Focus of Study Options
Curriculum and Instruction
The Curriculum and Instruction focus of study prepares students for today’s educational environments. Today’s learning environments require understanding critical aspects of how learning happens for a diverse population spanning multiple ages. This focus of study examines how standards shape assessment while building needed skills in content areas each strengthen by the ability to read well.
Higher Education
The Higher Education focus of study is intended to prepare administrators in acquiring or enhancing necessary skills to successfully lead higher education institutions. The courses offer a broad perspective of critical issues facing higher education, emphasizing the complexity of student concerns while balancing the demands of outside constituents, e.g. accreditors, state and federal regulators, community, students, and faculty. Designed to complement and support professional agendas, individual studies prepare leadership to understand the integrated aspects of complex systems influenced by modern societal issues.
Instructional Technology
The Instructional Technology focus of study supports candidates who seek to serve as technology leaders and emphasizes new ways of thinking about technology and the integration of applications. Learning how to design environments which enhance and support organizational goals are considered to maximize learning for both individual and corporate purposes.
Leadership
The Leadership focus of study supports candidates who seek to serve in leadership positions or grow in their leadership practice. Students expand their knowledge in key areas such as ethics, resource management, coaching, strategic planning and organizational culture to become more confident in their advanced leadership practice throughout diverse organizational settings.
Public and Nonprofit Leadership
Whether a student wants to assume a leadership role or learn more about a societal sector that stirs their passion, the Public and Nonprofit Leadership focus of study will sharpen critical thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills and increase societal and global awareness. The six courses in the sequence, emphasize ways to make an impact on both local and global communities through public and nonprofit service. The courses address unique challenges facing public and nonprofit organizations, including societal service, structural variations, development, policymaking, funding, and political and advocacy activities.
CITI Training
All students pursuing advanced degrees are required to have completed a certificate of completion for the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) in Human Subjects Research. There will be no additional fee. This is strongly recommended for students who anticipate conducting dissertation research involving human subjects. The CITI offers training modules for a Social-Behavioral-Educational (SBE) track, as well as additional modules of interest. More information can be found in Student Commons. Scroll down under Doc Program Resources where you will find the CITI Program Guide.
This program also offers two additional pathways for students transferring in a completed Ed.S. degree or entering as an “All But Dissertation” (ABD) student.
A student with a confirmed 3.0 GPA in an Ed.S. program or has been confirmed to have completed all Ed.D. work besides their dissertation (ABD) at a 3.0 GPA are eligible to transfer their prior coursework/degree to ACE in its entirety and complete. Please see the Ed.S. or ABD to Ed.D. Pathway option.