Education Specialist Degrees in California
At one point in history, teachers kept one class of students all day long, teaching them every subject covered at their grade level. Over the years, education has become much more specialized. To be considered a highly qualified candidate in a specific subject area, the No Child Left Behind Act requires you to have post-secondary training in your subject area.
This has given rise to new credentials and areas of study. The Ed.S is an advanced certification that goes beyond a Master’s degree and hones in on skills and theories that are important to each area of study. Your Master’s degree and classroom teaching experience may help you take this step and become a leader in your teaching community.
Role of Educators With an Ed.S Degree in California
As a teacher, you know that the face of California education is constantly evolving. Be part of the future of education—request information from Ed.S programs below.
Depending on the age range you teach or the subject you teach, you may find that demand for experts in your field is increasing rapidly. More and more schools are starting to prioritize the hiring of teachers who are experts in specific fields, rather than those who have broadly applicable experience in a variety of teaching areas. An education specialist degree may give you an edge in this environment.
For example, California has an above average percentage of English language learners. In fact, the percentage of people who speak a language other than English at home is over two times higher than the national average in California (US Census Bureau, 2016). The Multilingual Education Act would make multilingual education available to all ELL students in California, based on the parents’ wishes (LA School Report, 2016). This act would likely increase the demand for bilingual teachers and those with high-level training in bilingual education and ELL techniques.
The training you receive at a post-Master’s program may help you solve challenging dilemmas in California. California has a huge truancy crisis, with between 230,000 and 250,000 elementary school students chronically absent every year (Education Dive, 2016).
This is the time to advance your knowledge and your career possibilities. Get more information from education specialist programs below.
Getting Your Educational Specialist Degree in California
Now that you’re considering an education specialist degree, it’s time to find out what this degree entails, what you can study, and what you should expect from your time in an Ed.S program. Since California is such a large state, there are numerous options for those want to earn this degree. Generally, this is not the time to switch your area of focus or make a significant deviation from your previous teaching experience.
These programs are intended for those who already have Master’s-level training in their area of study, so you should already be well-versed in your subject matter and be ready to jump into high-level courses.
Listed below, find some of the education specialist options in California:
- Administrative Services
- Autism
- Special Education
- School Psychology
- Educational Technology
- Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
- Educational Leadership
One of the prime benefits of furthering your education at this level is the narrow focus of an education specialist degree. Rather than spending semesters on general teaching theories and background information, you begin immediately with courses that make use of your graduate education and classroom experience. As a result, curricular requirements differ quite a bit from specialty to specialty.
Listed below are courses that are commonly required in autism education specialist programs:
- Behavior Management Techniques
- Autism Mentoring
- Health Education
- Special Education Program Management
- Counseling in Special Education
- Elementary Reading and Language Arts
- Curriculum and Instruction Adaptations
Your training should provide you with skills that are directly applicable to the population you want to teach, particularly if you plan on working with an underserved or minority population.
See the list below to find some courses that are commonly required for Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Ed.S students:
- Research in ASL-English Bilingual Education
- Teaching English Language Learning Students
- Inclusive Education Practices
- Equitable Educational Research Practice
- Innovative Instructional Practices
It’s clear that this program can focus on a wide number of specialties and areas of study. You may find that credit requirements vary, both between schools and between specialties. Across California, most programs require between 30 and 42 credits. This includes a number of theory and technique courses, as well as student teaching and fieldwork. The amount and type of fieldwork required is based on your area of specialty.
If you are learning about curriculum and instruction in a certain subject area, you may simply spend one or two semesters in a classroom teaching that subject. If you branch out into educational leadership, learning technology, or instructional adaptations, your fieldwork may take you outside the classroom.
Working With an Education Specialist Degree in California
Upon earning your education specialist degree, CA may require you to get a new credential or license before you can further your career. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing awards Administrative Services Credentials, which may include working as a principal or school district administrator. You may need to seek Pupil Personnel Services Credentials if you want to work outside your current role as a classroom teacher.
By the time you graduate, you should ideally have a solid idea of your intended career path and how you can use your degree.
Look at the list below to learn about some possible career paths, potential job growth through 2022, and the statewide average salary:
- School counselor: 12% expected job growth; $58,400 average salary (O*Net, 2016)
- Instructional coordinator: 14% expected job growth; $73,300 average salary (O*Net, 2016)
- School administrator: 7% expected job growth; $106,000 average salary (O*Net, 2016)
Teachers are some of the most important professionals in society. The time you put into your students can be seen for years to come. Learn more about taking the next step in your education by contacting Ed.S programs listed below.
