ELPA, LTC and SISLT process
Step 1: Advisor assignment
Upon admission, the academic department will assign a faculty advisor to the student. Before registering for courses each semester or session, the student consults with the advisor to determine appropriate courses to fulfill program requirements.
If an advisor is unable or unwilling to continue to serve in this role, the academic program, led by the director of graduate studies, will ensure that a replacement is assigned.
Step 2: Form an educational specialist advisory committee
An educational specialist advisory committee includes three faculty members from the student’s academic department, including the advisor. Once a student has worked with their advisor to identify the committee members, the student must submit the S-1 Form Request for the Educational Specialist Advisory Committee to the Graduate School by the end of the second semester.
Deadline
The Educational Specialist Advisory Committee must be recommended by the student’s advisor and approved by the academic program’s director of graduate studies and the Graduate School before one year has elapsed following the student’s first registration as an educational specialist student.
Duties of committee members
All members of the educational specialist advisory committee participate actively in the activities of the educational specialist student at all the stages of the student’s career at MU. Committee members may call a meeting of the full committee at any time to discuss the student’s progress.
Step 3: Submit a plan of study
After performing satisfactorily for a minimum of one semester, the student completes the Plan of Study for the Educational Specialist Degree form (S-2) and submits it to the Student Services Office in their department. The Student Services Office will send the completed form to the Graduate School for final approval. The plan of study must be filed with the Graduate School by the end of the student’s second semester of enrollment. The plan of study should list course work and other appropriate educational experiences that:
- Prepare the student for practice and scholarly investigation in the chosen field of study.
- Satisfy the credit-hour and residency requirements of the academic program.
- Satisfy special requirements required by the department or academic program.
- Satisfy the Graduate School’s requirement for a minimum of 15 hours of course work at the 8000/9000 level, exclusive of research, problems and independent-study course work.
- Satisfy the College of Education’s requirement for a minimum of 15 hours of College of Education coursework.
- Satisfy the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requirements for certification (ELPA only).
Changes to the plan of study
If the student changes the approved plan of study, then they must submit the Plan of Study Courses Substitution form to the Student Services Office in the academic department.
Step 4: Register for graduate examination
Each candidate must successfully complete and pass the required academic culminating experience.
Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis (ELPA)
The Educational Specialist degree program in ELPA culminates with a Web-based internship portfolio in which the student demonstrates mastery of the Missouri Leader Standards. The portfolio serves as the comprehensive exam at the end of the program of study. The ELPA Student Services Office will submit the S3 Report of Committee form, signed by all committee members, to the Graduate School once the student has completed the internship for required certification.
School of Information Science & Learning Technologies (SISLT)
The Educational Specialist degree program in SISLT culminates with a web-based portfolio in which the student demonstrates mastery of the program competencies. The portfolio serves as the comprehensive exam at the end of the program of study. The SISLT program coordinator will report the results of the student’s portfolio review to the SISLT Student Services Office. The SISLT Student Services Office will then submit the S3 Report of Committee form, signed by all committee members, to the Graduate School indicating whether or not the student passed their portfolio.
Learning, Teaching & Curriculum (LTC)
The Educational Specialist degree program in LTC culminates with a project, portfolio, or comprehensive exam. The student will work with their advisor or committee to determine what project/portfolio/exam will be administered. Upon completion, the LTC Student Services Office will then submit the S3 Report of Committee form, signed by all committee members, to the Graduate School indicating whether or not the student passed.
Enrollment information
Students expecting to present a thesis, manuscript, project or portfolio or to take comprehensive exams must be enrolled in the term when that activity occur.