E
D U C A T I O N
S
P E C I A L I S T
Overview
The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) program is intended to help extend professional understanding and practice in the
critical area of education. Ed.S. students will develop capacities to think, communicate, and model biblical
excellence in educational leadership positions. They will more clearly represent Christ-centered perspectives in
the broader society by impacting students, their families, faculty, and staff with competencies specifically designed
for Kingdom growth. Students are admitted in cohort groups during the summer to complete a concentration in
Educational Leadership. Courses are provided online and in summer intensives.
Purpose
The Ed.S. degree strives to produce professionals who lead others in addressing educational needs from a biblical
perspective.
Objectives
•
Candidates will understand biblical perspectives, foundational theories, research findings,
cultural/sociological dynamics, and alternative models for educating diverse learners in contemporary
Christian educational institutions. They will also analyze, synthesize, and evaluate these elements so as to
enhance Christian education.
•
Candidates will understand biblical perspectives, theoretical approaches, research findings, and alternative
models of effective leadership and functioning of organizations, groups, and individuals within
organizations. They will also analyze, synthesize, and evaluate these elements so as to enhance their
understanding of high quality Christian education leadership.
•
Through CIU’s Education Specialist program, the applicant is likely to enhance his or her personal calling
and ministry and to contribute to the quality of Christian education through leadership, presentation, and
publication.
Admission Requirements
A graduate faculty admissions panel reviews applicants, which includes an interview in person (or by phone) and
recommends acceptance according to the applicant’s satisfaction of the following criteria:
•
A master’s degree from an accredited institution and provides a relevant foundation for postgraduate
studies in educational leadership. (An education or education-related field is the strongly preferred focus of
the master’s degree.)
•
Performance in graduate coursework that indicates an ability to be successful in postgraduate studies
•
Speaks and writes the English language effectively as evidenced in a writing sample that demonstrates
abilities to do postgraduate writing
•
Christian maturity appropriate for leadership
•
Administrative or teaching experience (K-12
th
grade, higher education) and other evidence indicating that
the Ed.S. degree will enable the applicant to enhance the his or her leadership role and contribution to the
cause of Christian education
•
GRE results (desired minimum of 50
th
percentile on verbal and quantitative with 3.5 on the analytical
writing section) or MAT score (desired minimum of 50
th
percentile) indicating that the applicant is capable
of quality performance in graduate studies. The exam must have been taken within the last five years.
When the number of qualified applicants exceeds the cohort enrollment limit, the most qualified applicants will be
considered for admission.
Required F un ational Knowledge of Bible and Theology
This requirement may also be satisfied by either a Bible certificate or a total of 30 credit hours of coursework in
Bible and theology from an accredited college or university.
Twelve credits, one course from each of the following four topics:
•
Christian life development or spiritual formation
•
Missions
OLUMBIA NTERNATIONAL NIVERSITY
OLLEGE OF DUCATION