Education Specialist

Education Specialist: Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation

Program Description

36 minimum semester credits required. Required credits may vary depending on the program director’s evaluation of the student’s graduate level transcripts. 

The Ed.S. Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation program is designed for those individuals who already possess a master's degree in other education fields and are interested in improving their instructional expertise and developing skills as a teacher leader.  

General courses from the building administration, superintendent, and special education programs may be used to satisfy the elective requirement. Individuals who currently hold a master’s degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation from NNU would not qualify for this program but would qualify to apply for other NNU Ed.S. programs. 

Students completing the Ed.S. degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation (CI2) must compile and submit an academic portfolio prior to graduation as evidence of their knowledge, skills, and fluencies in the field.  The portfolio is a project that gathers and displays a series of assignments and projects completed from courses in the program.  In addition, all students will provide a personal reflective paper that synthesizes their work as well as growth throughout this program.  The portfolio project allows the student to mesh the theories and practices of teaching and learning throughout the graduate work. Students may choose to develop their academic portfolio to promote their professional and technical skills in a manner that would be attractive to potential employers. However, the primary goal of this academic portfolio is to assess whether students have met the minimal criteria expected of a successful Ed.S. graduate.

This online program utilizes a cohort model which allows students to plan their schedules ahead of time and allows them to continue working full-time in their position while completing the program. Students typically complete the program in 18 - 24 months depending on their start date and courses which are transferred into the program.  

Every student will be registered for the approved accreditation and assessment software during EDUC8000 Orientation: Graduate Education. There is a fee associated with this course.

Admission Requirements - Ed.S. Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation

  1. A master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
  2. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the master's program.
  3. Approval by the Graduate Education Admissions Committee.

Application Requirements - Ed.S. Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation

The following requirements must be received by Admissions a minimum of one week before classes start, and are online, mailed or emailed as indicated. For mail: Northwest Nazarene University, Attention Graduate Admissions, 623 S. University Boulevard, Nampa, ID, 83686. For email: gps@nnu.edu. Transcripts can be received through email if sent from an accepted digital credentialing service, such as Parchment or the National Student Clearinghouse.

  1. Online: application and $50 non-refundable application fee.
  2. Mail, or email from a digital service: official transcripts from the regionally accredited institution(s) where candidate received a master’s degree. (We do not accept faxed transcripts.)
  3. Email or mail: a copy of candidate’s teaching certificate if applicable.
  4. Online: two recommendation forms completed by professional colleagues. 
  5. Online: one supervisor recommendation form. All recommendation forms must be completed by different individuals.
  6. Online: evidence of writing competency through an essay based on the essay guidelines.

Graduation Requirements - Ed.S. Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation

  1. Credits must be earned in courses numbered 7000 or above. Continuing education courses and pass/fail (except those specified for degree completion) do not apply toward the degree. Exceptions for substitutions from other institutions may be approved by the program director.
  2. The candidate must complete requirements as specified in the degree major. The degree must be completed within six years of beginning course work. If the degree is not completed within six years, the candidate must reapply to the program. Credits older than six years may need to be retaken.
  3. The candidate must apply for graduation one full semester prior to anticipated degree completion. Deadlines: June 1 for Fall; October 15 for Spring; and January 15 for Summer.
Total Credits
36