About this Program

Working professionals who aspire to advance in higher education administration will find the Ed.S. program a meaningful base for building toward their professional objectives. Students who enter the Ed.S. program have diverse backgrounds, experiences, and goals. For this reason they have the ability, through consultation with their advisor, to tailor the cognate chosen to fulfill their degree obligations towards these goals.

Program Highlights

  • Your course work provides conceptual and theoretical knowledge, as well as practical field experience

AT A GLANCE
Degree Level
Graduate
Degree Earned
Education Specialist
Delivery Modes
On-Campus

Careers

Check out these ideas from ODU's Center for Career & Leadership Development and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is a midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

Education Teachers, Postsecondary

$72,410 Median Salary

Teach courses pertaining to education, such as counseling, curriculum, guidance, instruction, teacher education, and teaching English as a second language. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Education Administrators, Postsecondary

$107,670 Median Salary

Plan, direct, or coordinate research, instructional, student administration and services, and other educational activities at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Higher Education at ODU?
Students entering the Education Specialist program in Higher Education should meet the minimum university admission requirements Graduate Admission.

  Prospective students seeking admission to the Ed.S. program with a Concentration in Higher Education must:

  1. Meet all University admission requirements as listed in the Old Dominion University Catalog;
  2. Have a completed Master's degree in an appropriate discipline from a regionally accredited university, and submit transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work with a minimum GPA of 3.5. Degrees that are equivalent to a Master’s degree such as L.L.B., J.D., and D.D.S. are also acceptable;
  3. Provide two (2) letters of recommendation. At least one letter must come from a professor or an individual who describes the applicant's academic performance and writing ability. Letters from senior-level leaders that endorse the applicant's leadership potential are encouraged;
  4. Provide a 1-page single-spaced essay that addresses the questions: What are your professional goals? Why do you wish to obtain the specific degree for which you are applying?
  5. Provide an original 2-page single-spaced academic writing sample. Pick one current issue facing higher education of interest to you. What is the issue? Why is the issue important to the field of higher education research and practice?
  6. Provide a CV or resume that describes the applicant’s academic and professional background;
  7. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a current score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT of at least 80.

Applicants whose admission credentials are slightly below the required minimum will be considered for provisional admission. Non-degree students are limited to a maximum of two HIED, CCL, and/or FOUN courses prior to admission unless they receive permission from the GPD. Non-degree students must receive academic advising by a Higher Education program faculty member prior to enrollment in any course as a non-degree student. Performance in classes as a non-degree student will not guarantee admission into the program.  

Cost of Attendance

We believe in providing students with transparent and accessible information about the cost of attendance. 

Review the estimated tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year (subject to change). Non-resident rates are charged for anyone who is not a current Virginia resident, including international students.

Virginia Resident
Cost Per-Credit $620
Technology Delivered Courses Outside Virginia and/or the United States
Cost Per-Credit $642
Non-Resident
Cost Per-Credit $1,486

Ways to Fund Your Degree

There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Old Dominion University, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.

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