Educational Specialist

To inquire about this program:
Kay Lewis| 800.325.0900, ext. 7068 | kay.lewis@lmunet.edu
Veronika Millard| 800.325.0900, ext. 7057 | veronika.millard@lmunet.edu

Program Information

The Educational Specialist degree program is a 30-semester hour program designed to extend and expand the student's level of professional competence beyond that attained through the master's level program, to bring the student up to date on matters relevant to the field of specialization, to enable the student to read and understand research in the field of specialization, to apply relevant research findings to professional activities, to stimulate the student to assume a leadership role in the specialty, and to prepare the student in that role. Students may transfer in a maximum of six (6) credit hours toward degree requirements.

Programs are available in the following:

• Curriculum and Instruction
• Instructional Leadership
• Educational Leadership

Applicants must hold a master's degree from an accredited institution.

*The Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, and Instructional Leadership concentrations are hybrid design programs.

Program Design

Lincoln Memorial University offers EdS classes at the following extended campus sites:

Kingsport, TN (Kingsport Center for Higher Education)
Knoxville, TN (Cedar Bluff)
Harrogate, TN (on-campus program, 55 miles north of Knoxville)
Chattanooga, TN (Chattanooga State Community College location, at: 4501 Amnicola Hwy Chattanooga, TN 37406)

Saturday Class Meetings

Class EdS Meeting Dates for the Fall 2018 Cohort: Classes meet at each site 6 Saturdays during each semester. Additionally, there are 4 designated online dates that are listed in bold.

There are two majors available in the Ed.S. Program: Instructional Leadership (IL) or Curriculum and Instruction (CI). These areas are designated primarily for practitioners in K-12 schools. The licensure track is available for the IL major for Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia educators. This track demands specific courses and activities which are not required for the CI major. In addition, the School Leaders Licensure Assessment Test is required for Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina students, seeking administrator licensure. 

Research Track Option:

Within each of the three Program Concentrations beginning with the 2018-2019 Cohort there is now offered a Research Track Option (RTO). The RTO is designed for the candidate contemplating further studies with the ultimate goal being the earning of a terminal degree, EdD. The RTO model is structured within the CI, EL, and IL concentrations. When registered in the RTO, candidates will follow the same core courses, but will substitute EDUC 670 – Research I for the corresponding Clinical Course and will substitute EDUC 671 - Research II for the EDUC 665 Action Research Course and will substitute EDUC 672 – Research III for the corresponding Clinical Practice Courses.

Upon successful completion of the RTO, each candidate will be prepared to enter into the scholastic realm of any Doctoral program with a base of knowledge and understanding by developing a solid hypothesis supported by multiple reviews of scholarly journals, articles, abstracts and other relevant literature, culminating in a rigorous survey of the methodologies in place in all dissertations and research publications.

For the 2018-2019 Cohort enrolling in the RTO, the classes will meet on the Harrogate and Cedar Bluff campuses only. Prospective Candidates enrolling on these two campuses will take the core courses at the same campus.

As you review the application packet, every candidate will find that Lincoln Memorial University will provide everyone a quality within our programs that maximizes each person’s potential to become a truly inspirational educator who is an inspiration to future generations.

Course Descriptions

EDUC 670 – Research I – Reading and Designing Education Research within Clinical Application - 3 credit hours

This course focuses on the identification of a research topic related to educational practice. The topic is explored in the literature, resulting in the design of a research proposal. The application focuses toward clinical experience in collecting, analyzing and utilizing data to inform practice, instruction, and assessment as applied to the development of a comprehensive research statement.

EDUC 671 – Research II – Writing Literature Review and Clinical Application - 3 credit hours

This class requires a thorough examination of literature related to an identified problem or topic, resulting in a written review formatted and documented according to the APA Manual, 6^th Edition. The clinical practice is focused on identifying, analyzing, and writing a series of literature reviews aligned with relevant research topics.

EDUC 672 – Research Application III - Methodology and Clinical Application - 3 credit hours

This course completes the research cycle culminating in a scholarly project designed to improve educational practice. The clinical application examines research methodologies and basic statistical approaches. Research skills including but not limited to information retrieval, critical evaluation, report organization, and statistical methodology are developed and reflected in formal research proposals.

Go to the Carter and Moyers School of Education home page.