Visit the "State Disclosures" section on the page of the program you’re interested in at gcu.edu for details on state restrictions.
(See disclaimer §) MOU-Alumni 2000 Doctoral-Jan2026: The Alumni Scholarship for Doctoral Programs is only valid for those applicants who submit a complete application and begin a Doctoral program in January 2026. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarship or awards and only applies to online and evening programs. Please speak to a university counselor for complete details.
If you are an active teacher who holds a master’s degree, you can enhance your skill set and broaden your applicable knowledge by earning your EdS in educational K-12 leadership degree.
The Education Specialist in K-12 Leadership program at Grand Canyon University focuses on the improvement of instructional skills, allowing teachers to potentially advance their career qualifications without having to complete a dissertation or residency. As a graduate of the online Education Specialist program, you will be taught the skills needed to position yourself for potential leadership roles within the diverse education field.
As a K-12 teacher with an online EdS degree, you will be taught to thoughtfully lead and inspire others within the educational community. This degree program empowers educators to become more effective K-12 instructors for the betterment of their students.
You may wish to pursue opportunities in school administration or consulting, such as:
For higher level positions such as principal and superintendent, please be sure to check your state’s requirements before pursuing those career paths.
The EdS program’s coursework guides learners in developing a firm grasp on organizational leadership, staffing and supervision at the building and district levels. GCU strives to transform you into a confident communicator, able to convey complex information to a variety of educational stakeholders. As a Christian university, GCU’s curriculum emphasizes professional ethics and the Christian worldview.
As an aspiring education leader, you will have the opportunity to emerge from the educational specialist degree in K-12 leadership prepared to address the challenges of the modern school by exploring key concepts in:
Educational policy development
Servant leadership thought
Ethical decision-making and stewardship
K-12 community building
Apply for enrollment in GCU’s online educational specialist degree in K-12 leadership today. Complete the form on this page to get started.
In this online EdS degree program, learners will study the following topic areas:
Offered by the College of Doctoral Studies, the EdS degree builds knowledge in ethics, research and theory with a focus on educational policy development, staffing, organizational leadership and instructional supervision. The EdS coursework guides learners in acquiring core competencies that are immediately applicable in the field. Using an analysis-driven approach, learners examine best practices in leadership that support teaming at all levels and the maintenance of a diverse learning infrastructure.
Earn Your Degree Online
Earn your EdS degree at GCU with specialized coursework online. The entire degree can be completed online via our intuitive learning platform, enabling you to connect with your instructors and benefit from diverse views of your peers. A total of 30 credits are required to complete the online educational specialist degree in K-12 leadership. Online classes are eight weeks in length.
To learn more about what you can do with an educational K-12 leadership specialist degree, read our answers to these frequently asked questions:
What students can I teach with an Education Specialist Degree (EdS) in K-12 Leadership?
What is the difference between EdD and EdS degrees?
Can an education specialist be a teacher?
How long does it take to earn your online EdS in K-12 leadership degree?
