, Family, and Community Engagement
• EDUC 6246 School Finance and Resource Management for School Leaders
• EDUC 6270 Education Policy for School Leaders
• EDUC 6272 Leading Evidence-Based Action Research for School Improvement
• EDUC 6287 Internship: Administration

Program Outcomes

• Your successful completion of the GW Education Specialist degree will exemplify your commitment to equity-centered leadership. The coursework and experiences will have moved you along the path in mastery in the disposition/s, knowledge and instructional practices, research and best-practices identified as needed in leading through equity. As an aspiring leader, you will have been prepared for:
• Ability to make data-informed decisions
• Leadership for Instruction and School Improvement
• Shared Leadership Practices
• Fostering an Inclusive School Community and Cultures

Cohort Options

Charles County Cohort: Convenient and flexible classes offered in a hybrid model for the Master's and Post-Master’s Certificate in Charles County with some classes held online and some held on-site at a CCPS school.

DC Public School Cohort: Convenient and flexible classes offered in a hybrid model for the Master's and Education Specialist degrees.

Loudoun County Cohort: Convenient and flexible classes offered in a hybrid model for the Post-Master’s Certificate, Master's and Education Specialist degrees in Loudoun County, with most classes held on-site at an LCPS Building and some held online.

Please note: Cohort admissions is limited to employees of the specific cohort’s division.

Career Outlook

Graduates are ready to be PreK-12 leaders who understand curriculum design, instructional excellence, motivation and support of classroom professionals, the broader community, and the needs of diverse learning communities.

This program may also prepare qualified candidates for administrator/principal licensure, and has been designed to meet the administrative certification requirements of the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and other interstate compact agreement partner states.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Services, elementary, middle and high school principals earned a median $98,420 annual salary in 2021, with jobs in the field expected to grow 5% by 2031. Postsecondary education administrators earned a median $96,910 in 2021, with jobs expected to grow 7% by 2031.

Our graduates are leading in schools and districts across the nation. They serve as:

• Principal
• Assistant Principal
• Athletic Director
• Central Office Administrator
• PreK-12 Dean
• Department Chair
• Director of Admissions
• Education Advisor
• Education Consultant
• Program Director

Tuition Fees

Graduate tuition is charged per credit hour, unless otherwise noted. This program requires 30 credits.

Rates vary by program and designated location of admission. Current tuition rates may be updated during the year.

The tuition rate* for the off-campus EdS in ELA program is $970 per credit hour.

The tuition rate* for the online EdS in ELA program is $1,000 per credit hour.

Please note: Additional fees may apply for international students, late fees, etc.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must submit the online application form as well as the following required supporting documents. There is no application fee.

• Prerequisite: Master's Degree, One Year Teaching Experience
• Resume
• Transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities
• Statement of Purpose (500-750 word essay): Please address the following statements in an essay (please avoid using bullets and numbers in responding, but demonstrate your writing skills in a coherent essay):
  
  • Rationale for seeking an Education Specialist degree in the field of Educational Administration and Administration at GW;
  • Current knowledge, skills, and leadership experiences that contribute to your readiness to assume an administrative role as an equity-centered leader;
  • Vision for serving as a leader who advocates and promotes equity, diversity, inclusion, and transformative practices in your school and communities.
• Two Letters of Recommendation (at least 1 from a current administrator preferred)
• Interview may be required

*Additional application requirements may exist for international applicants.