Program Overview
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
General Specialist Degree Admission Requirements
View delivery options, start terms and admission requirements.
Director: Linda R. Vogel, Ph.D.
Location: McKee 418A
Telephone: 970-351-2119
Website: www.unco.edu/cebs/leadership-policy-development-higher-education-p12-education/educational-leadership-policy-development/
The Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) with Gifted Education Director endorsement prepares educators who have a MA or above in Gifted Education and at least two years of experience teaching gifted students to assume the role of Gifted Education Director. The program includes educational leadership courses in school law, finance, supervision, human resource management, and organization development as well as courses in gifted education administration and supervision. Program completers are qualified to apply for the Gifted Education Director endorsement.
The Ed.S. degree requires 39 semester hours of graduate study beyond the master’s degree. Satisfactory performance on a concluding activity demonstrating attainment of program outcomes and approved by faculty, in accordance with Graduate School policy, must be demonstrated.
Degree Requirements — 30-39 Credits
Research — 3 credits
| PSY 644 | Motivation in Education | 3 |
| SRM 602 | Statistical Methods I | 3 |
| SRM 670 | Evaluation: Models and Designs | 3 |
| SRM 680 | Introduction to Qualitative Research | 3 |
Educational Leadership Courses — 18 credits
| ELPS 603 | Shaping Organizations: Management and Leadership in Education | 3 |
| ELPS 604 | Understanding People: Professional Development and Educational Leadership | 3 |
| ELPS 605 | External Environments: Social, Political, and Economic Influences in Educational Leadership | 3 |
| ELPS 650 | School Finance and Budgeting | 3 |
| ELPS 654 | Instructional Leadership and Supervision | 3 |
| ELPS 660 | Law and the Administrator | 3 |
Gifted Education Administration Courses — 6 credits
| EDSE 667 | Administration and Supervision of Gifted Education | 3 |
| EDSE 668 | Administrative Planning and Program Evaluation in Gifted | 3 |
Field-based Learning — 3-6 credits
| EDSE 669 | Externship in Gifted Education Administration | 1-12 |
Elective Courses — Up to 9 credits to Fulfill Professional Needs and Interests
| EDSE 683 | Nature and Needs of Gifted Learners | 3 |
| EDSE 685 | Differentiated Curriculum and Instruction for Gifted Learners | 3 |
| EDSE 686 | Social and Emotional Needs of Gifted Learners | 3 |
| ELPS 601 | Leadership Development Through Inquiry | 3 |
| ELPS 608 | Issues in Educational Leadership: Implications for Practice | 3 |
| ELPS 665 | Policy Analysis and Development | 3 |
Additional elective courses may be selected from the Specialist in Gifted Education Endorsement Program in consultation with your advisor.
Program Notes
- Admission to this program requires prior completion of a master’s degree or higher in gifted education from an accepted institution of higher education or a graduate degree that demonstrates knowledge and application of standards for the Gifted Education Specialist endorsement. Students entering the program who do not meet this criterion will need to complete additional hours in gifted education coursework.
- Satisfactory performance on a concluding activity demonstrating attainment of program outcomes and approved by faculty, in accordance with Graduate School policy, must be demonstrated.
*This course, or an equivalent, is required to meet CDE standards for the Director of Gifted Education endorsement.