Education Specialist Degrees in Washington
From three-year-olds learning the alphabet to high school seniors taking college prep courses, the education industry of Washington serves all students and aims to meet their unique needs. However, with so many different factors influencing a student’s success or struggles in the classroom, it is up to each classroom teacher to ensure that students get the personalized help they need.
The more you learn about current research in your subject area and age level, the more effectively you may be able to prepare students for their futures. An education specialist degree provides extensive insight into an area of study to help teachers better serve their students.
Role of Educators With an Ed.S Degree in Washington
You may pursue many different career paths with an advanced teaching degree, from classroom teaching to school psychology. Find out which degree option is right for you by contacting the schools below.
Washington is the ideal place to invest in education and work toward education equality for students. Washington is often cited as a model for early education in other states, including Rhode Island (Providence Journal, 2016). Washington successfully revamped its early childhood education program by creating a 10-year plan, establishing a new department, and setting aside $100 million for this field.
The state of Washington is constantly working toward the strengthening of its education system. Each year, the state selects a recipient for the Innovations in Education Award (Bothell Reporter, 2016). This award seeks to reward those who make education more accessible through creativity, innovation, and collaboration.
There is tons of research showing how students learn, how they can become productive adults, and how teachers can help them thrive. Learn how to apply this information to your classroom with education specialist degree WA programs.
Getting Your Educational Specialist Degree in Washington
When you start to learn more about the schools that offer this program in Washington, there are many ways to find a program that is well-suited to your needs and previous education. A joint program may be ideal for you if you have only completed a Bachelor’s degree. This 60-to-70 credit program combines graduate-level coursework with education specialist coursework. Conventional programs may have more specialty options. This option is ideal for Master’s degree graduates.
There tends to be a fair amount of flexibility in Ed.S degree programs. Courses in this program may be available online or in a blended format. Blended courses primarily include online coursework and only require a handful of in-person classes during the semester.
The options available to you depend on what you want to study. Some of the areas of concentration available in Washington are listed here:
- School Psychology
- Educational Leadership and Administration
- Special Education
- Language and Literacy
As you look into courses and curricular requirements, you may see that there are huge differences between different programs. These programs are so highly specialized that they rarely touch on other subjects, allowing students to focus on building the skills that are useful in their classrooms.
If you want to go into school psychology and become a licensed school psychologist, you may take courses like:
- Human Learning and Educational Practice
- Special Populations
- School Learning and Behavioral Problems
- Special Education Law
- Educational Implications of Personality Theory
- Multicultural Issues in School Psychology
- School Psychological Assessment
If you choose instead to go into language and literacy, you should learn how to effectively teach reading and reading comprehension to students of different grade levels and learning needs. Required courses include:
- Research and Applications of Learning Theories
- Teaching Diverse Learners
- Understanding Research Methods
- Designing and Writing Research
- Issues and Trends in Literacy Research
- Design and Delivery of Literacy Curriculum
You may wonder how you’re going to pay for this degree, particularly if you still have student loans from your Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree. Consult with the principal or administrator at your school. Quite a few districts have money set aside for teacher training. If you can prove that your education specialist degree can directly benefit the district, you may be able to have some or all of your tuition paid for by your school district.
As you become a more skilled educator, you may see the effects on other teachers, your students, and your teaching community. Every time a teacher decides to advance their education, they contribute to higher standards and teacher expectations within the community as a whole. This empowers teachers to aim for evidence-based goals with effective teaching techniques and theories. Your students may learn more, retain more, and even enjoy school more.
Working With an Education Specialist Degree in Washington
In Washington, teacher licensing is regulated by the State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Keep your teaching license active the entire time you’re a student. By the time you graduate, you should already know whether or not you need additional licensure for your chosen area of practice. If you do, you can submit your application before graduation and register for the necessary tests and assessments for your specialty.
Whether you change career paths or remain in the same one, your education may have a positive effect on your job outlook. Listed below are some common job titles with expected job growth through 2022 and the average Washington salary:
- School administrator: 18% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $
108,310 average salary (BLS,2016 ) - Instructional coordinator: 21% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $
64,100 average salary (BLS,2016 ) - Secondary school teacher: 14% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $
62,370 average salary (BLS,2016 )
Networking is crucial for all teachers, but it may be even more essential for you. You may want to join general groups like the Washington Teachers Association and the Washington Education Association, in addition to more specialized groups for each subject area.
Whatever you want to do with your education career, becoming an education specialist may help you get there. Find out more now by contacting Ed.S programs below.
