Lifelong Education Administration and Policy

Educational Administration and Policy

Requirement for the Specialist in Education Degree (Ed.S.) in Educational Administration and Policy

Introduction and Overview
Program of Study for Plan A (Certification Option)
Degree Requirement Notes for Plan A
Program of Study for Plan B (Non-Certification Option)
Degree Requirement Notes for Plan B
Admissions

Introduction and Overview

With the changes in the ways in which the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) awards certification, the Program in Educational Administration and Policy at the University of Georgia now offers two Programs of Study for the Specialist in Education Degree. Beginning fall 2008, we are offering two Plans of Study for the Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) Degree. Plan A is for professionals who wish to pursue the leadership certificate while earning the Ed.S. Degree, and Plan B is for professionals who wish to earn the Ed.S. degree without the performance-based component that leads to the leadership certificate issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Program A is offered for those students who are seeking administrative and leadership endorsement as a part of the Specialist in Education Degree. Plan B is offered as an advanced degree that does not lead to certification. Both Plan A and Plan B consist of 36 semester hours of coursework.

Prospective students are encouraged to view the new requirements of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

To be able to participate in Plan A of the Specialist in Education Degree (Ed.S.), it is a requirement that

There is a signed partnership agreement between UGA and the applicant’s home school system, and
The school system provides support for the candidate to sustain the Performance-based component within Plan A. This support would need to be documented in an official letter by a system-level leader.

For a list of University of Georgia/School District Partnerships, click here.

Until such agreement and endorsement is provided to UGA, applicants are accepted to participate in Plan B of the Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) Degree in Educational Administration and Policy.

For the applicant wishing to sustain the Program A, she/he is responsible for checking to see if there is a formal agreement between the home school system and UGA. Inquiries about whether there is a partnership agreement with UGA and the Program in Educational Administration and Policy should be directed to the Department Head at leapinfo@uga.edu

If a partnership agreement between UGA and the student’s system is not in force at the time of admissions but becomes available, the student may be allowed to switch to Plan A if the school system provides support for the candidate to sustain the Performance-based component within Plan A. All courses needed to satisfy the requirements of Plan A must be completed if the student switches from Plan B to Plan A. The converse is true if a student wishes to switch from Plan A to Plan B.

Because Plan A is a pathway to certification, the PSC will require a passing score on the GACE in order to award the PL-6 certificate. Information about the rules and regulations about leadership certification can be viewed at the Georgia Professional Standards Commission Homepage at http://www.gapsc.com/Rules/Current/Certification/505-2-.300.pdf

The major difference between Plan A and Plan B:

Plan A includes a performance-based component that includes nine semester hours of in the field work (Supervised Educational Leadership Residency) and a specialized course, EDAP 8115 (Building-level Administration) or EDAP 8120 (District-level Administration). If the student seeks building-level certification, then EDAP 8115 is sustained; if the student seeks district-level certification, then EDAP 8120 is sustained.
Plan A is set apart from Plan B in that Plan B includes 12 semester hours of electives instead of the Performance-based Program as found in Plan A.

Program of Study for Plan A (Certification)

Plan A is a 36 hour program of study that includes the following areas:

Core Courses 21 Semester Hours

Course Number	Course Name
EDAP 8010	Curriculum Foundations and History—3 Semester Hours
EDAP 8030	Classic Theories of Organizational Leadership—3 Semester Hours
EDAP 8080	School Finance—3 Semester Hours
EDAP 8150	Learning Communities and Professional Development—3 Semester Hours
EDAP 8290	Politics of Education—3 Semester Hours
EDAP 8390	School Community Relations—3 Semester Hours
EDAP 9170	Seminar in School Law—3 Semester Hours

Research Course: 3 Semester Hours

Course Number	Course Name
EDAP 8600	Management and Analysis of Administrative Data—3 Semester Hours

Performance-Based Program: 12 Hours (Differentiated by building or district level)

Course Number	Course Name
EDAP 8115 or EDAP 8120	Building-level Administration or District-level Administration
EDAP 8611 (building-level) or 8711 (district-level)	Supervised Educational Leadership Residency – Building/District-level
EDAP 8612 (building-level) or 8712 (district level)	Supervised Educational Leadership Residency – Building/District-level
EDAP 8613 (building-level) or 8713 (district-level)	Supervised Educational Leadership Residency – Building/District-level

Note: EDAP 8611, 8612, and 8613 must be taken sequentially; EDAP 8115 must be taken prior to or concurrent with EDAP 8611.
Note: EDAP 8711, 8712, and 8713 must be taken sequentially; EDAP 8120 must be taken prior to or concurrent with EDAP 8711

Click Here for the Specialist in Education Advising Form

Degree Requirement Notes For Plan A

Selecting Plan A or Plan B

If a partnership agreement between UGA and the student’s system is not in force at the time of admissions but becomes available, the student may be allowed to switch to Plan A if the school system provides support for the candidate to sustain the Performance-based component within Plan A. All courses needed to satisfy the requirements of Plan A must be completed if the student switches from Plan B to Plan A. The converse is true if a student wishes to switch from Plan A to Plan B.
Policy on Transfer of Credit

It is the exception that transfer credit will be applied toward a Program of Study for the Specialist in Education Degree. Prior approval from the academic advisor and the Graduate Coordinator must be secured before sustaining coursework from another institution if that coursework is to be considered as part of the Program of Study.

Please note that the Program in Educational Administration and Policy limits the number of courses and hours to one (1) course or to a maximum of three (3) semester hours. Transfer of Credit for core course requirements and the research course will not be considered for the Specialist in Education Degree.

To consider whether a course can be considered for transfer to the overall Plan of Study, the student is required to:
These documents will be presented to the advisor who will make the determination of suitability of the course related to the overall Program of Study. The student will be notified within three weeks of the request. Time is needed to consult with the faculty member who has expertise in the content area in which the course covers.

If transfer credit is to be included in the Program of Study, requests for transfer of credit with accompanying official transcript must be in the Graduate School at least 30 days prior to the time the student plans to graduate. All courses must have been taken within the six-year time limit of the degree and must carry a grade of B or above.

Transfer credit must be related to the overall Plan of Study for the Specialist in Education Degree and will be accepted as approved by the advisor, the Graduate Coordinator, and the Graduate School. Note that credit earned to satisfy a prior degree requirement cannot be accepted as transfer credit for the Specialist in Education Degree.

If a request is approved at the Program Area level, following the sequence described above, please
The Performance-Based Program

Once a partnership agreement is forged between the UGA Program in Educational Administration and Policy and the school system district-level administrator has written a letter showing support for participation in the Performance-based Program (Program A), students choose to follow either the building-level track or the district-level track and sustain the appropriate “Supervised Educational Leadership Residency” at the Building or District Level. Students will need to self-select the level of residency (Building, District, or both).

NB: If students wish to apply for both levels of leadership certification, both courses, EDAP 8115 and EDAP 8120, in addition to the 9 hours of Supervised Educational Leadership Residency at each level must be sustained. Essentially, a student would sustain 12 hours beyond the 36 hours to be eligible for both the Building and the District Levels of certification. This is an interpretation of the GA PSC rules governing the preparation of school leaders. Please note:
- EDAP 8611, 8612, and 8613 must be taken sequentially; EDAP 8115 must be taken prior to or concurrent with EDAP 8611.
- EDAP 8711, 8712, and 8713 must be taken sequentially; EDAP 8120 must be taken prior to or concurrent with EDAP 8711
- Students need to meet with their assigned advisor to determine the level of certification (building or district or both) desired.
- Professional educational administration experience shall not count toward satisfying the requirements of the Performance-based Program for the Specialist in Education Degree at the University of Georgia.
- The requirements of the Performance-based Program shall not be met through transfer of credit hour(s).
- Permission of Department (POD) is required for EDAP 8115, EDAP 8120, EDAP 8611 and EDAP 8711.
- The Performance-based Residency Seminars shall not count toward the elective requirements in Plan B.
Application for Graduation

The Application for Graduation must be submitted and the graduation fee must be paid no later than the Friday of the first full week of classes the semester in which the student anticipates to graduate.

The deadlines of the Graduate School shall dictate the date in which the Application for Graduation must be electronically filed. Graduate School Deadlines may be viewed at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/academics/deadlines.html

The Electronic Application for Graduation Form can be found at http://www.coe.uga.edu/leap/adminpolicy/forms_4_students.html

If the deadline for filing the Application for Graduation is missed, the student will need to consult the Policy for Late Filing at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/late_grad.pdf There is a $ 50.00 late fee.
Program of Study

Only courses taken after formal admission to the Ed.S. may be included in the Program of Study. An approved Program of Study should be filed no later than the Friday of the first full week of classes the semester in which a student anticipates graduation. The deadlines of the Graduate School shall dictate this date.

The Program of Study Form can be found at http://www.coe.uga.edu/leap/adminpolicy/forms_4_students.html

Graduate School Deadlines may be viewed at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/academics/deadlines.html

If the deadline for filing the Program of Study is missed, the student will need to complete the Late Filing for Graduation Form which can be found at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/late_grad.pdf and pay a $50.00 late fee.
Enrollment

The candidate must be enrolled for at least three (3) semester hours of credit from the University of Georgia during the semester in which degree requirements are completed. Moreover, in each semester of attendance, a graduate student must be enrolled in a minimum of three (3) semester hours as per Graduate School policy. Beginning fall 2007, the Continuous Enrollment Policy of the Graduate School begins. Essentially, the policy is that degree-seeking graduate students must register for a minimum of three (3) hours for at least two (2) semesters in each academic year (fall, spring, summer).

As you plan your studies at the University of Georgia, please become familiar with the policy in the Graduate Bulletin at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/academics/registration.html
Oral Examination and Portfolio

A comprehensive oral examination and presentation of the portfolio must be scheduled and completed during the final semester of studies. The comprehensive examination includes identifying a problem of practice and presenting the probable solution to this problem of practice with artifacts from the portfolio acting as supporting evidence.

The requirements for the Specialist in Education Portfolio may be viewed at http://www.coe.uga.edu/leap/adminpolicy/eds/specialist_portfolio.html

The Specialist in Education Degree Comprehensive Examination Assessment Rubric for the Portfolio may be viewed at http://www.coe.uga.edu/leap/adminpolicy/pdf/EDS_SPECIALIST_PORTFOLIO_RUBRIC.pdf
In-service and Transfer Credit

A combination of in-service and transfer credit may not exceed one-half of the total hours on a program of study.

Program of Study for Plan B (Non-Certification)

Plan B is a 36 hour program of study that does not include provisions for leadership certification as elaborated by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Students who wish not to seek certification to be a leader but who wish to earn a Specialist in Education Degree sustain the courses in Plan B (Non-Certificate Option). Applicants whose school system does not have a partnership agreement with the Program in Educational Administration and Policy and have a letter of endorsement from the school system employed sustain the Plan B. The coursework for Plan B include the following areas:

Core Courses 21 Semester Hours

Course Number	Course Name
EDAP 8010	Curriculum Foundations and History—3 Semester Hours
EDAP 8030	Classic Theories of Organizational Leadership—3 Semester Hours
EDAP 8080	School Finance—3 Semester Hours
EDAP 8150	Learning Communities and Professional Development—3 Semester Hours
EDAP 8290	Politics of Education—3 Semester Hours
EDAP 8390	School Community Relations—3 Semester Hours
EDAP 9170	Seminar in School Law—3 Semester Hours

Research Course: 3 Semester Hours

Course Number	Course Name
EDAP 8600	Management and Analysis of Administrative Data—3 Semester Hours

Electives: 12 Semester Hours

Course Number	Course Name
Elective I
Elective 2
Elective 3
Elective 4

The courses sustained as electives should be selected in consultation with the advisor. The Performance-based Residency Seminars as specified in Plan A shall not count toward elective credit in Plan B.

Degree Requirement Notes For Plan B

Selecting Plan A or Plan B

If a partnership agreement between UGA and the student’s system is not in force at the time of admissions but becomes available, the student may be allowed to switch to Plan A if the school system provides a written letter of support for the candidate to sustain the Performance-based component within Plan A. All courses needed to satisfy the requirements of Plan A must be completed if the student switches from Plan B to Plan A. The converse is true if a student wishes to switch from Plan A to Plan B.
Policy on Transfer of Credit

It is the exception that transfer credit will be applied toward a Program of Study for the Specialist in Education Degree. Prior approval from the academic advisor and the Graduate Coordinator must be secured before sustaining coursework from another institution if that coursework is to be considered as part of the Program of Study.

Please note that the Program in Educational Administration and Policy limits the number of courses and hours to one (1) course or to a maximum of three (3) semester hours. Transfer of Credit for core course requirements and the research course will not be considered for the Specialist in Education Degree.

To consider whether a course can be considered for transfer to the overall Plan of Study, the student is required to:
1. Submit a copy of the official course description from the university in which the course was sustained.
2. Submit a copy of the course syllabi from the university in which the course was sustained.
These documents will be presented to the advisor who will make the determination of suitability of the course related to the overall Program of Study. The student will be notified within three weeks of the request. Time is needed to consult with the faculty member who has expertise in the content area in which the course covers.

If transfer credit is to be included in the Program of Study, requests for transfer of credit with accompanying official transcript must be in the Graduate School at least 30 days prior to the time the student plans to graduate. All courses must have been taken within the six-year time limit of the degree, must carry a grade of B or above, and the credit earned must be from a like institution of higher education.

Transfer credit must be related to the overall Plan of Study for the Specialist in Education Degree and will be accepted as approved by the advisor, the Graduate Coordinator, and the Graduate School. Note that credit earned to satisfy a prior degree requirement cannot be accepted as transfer credit for the Specialist in Education Degree.

If a request is approved at the Program Area level, following the sequence described above, please
1. Complete the Request for Transfer Credit Form found at http://www.coe.uga.edu/leap/adminpolicy/forms_4_students.html
2. Do not submit this form unless an official transcript is attached or it has been determined that an official transcript is on file in the Graduate School. The transcript must show that the student was admitted to graduate school and that the work taken carried graduate credit. No grade below B can be transferred. The course to be transferred may not have been used as part of requirements for another advanced degree.
3. Once you have completed this form, please bring the form plus an official transcript in a sealed envelope from the university in which the credit was earned to your advisor.
4. Once this documentation is received, the Graduate Coordinator and the Degree Program Specialist will submit the paperwork to the Graduate School.
5. Please note that there are deadlines in which Transfer of Credit must be received by the Graduate School. These deadlines can be found at
  http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/academics/deadlines.html
Application for Graduation

The Application for Graduation must be submitted and the graduation fee must be paid no later than the Friday of the first full week of classes the semester in which the student anticipates to graduate.

The deadlines of the Graduate School shall dictate the date in which the Application for Graduation must be electronically filed. Graduate School Deadlines may be viewed at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/academics/deadlines.html

The Electronic Application for Graduation Form can be found at http://www.coe.uga.edu/leap/adminpolicy/forms_4_students.html

If the deadline for filing the Application for Graduation is missed, the student will need to consult the Policy for Late Filing at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/late_grad.pdf There is a $ 50.00 late fee.
Program of Study

Only courses taken after formal admission to the Ed.S. Degree may be included in the Program of Study. An approved Program of Study should be filed no later than the Friday of the first full week of classes the semester in which a student anticipates graduation. The deadlines of the Graduate School shall dictate this date.

The Program of Study Form can be found at http://www.coe.uga.edu/leap/adminpolicy/forms_4_students.html

Graduate School Deadlines may be viewed at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/academics/deadlines.html

If the deadline for filing the Program of Study is missed, the student will need to complete the Late Filing for Graduation Form which can be found at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/late_grad.pdf and pay a $50.00 late fee.
Enrollment

The candidate must be enrolled for at least three (3) semester hours of credit from the University of Georgia during the semester in which degree requirements are completed. Moreover, in each semester of attendance, a graduate student must be enrolled in a minimum of three (3) semester hours as per Graduate School policy. Beginning fall 2007, the Continuous Enrollment Policy of the Graduate School begins. Essentially, the policy is that degree-seeking graduate students must register for a minimum of three (3) hours for at least two (2) semesters in each academic year (fall, spring, summer).

As you plan your studies at the University of Georgia, please become familiar with the policy on Continuous Enrollment in the Graduate Bulletin at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/academics/registration.html
Oral Examination and Portfolio

A comprehensive oral examination and presentation of the portfolio must be scheduled and completed during the final semester of studies. The comprehensive examination includes identifying a problem of practice and presenting the probable solution to this problem of practice with artifacts from the portfolio acting as supporting evidence.

The requirements for the Specialist in Education Portfolio may be viewed at http://www.coe.uga.edu/leap/adminpolicy/eds/specialist_portfolio.html

The Specialist in Education Degree Comprehensive Examination Assessment Rubric for the Portfolio may be viewed at http://www.coe.uga.edu/leap/adminpolicy/pdf/EDS_SPECIALIST_PORTFOLIO_RUBRIC.pdf
In-service and Transfer Credit

A combination of in-service and transfer credit may not exceed one-half of the total hours on a program of study.

Admissions

For the Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) Degree

The applicant must submit many documents as part of the application packet. The contents within the application packet will provide information so that a recommendation whether to admit the candidate may be made to the Graduate School. Documents include the application form, transcripts from all colleges and universities where coursework has been sustained, official test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), and three letters of recommendation and recommendation forms.

To be admitted for the Plan A (Certification Option), the Program in Educational Administration and Policy must have a formal signed partnership agreement with the applicant’s school system, and one of the letters of recommendation must come from a system-level administrator that expresses support for the candidate to participate in the Performance-based Program of Study (Plan A). If you have questions about whether your school system has a partnership agreement with the UGA Program in Educational Administration and Policy, please contact the Department Head at leapinfo@uga.edu

As a base line, applicants will have a minimum of a graduate grade point average of 3.0 and respectable scores on the combined verbal and quantitative sections on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's professional and/or academic work are required, as well.

Applying for the Specialist in Education Degree in Educational Administration and Policy

Application must be made to the University of Georgia Graduate School at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/admissions/requirements.html by completing the online application materials.
- Complete the online form APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION/READMISSION TO GRADUATE PROGRAMS at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/admissions/requirements.html
Select "Apply Online!" from the admissions list in the sidebar.
- Follow the directions on this page to begin the Web-based application process

Note that an application can not be considered until all materials are received. Consult the Graduate School Homepage for application deadlines at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/admissions/deadlines.html

The following materials need to be received to complete the application to the University of Georgia for the Program in Educational Administration and Policy.

Graduate Record Exam OR the Miller Analogies Test

All GRE test scores are subject to a five-year time limitation, and the official posting of the GRE takes approximately two weeks. All MAT test scores are subject to a five-year time limitation, and the official posting of the MAT takes approximately two weeks.

The Graduate Record Exam

The general test of the GRE is offered year-round as a computer-based test at centers worldwide. GRE subject tests are offered several times a year at numerous testing centers. Advance registration for tests is required. Information about the GRE can be obtained from the following source

GRE-ETS
Web: http://www.ets.org/
Phone: 1-866-473-4373
Graduate Record Examinations
Educational Testing Service
PO Box 6000
Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6000

The Miller Analogies Test (MAT)

The MAT is given at various colleges and universities approved by the Psychological Corporation. For information concerning the test as given at the University of Georgia, contact the Office of Testing and Evaluation, Clark Howell Hall, telephone (706) 542-8378. For general information, consult the following sources:

Miller Analogies Test
Harcourt Assessment, Inc.
Miller Analogies Test
PSE Customer Relations—MAT
19500 Bulverde Road
San Antonio, Texas 78259
Telephone: 1-800-622-3231 or 210-339-8710
Fax: 1-888-211-8276 or 210-339-8711
Email: MATscoring.services@harcourt.com
Web: www.milleranalogies.com
Transcripts

The University of Georgia requires official transcripts from all college coursework sustained. .Retrieve and print the Transcript Request Form available in the "Downloadable Forms" section of the online application. Two sets of transcripts are required. from each and all institutions should be sent in a sealed envelope to:

The University of Georgia
Graduate Admissions
Graduate School
320 E. Clayton Street
Suite 400
Athens, GA 30602-4401
3. References

The applicant is required to secure three (3) recommendations to UGA. Presently, those individuals familiar with the applicant's professional and/or academic work can submit their recommendations either electronically or by hard copy using “downloadable forms.” See the instructions at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/admissions/requirements.html for the process of the online recommendation process because the applicant is required to do some set-up work.

Hard copies of the Recommendation Forms are also available in the on-line application packet in the Downloadable Forms section and at the Graduate School website, as a downloadable file with the entire application packet.

In either case, electronic or “hard” downloadable forms, applicants are instructed to fill out the top portion of the Recommendation Form completely, sign the Recommendation Form, complete the Graduate Coordinator’s name and address portion of the Recommendation Form, and ask those who are providing letters to attach the Recommendation Form to the detailed letter of recommendation.

If your references are submitting “hard copies” of the Recommendation Forms, the Letters of Recommendation are to be returned by the referee directly to the academic department. The three Recommendation Forms and the three letters of recommendation are to be mailed to

Degree Program Specialist
University of Georgia
Department of Lifelong Education, Administration, and Policy
850 College Station Road
315 River's Crossing
Athens, GA 30602
Note that no application can be considered until all materials are received.
Applicants can check on the status of their application and the receipt of documents by using the tracking feature available through Graduate Admissions.

Page Last Updated on November 23, 2009