Education Specialist Degrees in South Carolina
Throughout your teaching career, you may want to change classrooms, subject areas, grade levels, or even career paths. Luckily, education is a flexible, diverse field that offers plenty of opportunities for growth. With the right education, you may become more confident in your area of teaching, explore options in curriculum development and leadership, or expand your teaching license to cover other subjects.
An education specialist degree is the ideal degree for a Master’s degree graduate who wants to build their teaching abilities without focusing extensively on designing and interpreting research. South Carolina education programs offer many different training options.
Role of Educators With an Ed.S Degree in South Carolina
Ed.S programs in South Carolina help you reach your own professional goals while benefiting the teaching field. Develop an educational plan that works for you by contacting South Carolina programs to learn more.
An Ed.S degree is beneficial in many ways, particularly in specific fields. Statistics indicate that more and more South Carolina teachers are leaving the state entirely, leaving South Carolina with a teaching shortage (Berkeley Observer, 2016). In particular, the teacher shortage is expected to impact art, business, math, science, social studies, special education, and Spanish.
However, advanced education can help you in any specialty. The state hopes to fill current and upcoming teacher vacancies through events like the South Carolina Teacher Expo (Count On 2, 2016). South Carolina lost 5,300 teachers between the 2014-2015 school year and the 2015-2016 school year.
Now that you see how an Ed.S program can be an advantage to your industry, get in touch with South Carolina education specialist programs to learn more.
Getting Your Educational Specialist Degree in South Carolina
You may have come across education specialist programs while looking into ways to further your graduate-level education. This degree option was developed in response to a need for advanced degrees that focused on teaching practice, rather than research or postsecondary teacher instruction.
While you may use your education specialist degree to go into either of these fields, there are many more opportunities available for those who want to take on more teaching responsibilities, go into school administration, or develop curriculum materials.
Although specific credit requirements vary between areas of specialty, the average South Carolina program requires between 30 and 42 credits beyond your Master’s degree. These requirements include classroom courses, which you may be able to complete online, and practical experience in relevant work settings.
To get started, start exploring program options near you. Some areas of study available in South Carolina Ed.S programs include:
- Educational Leadership
- School Counseling
- Educational Administration
- Media Specialist
- Middle Level Education
To earn an educational specialist degree, you must have complex, applicable knowledge in your chosen concentration. That’s why the courses required at this level tend to be unique to each specialty.
Below, find some of the courses that are typically required for educational leadership students:
- School Building Planning
- School Business Management
- Curriculum Implementation and Management
- Advanced Methods of Instruction Supervision
- Policy Formulation and Analysis
- Optimizing Educational Operations
Some use this opportunity to move into a school psychologist or school counselor role. To succeed in this area, you need to get counseling experience with a variety of ages and in various schools.
Classes you may take to become a skilled counselor include:
- Communication Skills in Counseling
- Cross-Cultural Counseling
- Theories of Counseling
- Critical Issues in School Counseling
- Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling
- Techniques of Counseling
- Advanced Techniques in School Counseling
The institution you attend decides how much practical experience you need to get as a student. If you go into educational leadership, you may complete an internship or principalship with a local administrator. If you choose to focus on an area of classroom teaching, you may observe experienced teachers and be a student teacher. Counseling students must complete a specific amount of supervised counseling hours.
Regardless of which specialty you decide on, furthering your education can yield a huge variety of benefits. You may use your new skills to train new teachers, develop teaching materials, or serve on advisory boards. In addition, you may qualify for leadership positions in local groups and agencies.
Working With an Education Specialist Degree in South Carolina
Ed.S programs may create positive economic benefits for you. With an advanced degree, you may qualify for promotions, pay raises, or entirely new career paths.
Look at some employment options below to compare average salary information and anticipated job growth through 2022:
- School administrator: 8% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $
average salary (BLS, 2016 ) - Instructional coordinator: 13% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $
55,720 average salary (BLS,2016 ) - Elementary school teacher: 15% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $
48,480 average salary (BLS,2016 )
If your new position requires a separate teaching license or endorsement, you may start that process ahead of time through the South Carolina Department of Education. This process typically involves passing a new test in your area of practice.
A number of professional organizations in South Carolina aim to unite and empower education professionals. If you are not already involved in these groups, you may want to look into them after becoming an education specialist. The insight and advice you can provide to new teachers is invaluable. Local groups include the South Carolina Education Association and the South Carolina Association of Teacher Educators.
As you learn an education specialist degree, SC schools can show you how to utilize your skills for the benefit of your students. To explore this opportunity now, contact South Carolina programs below.
