Mar 29, 2024  
2016-2017 Graduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Educational Leadership, Ed.S.


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The primary goals of the Ed.S. degree are increasing teaching expertise and acquiring professional proficiency in an area. In most education settings, the person with an Ed.S. is viewed as a content specialist who can also teach that content in various settings. The Ed.S. degree is also designed to prepare undergraduate, post-secondary teachers, especially those who will be employed in junior or community colleges as well as small private and state colleges.

In general, all advanced M.Ed. and Ed.S. programs are for candidates who have already attained a teaching license. However, candidates whose career paths do not require a teaching license may be considered for the Ed.S. and certificate programs based on their prior experience in the field of education. Examples include extensive experience in higher education, private education or educational corporations or nonprofits.

Lipscomb University’s Ed.S. programs are structured around a core of advanced classes required of all Ed.S. candidates and a concentration in a specified content area. The core of the Ed.S. programs consists of 15 hours of course work in leadership and an introduction to educational research. The remaining courses in each program follow a modified cohort model specific to each content area.

Each Ed.S. candidate is expected to complete two education specialist project courses (six hours) as part of the concentration. These courses, in conjunction with the Ed.S. components in the emphasis courses, lead to the completion of a professional learning project in one’s emphasis that will be delivered in an e-format to both an academic (internal) and professional (external) audience at the conclusion of the degree.

Ed.S. Courses for Transfer into Ed.D. at Lipscomb

The Ed.D. program at Lipscomb allows up to 15 hours of Ed.S. course work (6000 level) to transfer into the program if those hours equate to the content of 15 “transfer eligible” course hours. (See the Ed.D. program description for courses considered “transfer eligible.”) Candidates for the Ed.D. degree at Lipscomb may transfer up to 15 hours (12 hours of the Ed.S. core and up to three hours in the emphasis as indicated from these programs: Instructional Coaching, Educational Leadership, English Language Learning, and Reading Specialty). Courses that will transfer from the Lipscomb Ed.S. programs into the Ed.D. program are marked below with this notation: EDD.

Educational Leadership (36 hours)


The Ed.S. in Educational Leadership is tailored to prepare high caliber candidates to become successful educational leaders at the school, district or state level. Program participants will follow innovative strands of leadership competencies on their way to earning the Education Specialist degree and a Tennessee Instructional Leadership License. A consistent theme of ethical leadership will be woven into all aspects of the educational leadership program along with an emphasis in leading student achievement for all students.

Leadership strands include:

  • Personal and ethical leadership
  • Visionary leadership
  • Learning focused leadership
  • Organizational leadership

Each candidate will complete a professional learning project in a emphasis area of his or her choosing in conjunction with an advisor. This project is completed throughout the program and will be delivered to both academic and professional audiences at the conclusion of the degree.

Each strand is built upon researched, best practice leadership competencies which participants will master and be able to proficiently apply in the field. These competencies will be learned and practiced through an innovative field experience where participants will work directly with a mentor/coach throughout the entire program.

A passing score on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (Praxis 6011) for Tennessee licensure is a requirement for completion of this program.

Course Requirements


All Ed.S. candidates take the following two courses as non-credit, no-charge, and pass/fail, one during their first semester and one during the semester in which they graduate:

EMPHASIS Educational Leadership


ED.S. CORE + 21 hours

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