Specialist in Education

The Specialist in Education, also referred to as Educational Specialist (EdS or SEd), is a post-master’s terminal professional degree offered by the graduate programs in Education: Teaching and Learning and Educational Studies. An EdS is a postgraduate degree unique to the field of education, which is considered more advanced than a master’s degree, but generally requires less coursework than a PhD or EdD. For professionals who already have a master’s degree, an EdS is a great way to reach the next level without the time or cost required for most doctoral degrees. They generally require between 30 and 65 graduate credit hours of coursework (depending on the specialty and school) and can often be completed in a little over a year (or up to two years) after earning the master’s degree. Most doctorate programs will accept some transfer credits from an educational specialist degree program if an individual decides he or she would like to pursue a doctoral degree. Thirty graduate hours earned in the completion of a master’s degree may be counted toward the completion of the EdS degree. Eighty percent of the remaining post-master’s hours required for the degree must be taken while enrolled as an EdS student at this university. 

There are two EdS degrees here at OSU; one in Education: Teaching and Learning and the other in Educational Studies.  

1. Education: Teaching and Learning EdS - An educational specialist is a school-based educator with the depth of theoretical knowledge and wisdom of practice in a defined specialization to provide leadership within a school district, to help shape policy, to design and direct programs, to support and evaluate teaching and learning, to mentor early career educators, and to translate relevant research and theory into sound practice. Students focus their curriculum on one of eight specializations. Students complete a 30 hour master’s program prior to admission into the EdS and complete 38 additional post-master’s hours. 


2. Educational Studies EdS - The Educational Specialist (EdS) program in school psychology trains students to provide comprehensive psychological services in schools, particularly urban schools, within an ecological problem-solving framework. The majority of the graduates of the EdS school psychology program are employed by school districts as school psychologists. To complete the EdS degree, students are expected to maintain two years of full-time enrollment (hat may include summers) and to successfully complete one year of internship. All EdS students will obtain the Master of Arts degree after their first year (33 semester hours). The EdS degree must be at least 38 post-master’s semester hours, for a total of 71 semester hours. Successful completion of the internship is required to obtain licensure from the Ohio Department of Education. 

The specific focus of the programs and requirements for admission vary, so consult the respective programs for additional information. The Summary of Master’s Degree Graduation Requirements (Section 6.6) generally pertains to EdS programs.