Education Specialist in Educational Leadership & Administration

Cultivate Exceptional Learning Through Leadership

The George Washington University’s Education Specialist (EdS) in Educational Leadership and Administration is a specialized degree that prepares students to lead and promote high-quality student achievement at a district, sub-district or school-wide level. The education specialist degree program is ideal for students with a master's degree in education who seek further professional preparation for specific objectives.

Additionally, the EdS is a terminal degree for those who do not wish to pursue a doctoral degree, and as a result, EdS graduates may save time and money by pursuing this 30-credit hour program, which is generally shorter than most doctoral programs.

GW's program is nationally accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and nationally recognized by the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC). Completion of this degree may also prepare qualified candidates for principal or administrator licensure. This program's courses and internship experiences are designed to meet administrative certification requirements for the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and other interstate compact agreement partner states.

As a graduate of the Education Specialist degree, you will be prepared with the applicable skills and real-world experience to meet the needs of diverse learning communities as a P-12 leader who understands curriculum design, instructional excellence, motivation and support of classroom professionals, the broader community and the needs of diverse learning communities. Evidence-based coursework and internship opportunities emphasize leadership, change, communication, administrative issues, human relations, supervision and curriculum analysis.