Education (Educational Specialist)

The Education Specialist degree is a post-Master’s program designed to prepare in-service teachers and educational leaders to assume greater professional roles in their buildings and/or in administration and supervision. It is a degree for students wishing to pursue a post-Master’s experience short of a doctorate. The emphasis is on applied learning and preparation for executive leadership assignments.

The Education Specialist at the University of Michigan-Flint is a 30-credit cohort-structured degree program, offered in a dual modality of online and on-campus coursework. It features two concentrations, Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Leadership, both emphasizing field-based learning experiences in a K-12 or post-secondary environment. A mentorship with a recognized school leader is required.

Candidates for the program include:

Teachers wishing to enhance their background skills in curriculum in order to be more effective in the classroom or to undertake building-level curriculum leadership assignments.
Teachers who aspire to be curriculum directors at the K-12 level.
Administrators at the building level interested in a Central Office position in human relations, finance, or curriculum or a superintendency.
Individuals with the ultimate goal of a doctoral degree.

The program consists of four components. The first is a set of core courses totaling 12 credits. The second consists of 9 credits of coursework in either Curriculum or Educational Leadership. The third component is a 6-credit field experience tailored to the needs of the individual student, ranging from an internship in an educational facility to a project study based on the needs of a building or a district priority. The fourth and final component is a capstone seminar bringing together both groups of students.

The program is typically completed in 18 months, with two courses per semester, beginning in the Fall and culminating with the final practicum and capstone course Winter semester of the next academic year. The on-campus component involves full-day sessions one Saturday each month for the duration of the program; the remaining content is delivered online. An evening orientation program is required prior to the first semester.

Admission Requirements

Those wishing to enroll must apply for graduate admission. Application deadlines and other information pertinent to the application process are posted on the Office of Graduate Programs website, www.umflint.edu/graduateprograms.

Requirements are:

A MA or MS degree in an education-related program from an accredited institution.
A minimum overall graduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent.
At least three years of experience at an educational institution.

Application Process

Applicants must submit the following to be considered for admission:

A completed application for graduate admission with paid application fee.
Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from the institutions granting bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
A current resume identifying training, experience and professional accomplishments.
Three letters of recommendation addressing the candidate’s potential for success in the program, including at least one from a professor of a class taken at the graduate level.
A letter of intent of at least 1000 words describing the candidate’s reason for seeking admission.
Educational Leader Evaluation completed by candidate’s supervisor.

Admission decisions are made by the program director in consultation with the program faculty.