The University of Phoenix online Educational Specialist program is designed to prepare you for administrative or leadership role in education. Learn more about the Educational Specialist program here.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What Kind of Program Is It?

    Learners of the Educational Specialist program at University of Phoenix have the opportunity to develop leadership, analytical and communication skills necessary to begin a career as an educational supervisor or administrator. Course topics include strategic planning in education, current curriculum theories, curriculum design, educational legal issues, instructional program evaluation and improvement, educational costs, and instruction processes. An emphasis is placed on curriculum development and instructional supervision. The final course of the program is a capstone enabling learners to apply methods and theories taught throughout the curriculum to create a research project in educational administration.

    What Are the Prerequisites?

    You should have some experience working in an educational environment. Undergraduate courses focusing on instruction, curriculum development and educational supervision can be helpful. Applicants are expected to have a graduate degree from a regionally or approved nationally accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on the graduate degree posted transcript, current or a record of past employment in an education or leadership position, and a minimum 3 years of professional experience and current access to a work environment.

    What Are the Course Requirements?

    Once enrolled in the University of Phoenix Educational Specialist program, you must complete a total of 31 credit hours in order to earn this doctoral degree. The program consists of 11 courses, including a one-credit communication course and a 3-credit capstone. Courses in this program are taken sequentially.

    • COM 705: Communication Strategies
    • EDD 721: Planning and Leading Change
    • EDD 722: The Legal Context of Education
    • EDD 723: Ethics and Values in Learning Organizations
    • EDD 731: The Economics of Education
    • EDD 733: Evaluation and Assessment Methods
    • CUR 712: Curriculum Theory
    • CUR 721: Curriculum Design
    • CUR 722: Instructional Models
    • CUR 731: Supervision of Curriculum and Instruction
    • EDS 799: Educational Specialist Capstone

    Doctoral programs require brief residencies in select cities. Please contact a University Enrollment Advisor for details.