Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership
Hone your leadership skills
Prepare to become a district superintendent ready to direct change, promote diversity and encourage student achievement with the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Educational Leadership.
You may be a seasoned educator and have experience developing lesson plans and interacting with students and their guardians. Now you seek to mentor and support others by stepping into a director or administrative position. The University of Idaho’s program outlines a path toward your goal.
Expanding from your master’s degree, the Ed.S. in Educational Leadership aligns with state competencies for school principals and superintendents. Once enrolled, you’ll hone your leadership mindset and acquire essential skills for enacting and influencing policy, developing new initiatives and shepherding schools and their communities toward inclusivity, academic success and a love of learning.
We’re a statewide leader of educational leadership: for 30 years, graduates from the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences have shaped classrooms and school districts across the state of Idaho.
Fast Facts
- Prepare to become a district superintendent, program administrator or classroom educator.
- Earn a total of 60 credit hours between your Ed.S. and master’s degrees. The program involves a two-semester internship, and no thesis is required.
- Completing the Ed.S. degree in Educational Leadership makes you eligible to sit for the Standard Administrative Certificate with a principal, special education director and superintendent endorsement.
- Approved by the state of Idaho and CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation).
- Available online, on campus or in a mix of formats.
- On-campus courses are held in Boise and Coeur d’Alene.
- Rolling admissions mean you can apply for the next available semester at any time.
About the program
You’ll learn to contribute to the conversation around educational leadership from local to national levels. The program’s curriculum touches on key theories, ethics and state standards, plus strategies for creating long-term plans and strengthening relationships with the surrounding neighborhood, town or city. Become a more culturally knowledgeable educator who’s ready to handle staff or community disputes, plan and maintain new facilities and manage finances in relation to resources and productivity. Explore ideas rooted in psychology and sociology, discover your leadership style and gain a clear understanding of what schools and districts expect of their superintendent.
The Educational Leadership Program leverages the importance of hands-on learning for reinforcing new concepts. You’ll do this through an internship, where you’ll observe and learn from a practicing administrator in an elementary or secondary school or district office.
Are you an educator in a K–12 school adamant about making a difference? Review all admission requirements today before completing your application.