EdS Teacher Leadership in Schools – Admission Requirements
Applicants interested in the Ed.S. Teacher Leadership in Schools program are required to confer with an admissions representative to discuss all program requirements. It is expected that all applicants will present a strong level of interest for teacher leadership in their school and demonstrate high capability for program success by satisfying admission requirements that include the following:
- completed online South College application;
- official transcripts from each regionally accredited institution of higher education attended for earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees;
- evidence of active teaching license(s);
- evidence of a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 for master’s degree;
Applicants interested in the Educational Specialist Teacher Leadership in Schools program should be aware that all courses in the curriculum are required and must be completed at South College. The Ed.S. program does not grant transfer credits, experiential learning, or advanced placement from another institution’s program.
South College seeks to make available all online programs/courses to residents of Tennessee and other states, and to allow completion of required clinical or practical experiences in those states. We work through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) process and with states directly to ensure that when authorization or licensure is necessary, required approvals are secured. Tennessee is a member of SARA and South College is an approved SARA institution. As such, we adhere to a set of national standards for interstate offering of post-secondary distance education courses and programs. SARA also covers all interstate placements in clinical or practical situations among SARA member states, no matter the nature of the main program. However, not all states are SARA members. While we do monitor the laws in each state, authorization of distance education is a dynamic environment and prospective students should check this site often for updates. It is the student’s responsibility to understand current circumstances or special requirements in their state of residence.
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, candidates are recommended for graduation and for conferring of the Educational Specialist degree. South College and the School of Education reserve the right to make necessary program changes as impacted by CAEP Standards and other TN DOE mandates.
Upon review of all required documents, the Dean of the School of Education (SOE) may admit the prospective individual to the Ed.S. Teacher Leadership in Schools Program with:
- Full Admission – the candidate has met all required criteria for admission to the Ed.S. Program.
- Provisional Admission – the candidate has not met all required criteria for admission to the Ed.S. Program but has been cleared to begin coursework for quarter one. The candidate receives from the designated SOE Advisor written confirmation of deficiencies that must be removed to advance to quarter two.
Acceptance to enroll in the Ed.S. Teacher Leadership in Schools Program is not synonymous with formal admission to the program. To be formally admitted to the Educational Specialist Program, the candidate must complete the first quarter of courses, earn a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better with no course grade lower than a B. Formal admission typically occurs at the end of the first quarter prior to advancement to the second quarter of coursework.