Education Specialist Degrees in Georgia
Education Specialist Degrees in Georgia
Education has essentially always been a priority in the United States. Officials handle the need for improved education in different ways, but in every case, it comes back to you—the teacher.
What does this mean for you? As a teacher, you must always be learning new methods for reaching your students as well as ways to improve your techniques to gain better results. Ongoing teacher education is often considered one of the most effective ways to reach these goals. With Ed.S programs in Georgia, you can get specialized training in your teaching subject and up-to-date on the most current research affecting your area of study.
Role of Educators With an Ed.S Degree in Georgia
If you’re ready to take your teaching skills and career to the next level, contact schools below to find out how education specialist programs can put you on the right path.
While teachers often bear the brunt of the pressure to create better student outcomes, Georgia is one of many states that has started to use more evidence-based methods for assessing teacher performance. A new evaluation system puts less stress on teachers to teach to the test; it also makes test scores a much smaller part of teacher and administrator assessments (Education Dive, 2016).
In turn, legislators are looking for ways to make students better prepared for the future, whether they choose college or the workforce. This has led to a decrease in standardized testing as legislators focus more on the efficiency and effectiveness of Georgia teachers (Education Week, 2016). The training you get in an education specialist program can help you get more out of each hour you spend in the classroom, which benefits your students, you, and the state of Georgia as a whole.
Becoming an educational specialist can change the future of your career. Contact schools below to start comparing your program options.
Getting Your Educational Specialist Degree in Georgia
Before you start selecting schools and changing your schedule, it’s important to be sure that an education specialist degree is the right choice for you and that you meet the admissions requirements for this type of program.
This degree is a Master’s-level certificate, which means that you must already have a Master’s degree in education. If you only have a Bachelor’s degree, you may look into programs that combine a Master’s degree and education specialist degree. However, the vast majority only accept those who already have Master’s degrees.
Program lengths differ from school to school, but most allow you to graduate with between 30 and 39 credits. Since this program tends to attract working teachers, you may find that it is more flexible than other types of degrees. Many courses can be completed online, with some Georgia schools offering programs that are entirely online and other schools offering blended programs.
Keep in mind, however, that practical experience is required. This may require you to take one or two semesters off of your regular teaching job to complete an internship, principalship, or classroom practicum.
Selecting the proper specialty for your career goals is crucial. Below, find a list of some of the education specialist options that are available at Georgia colleges and universities:
- Adult Education
- Art Education
- Special Education
- Social Studies Education
- Music Education
- Professional School Counseling
- Middle Grades Education
- Mathematics Education (at various grade levels)
- Learning Design and Technology
- Educational Psychology
- Educational Administration and Policy
Since this is such a highly specialized degree, there may seem to be some overlap between different options, such as educational psychology and professional school counseling. You can select the right program for your career by looking at the standard curriculum for each option. By exploring the courses you are required to take in each specialty, it may be easier to choose a degree that fits in with your learning needs.
The courses below are commonly required in a learning design and technology program:
- Instructional Design
- Educational Computing Applications
- Organization of Information
- Information Literacy
- Supporting Literacy Through School Libraries
You may be trying to transition out of classroom teaching, in which case you would likely not choose a degree that concentrates on a classroom subject. Instead, you may look into options like educational leadership or school counseling.
The curriculum below is an example of what you might expect from an educational counseling program:
- Seminar in School Counseling
- Counseling Supervision
- Psychodiagnosis
- Professional Ethics
- Expressive Arts
- Play Media in Counseling
- Applied Research Project
As you navigate through your curriculum and work alongside your professional peers, you may add a whole new set of skills to your professional repertoire. In fact, you may start applying your new knowledge and techniques while you are still working as a teacher. As a teacher, you have already declared to your school and your community that you value education.
Continuing your education and making it a priority to become the best possible teaching professional you can be shows people in your community that you stand behind your words and that you put your students first.
Working With an Education Specialist Degree in Georgia
Your next step depends on what you want to do with your career. If you simply want to continue as a classroom teacher, your regular teaching license should suffice for the next stage of your career. However, if you are transitioning to school counseling, administration, special education, or an entirely different area from your current area of practice, you may need to upgrade your license or add endorsements through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
As education continues to be the focus of legislation and research, the demand for teachers with post-graduate training may increase. Check the list below for common career paths, their median salary in Georgia, and expected job growth through 2026:
- School administrator: 15 expected growth; 730 annual job openings, $92,340 median salary (careeronestop.org, 2018)
- Instructional coordinator: 12 percent expected growth; 700 annual job openings; $64,810 median salary (careeronestop.org, 2018)
- Elementary teacher: 15 percent expected growth; 4,630 annual openings; $55,000 median salary (careeronestop.org, 2018)
- School Counselor: 19 percent expected growth; 1,230 annual openings; $54,170 median salary (careeronestop.org, 2018)
With the exception of elementary school teacher, all of the above positions usually require a master’s degree. If you have also have an Ed.S qualification, you can reasonably expect to merit a higher salary and be more attractive to potential employers.
In the education system, you have the chance to change hundreds of students’ lives through your work. Explore specialist education degrees in GA to find out how you can make the most of your skills and gifts.
