Specialist Degrees, Specific Requirements
Specialist in Education degrees (Ed.S.) are awarded for concentrated study and investigation beyond the master's degree. Programs are designed on an individual basis and are sharply focused on a particular academic goal. Specialist programs may cut across school lines but are not offered in all discipline areas.
A student entering a specialist degree program who possesses a master’s degree must earn a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master’s degree. A student entering a specialist degree program who possesses only a baccalaureate degree must each a minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the baccalaureate degree. Schools may have requirements that exceed the minimum standards established by the university.
Specialist Admission
Each applicant to a specialist degree program must possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and have a grade point average of 3.00 or better [4.00 point scale] on the most recent 60 semester hours and an adequate academic background in the proposed area of specialization as defined by the program through which the specialist degree is to be awarded. Those applicants having a GPA less than 3.00 may be considered for admission. If someone is recommended for admission who does not meet the Graduate School standard, a rationale must be provided stating the factors which were considered in recommending the student: GPA in the discipline, maturity, letters of recommendation, samples of their work, GRE scores or other compelling factors. All recommendations for admission below the 3.00 will be reviewed by the Graduate Dean and his/her designee.