缅因大学

Education Specialist (Ed.S.) programs in educational leadership at the University of Maine are designed for educators interested in building skills for effective school leadership and administration. The master’s degree is for those just beginning graduate study, while the Ed.S. is a terminal degree program that offers opportunities beyond the master’s level. Students in the Ed.S. program will be positioned to apply for a variety of school district-level leadership and director positions. While it does not require a dissertation, the Ed.S. degree program can help develop research skills.

Whether you decide to undertake our programs as part of a cohort or design your own course of study with a faculty advisor, our students are part of a learning community in which both professors and students construct the experience together. Coursework includes simulation, reflective journals, observation and feedback in practice, and examination of group dynamics, as well as conventional university learning activities, all sequenced to build leadership skills. All coursework is aligned with Maine Department of Education competency areas for leadership certification.

Careers in educational leadership

Ed.S. programs at the University of Maine work as teacher leaders, assistant principals, principals, special education directors, and curriculum coordinators. In addition, our graduates are prepared to work for nonprofit and government agencies specializing in education policy.

Program delivery
These programs are offered in an online, low-residency format, meaning most courses are taught through video conferencing one evening per week, with 2-3 in-person Saturday meetings each semester. The coursework is designed to meet the needs of working professional educators.

The Ed.S. requires an additional 30 credit hours for those with a master’s in educational leadership (39-45 hours for those with a master’s degree in a related field). We offer two program options:

• The educational leadership cohort, where a group of students take all their classes together while working toward their degrees, allows you to learn from your peers and professors in a collaborative environment.
• The individually designed option also allows for collaborative learning, but students enroll in a sequence of courses agreed upon with an adviser.