Invest in your future while safeguarding theirs.

Teachers invest their lives in the education of their students. Now, it’s time for you to invest in yourself. Our Education Specialist Certification program gives you the ability to further develop your career with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue positions of leadership in your school or throughout your district. Online classes mean you can continue working and fit in coursework when you have time, and our Ed.S. Certification program’s accreditation means the education specialist certificate you receive will be respected – and sought after by employers. We offer six eight-week enrollment periods throughout the year, making it possible to complete your online Education Specialist Certification program in just over a year! Whether you are looking to move into school administration, teach at a community college, or expand your knowledge beyond the master's or Rank I level, our Education Specialist Certification program provides an avenue for advancing your career in education.  

Anchor: Stats
Anchor: Programs & Requirements
Programs & Requirements

Programs & Requirements

Education Specialist Certification

Our online Education Specialist Certification program utilizes a collaborative online environment to facilitate learning and accommodate the busy schedules of working adults. We offer six eight-week enrollment periods throughout the year, making it possible to complete an affordable post-graduate degree in education in just over a year. As a student in our online Ed.S. Certification program, you’ll have several different levels and options to choose from: 

Course Requirements

ADOL 630 Introduction to Educational Administration 

ADM 662 School and Community Relations  

COOL 536 Psychological Assessments 

COOL 539 Lifestyle and Career Development 

COOL 630 Introduction to Addiction Counseling 

COOL 632 Advanced Clinical Assessment 

COOL 633 Children and Adolescent Counseling 

COOL 635 Leadership, Advocacy, and Accountability in School Counseling 

COOL 636 Counseling during Grief and Crisis 

COOL 639 Counseling Theories and Techniques II 

Level I: 18 hours Required – Certification Only 

ADOL 630 Introduction to Educational Administration 

ADOL 632 Human Resource Management & Supervision 

ADOL 636 School Law I 

SPOL 632 Consultation and Collaboration for Curriculum Design 

SPOL 636 Advanced Assessment Strategies and Prescriptive Writing 

ADOL 668 Practicum: Director of Special Education 

 

Level II: 12 hours (Additional hours to degree completion) 

ADOL 633 Applied Research in Education 

ADOL 634 Business Management in Public Schools 

ADM 662 School and Community Relations  

ADOL 637 School Law II 

Level I: 12 hours Required - Certification Only 

ADOL 644 Introduction to District Leadership 

ADOL 672 School Administration and Regulation 

ADOL 671 Instructional Leadership: School Superintendent 

ADOL 669 Professional Clinical Experience: Administrative Superintendent 

 

Level II: 18 hours Required 

ADOL 631 School Program Improvement 

ADOL 643 Special Education and School Leadership

EDOL 547 Diversity in a Multicultural Society 

ADOL 628 Professional Learning Communities 

ADOL 632 Human Resource Management in Public Schools 

ADOL 634 Business Management in Public Schools 

Level I: 18 hours (Certification Only)

ADOL 630 Introduction to Educational Administration 

ADOL 631 School Program Improvement 

ADOL 632 Human Resource Management and Supervision 

ADOL 636 School Law I 

ADOL 639 The Supervisor 

ADOL 665 Practicum: Supervisor of Instruction

 

Level II: 12 hours (Additional hours to degree completion) 

EDOL 634 Curriculum Management and Assessment 

EDOL 636 Problems in Education

ADM 662 School and Community Relations  

EDOL 547 Diversity in a Multicultural Society 

Level I - 30 credit hours (Initial Certification) 

ADM 650 Introduction to School Leadership 

ADM 661 The School Principal’s Role in Improving School Climate and Culture 

ADM 662 School and Community Relations 

ADM 671 The School Principal’s Role in Curriculum Leadership 

ADM 672 The School Principal’s Role in Assessing Instructional Program & Monitoring Student Performance 

ADM 675 The School Principal’s Role in Creating Organizational Structures and Operations 

ADM 676 Human Resource Leadership

ADM 670 Resource Allocation: Strategic Management and School Budgeting 

ADM 679 Research and Development: Capstone Project 

ADOL 636 School Law I 

 

Level II - 6 credit hours (Additional hours to degree completion) 

ADM 678 The School Principal: Instructional Leader and Curriculum and Climate  

ADM 677 Seminar in Educational Change: Instructional Leader 

Level I - 18 credit hours (Initial Certification) 

ADOL 630 Introduction to Educational Administration 

ADOL 631 School Program Improvement 

ADOL 632 Human Resource Management and Supervision 

ADOL 641 School System Administration 

SPOL 530 Characteristics, Identification, and Instruction of Students with Disabilities 

ADOL 667 Practicum: Director of Pupil Personnel 

 

Level II - 12 credit hours (Additional hours to degree completion) 

ADOL 636 School Law I 

ADM 662 Politics of School Community 

ADM 670 Strategic Management in Education 

ADM 637 School Law II 

Anchor: Mission & Goals

Mission and Goals

The purpose of University of the Cumberlands’ Ed.S. program is to build upon the knowledge and skills of current educators like you, in order to provide an avenue for you to advance into leadership positions within the field of education.

An overview of educational administration, supervision, and resource allocation.
Knowledge of school law, school and community relations, and human resource leadership.
Strengthened research, communication, and critical-thinking skills.
Deeper appreciation and refinement of Christian moral values as exhibited within teaching.
Ed.S. certification that meets the standards of both the KDE/EPSB and the CAEP.
Anchor: Career Outcomes

Education Specialist Careers & Outcomes

Special Education Teacher: $61,820

Special Education Teacher: $61,820

Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. 

Instructional Coordinator: $63,740

Instructional Coordinator: $63,740

Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, implement it, and assess its effectiveness. 

Educational Development Specialist: $61,570

Educational Development Specialist: $61,570

Training and development specialists plan and administer programs that improve the skills and knowledge of their employees. 

School Principal: $101,320

School Principal: $101,320

Elementary, middle, and high school principals oversee all school operations, including daily school activities. 

Postsecondary Education Administrator: $96,910

Postsecondary Education Administrator: $96,910

Postsecondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities. 

School Counselor: $60,510

School Counselor: $60,510

School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. They may also offer advice regarding future college or career choices. 

Anchor: FAQs

Common Questions

An online education specialist certificate can help you develop your career. A quality Ed.S. program will give you the knowledge and skills needed to pursue positions of leadership in your school or throughout your district, especially in areas of school administration and supervision or school counseling. 

As a certified teacher, earning an education specialist certificate will open up a number of career opportunities for you, not just for today, but for years to come. Plus, the skills and insights you’ll learn will have an impact on your day-to-day jobs. By earning your Ed.S., you are investing in your own future. 

Depending on the track you take for your online Ed.S., career options can vary. For example, by selecting the school counseling track, you will be better prepared for a career as a school counselor, while other tracks can lead you to administrative opportunities such as a school principalship. You may even choose to branch into district-wide leadership positions, like serving as an instructional coordinator overseeing curriculum and teaching standards across schools. You’ll be met with a number of possibilities! 

Depending on which track you choose, classes will cover everything from counseling and psychological assessments, to school law and educational administration, to community relations and diversity in a multicultural society. Through a variety of courses, you’ll gain the skills you need to pursue the educational career of your dreams! 

If you’re looking for a program that can help you accomplish your career goals, give your salary a boost, and inspire change in others with your passion for education, then an education specialist certification program from University of the Cumberlands is definitely worth your efforts! 

You will be working with staff in the School of Education to make sure you are on track. UC offers a variety of programs in education so certain requirements do not apply to everyone. It is important to review your specific Plan Program/Curriculum Contract to know what is required of you.

The School of Education has provided a list of items you are required to have turned in by the time you complete your program. The list can be seen on your MyUC account located under the “Student Tab”. The list appears in red and will show the item(s) that are past due. Please do not be alarmed when you see this, it is a computer glitch and you need not worry. We are simply letting you know what is still needed from you at this point, as well as, what will be required of you to complete the program. It is our hope that you will have a smooth transition when you exit your program.

Yes! University of the Cumberlands' School of Education is accredited through Kentucky's Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB) and has national accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at the initial-licensure level and advanced-level. UC’s School of Education has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.

For more information:

KDE/EPSB – State Accreditation
University of the Cumberlands' School of Education is further accredited through Kentucky's Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB), 100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601. (502) 564-4606. Fax: (502) 564-7080.

CAEP – National Accreditation
The School of Education at University of the Cumberlands (UC) is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at the initial-licensure level and advanced-level.  CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement.  UC’s School of Education has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.
 
CAEP Address: 1140 19th St NW #400, Washington, DC 20036
CAEP Phone Number: (202) 223-0077
 

Certification & Reciprocity for Education Programs

Learn more about the certification process for Cumberlands education programs.

Students walk to class near the Grace Crum Rollins Center
Anchor: Faculty

Faculty Experts

Find out more about your future education specialist professors.

Dr. Darren Testani

Professor
Education
EdS - Educational Specialist
Master in Education

Dr. Darren Testani

Contact Information

darren.testani [at] ucumberlands.edu
Dr. Debbie Richard

Dr. Debbie Richard

Professor
EdS - Educational Specialist
Education
Master in Education

Dr. Debbie Richard

Contact Information

deb.richard [at] ucumberlands.edu
Dr. Teresa Wallace

Dr. Teresa Wallace

Dean of Education / Professor
EdS - Educational Specialist
Education
Education Administrative Certifications

Dr. Teresa Wallace

Contact Information

teresa.wallace [at] ucumberlands.edu
Luecker Building, RM 200
Bronze statue in front of a campus building

Graduation Education Handbooks & Resources

Education students in our graduate programs will need to access program handbooks, forms and other resources throughout their academic career.

Request Information

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