GCU has continually earned regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and its predecessor since 1968.

Accredited

Create a unique doctoral program experience that connects faculty and learners in a vibrant learning community and creates a learning opportunity for scholar-practitioners to complete a purposeful doctoral journey.

GCU's Doctoral Mission

The entire degree can be completed online via our intuitive learning platform, enabling learners to connect with their instructors and benefit from diverse views of their peers. The EdS does not require learners to complete a residency or dissertation. This allows current full-time teachers to complete their program more easily without taking time away from work.

Online Experience

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Education Specialist in 
K-12 Leadership »

The Education Specialist in K-12 Leadership at Grand Canyon University is unique in that it focuses on the improvement of instructional skills, allowing teachers to advance their career qualifications without having to complete a dissertation or residency. Graduates are prepared to advance into leadership roles within the dynamic and diverse 21st-century education field.

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 accelerated 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.

The coursework for the EdS degree is aligned with the standards of the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC). Aspiring education leaders explore key concepts in leadership thought, ethical stewardship and K-12 community building. In courses such as Training and Collaboration for Learning, Strategic Planning in K-12 Education and Progressions in Leadership Thought, learners will study the following topic areas:

• Seminal leadership theories and models, with a look at the evolution of leadership theories and the range of leadership research
  
  
• Long-range strategic planning in K-12 education based on the establishment of a shared mission, vision and goals among internal and external stakeholders, including a survey of professional and facilities development
  
  
• Horizontal and vertical collaboration to ensure consistency in instructional practice
  
  
• Current and emerging leadership strategies and classroom practices in K-12 education

Education Specialist in 
Teaching & Learning »

Grand Canyon University’s Education Specialist (EdS) in Teaching and Learning program is a post-master’s education degree which allows K-12 educators to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for developing education communities that improve student outcomes.

Offered by GCU’s College of Doctoral Studies, this accelerated, fully online EdS degree emphasizes theories and models of teaching in various educational environments, from elementary to high school.

Throughout the program, learners will:

• Examine the global politics of education and the intervention facilitated by government entities
  
  
• Study professional learning communities and theories of pedagogy
  
  
• Explore ways to train and develop the teams that learners are preparing to lead and support
  
  
• Learn to excel in teaching by studying industry trends, implementing new effective teaching strategies based on original research and applying findings to foster greater classroom success

As a private, Christian university, GCU integrates faith into each of its programs. Courses within the education specialist degree program for teaching and learning use a curriculum that addresses socially responsible practices and ethical decision making within education.

Total Program Credits: 30
Online Course Length: 8 weeks

Total Program Credits: 30
Online Course Length: 8 weeks