Curriculum and Instruction, Ed.S.

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The Education Specialist degree prepares students to become teacher leaders, curriculum specialists, and/or instructional coaches in K-12 schools and districts. This degree can also prepare individuals for leadership roles and work at community colleges, museums, foundations, and other for- and non-profit organizations. The program is personalized and flexible. Advisors meet with students to design a program of study that complements students’ professional goals.

Transfer Credits

A maximum of 6 credit hours can be transferred into the program. Only graduate-level courses that meet a number of conditions (e.g., the course is equivalent in rigor and focus to a course offered in the program of study, the student earned a grade of B- or higher, and the course was successfully completed less than 5 years from the date of admission to the program) are eligible for transfer.

Program Requirements

The Ed.S. program is a planned 30-credit (minimum) post-master’s degree in which candidates are expected to attain an understanding of major issues in professional education and the ability to integrate and apply what they have learned in an educational context. Coursework selections are based upon a student’s prior experiences and desired educational outcomes. Students are required to take seven courses in curriculum and instruction. Three of these courses are required. Four additional courses must be selected from the four pillars: Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Students have the option to choose courses of interest for the three electives.

Required Courses: 21 credits

Advisors assist students in selecting each of the courses within the four pillars: Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as well as the elective courses.

Students are required to take the following courses:

EDIS 7025 - Teachers as Leaders Credits: 3
EDIS 7035 - Professional Knowledge Credits: 3
EDIS 7812 - Educational Specialist Professional Portfolio Credits: 3

Elective Courses: 9 credits

Students are required to take three electives to fulfill the required 30 credit hours for this certificate. The elective courses can be selected from the following areas based on the student’s interests and professional goals: Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Innovation, English as a Second Language, Gifted Education, Instructional Technology, Literacy, and Social and Emotional Learning.

Culminating Experience

Ed.S. students admitted to the program prior to the spring of 2022 must complete a culminating project in the final semester of their coursework as an independent study or as part of their final course experience. Students beginning the program in spring 2022 or after will complete the culminating project within the final course:

EDIS 7812 - Educational Specialist Professional Portfolio Credits: 3

Public Professional Licensure Disclosure

As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement, the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)).

Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).