The Education Specialist Certificate program is a thirty credit minimum curriculum beyond the master’s degree. It is a self-contained concentration, separate from other existing programs, with a distinct form of recognition at its completion. This is a planned program, not merely recognition for thirty credits of graduate study accrued beyond the master’s degree.

The Education Specialist Certificate is offered in various curricular areas administered by the following academic divisions:

• Administrative and Organizational Studies
• Teacher Education
• Theoretical and Behavioral Foundations

Specific requirements associated with individual majors and areas of concentration are presented in the Divisional sections

Admission

Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School. Minimum entrance requirements established by the College of Education are:

1. A master’s degree from an accredited institution.

2. In general, applicants must present a grade point average of 2.75 or above for upper-division undergraduate work. Applicants with an undergraduate grade point average below 2.75 must have a grade point average of 3.4 or above on their master’s degree work.

3. Fulfillment of the special requirements of the area of concentration in which the student wishes to work.

4. All major areas with the exception of administration and supervision, instructional technology and counseling require a minimum of three years of teaching experience or equivalent.

Application

Application information is available on the Graduate Admissions website.

Certificate Requirements

The Education Specialist Certificate program requires a minimum of thirty credits beyond the master's degree. The purpose of the Certificate program is to strengthen the liberal education of administrators, counselors, instructional designers and teachers to contribute to more effective productivity of professional workers in and outside the field of education. The specific content of each major is dependent upon the individual student's needs and interests.

Plan of Work

Plans of Work are adapted to the professional needs of students and each one is developed by the individual student with the help of his/her advisor. A Plan of Work must be approved by the advisor and filed with the Education Graduate Office, 489 Education Building, before six credits have been completed following acceptance into the program. Failure to file a Plan of Work at the appropriate time may preclude further registration for courses.

Research studies, projects, or field studies may be accepted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Certificate. Such projects will be in the nature of culminating experiences and arranged with the individual student’s advisor.

Time Limitations

Requirements for the Education Specialist Certificate must be completed within six years after admission to the program. Credit earned beyond the master’s degree which is over six years old at the time of admission may not be applied toward meeting requirements of the certificate. Credit earned after acceptance as a certificate applicant may not be over six years old at the time the certificate is granted.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of ten-semester credits of graduate post-master’s degree work earned at another accredited university, or at Wayne State University prior to admission to the Education Specialist program, may be applied to the certificate provided the courses are approved by the advisor and the College Graduate Officer as appropriate to the program plan.

A maximum of six-semester credits of graduate post-master's degree work earned at another accredited university after admission to the Education Specialist program may be transferred and applied to the program provided no prior transfer credit from another university has been included in the program.

Coursework used toward a previously received degree, Graduate certificate, or Education Specialist certificate cannot be used toward the current Education Specialist certificate.

Time Extensions

The advisor and student must complete a Request for a Time Extension form and set a terminal date for completion of all degree requirements, including such additional requirements as may be indicated by the Graduate Director to revalidate over-age credits (see the Revalidation section below).  Time extensions require the approval of the Graduate Director.  Time extensions to complete the requirements for a specialist certificate may not be granted beyond year 10 since admission.

Revalidation

Upon the recommendation of the advisor and approval of the Graduate Director, a specialist certificate student may revalidate over-age credits which are between six and ten years old, and that represent courses completed at Wayne State University with grades of 'B' or better. Students are not permitted to revalidate credits earned at other institutions.