Lifelong Education Administration and Policy

Adult Education

Graduate Handbook

Portfolio and Final Oral Examination for

Specialist of Education Degree (Ed. S.)

Purpose: The Final Examination is based on a student-prepared portfolio in which students compile and summarize their learning experiences in the program.

Committee: The student's major professor and two other faculty members. These two committee members can come from any department in the university. The student selects these committee members in consultation with the major professor.

Scheduling the Examination: The student is responsible for scheduling the date and time for a one-hour oral examination focusing on their portfolios. The portfolio must be given to the committee members at least two weeks prior to the scheduled meeting. At the end of the meeting, the committee will ask the student for evaluative feedback on the program. This will include the student's assessment of the effectiveness of coursework in addressing diversity issues.

Components of the Portfolio:

Title page: Include your name as well as the date and time of the examination.
Resume: Enclose an updated version of your resume.
Program of study: This is an official Graduate School form which lists the courses included in the individual student's program. It must be reviewed and approved by your major professor prior to submission to the Graduate School. A copy should be included for the committee's review.
Abstracts: Five to seven one-page abstracts that identify and describe significant learning projects, written work assignments, or other activities that have helped to fulfill your personal and professional learning objectives. A single copy of each document on which the abstracts are based should be brought to the examination for the committee's possible review.
An annotated bibliography of the ten most significant works that you have read during your Ed. S. program. Each annotation should argue for the significance of the work and critically evaluate it. Each annotation should be no more than 250 words.
A written statement that describes your professional goals.