Fort Hays State University - Education Specialist

[newdegree]

This sounds like a great plan! I got excited about the potential ACE transfer until I saw that the agreement was only for the Education Administration, Education Innovation & Leadership, and Leadership in Reading programs (I was looking at the Business Education and Workforce Leadership program). But still awesome if it aligns with your pursuits!

I am sure you have looked into this, but I figure I will share my feedback nonetheless. I was recently enrolled at MSU for their PhD in CS, and two things made me drop after a few courses. First of all, at least for CS, the online courses were synchronous, and attendance was mandatory. The live stream appeared to be a webcam pointed at the professor in front of a screen that was too blurry to see, and the audio was too poor to hear everything and stay engaged. Second, and relatedly, each course had an additional $600 distance-learning fee added to tuition. So I decided it wasn't for me (which is too bad, since I really liked the program's structure).

I am aware of the live steam courses for me they will start at 6:30 pm till 8:30pm eastern time so it would work for me after work. I was told tuition is $606 per credit , maybe you were charged an additional $600 distance-learning fee for the computer science major only ? It sucks you had a bad experience and bumps in the road which made you drop out MSU is a really big school and I usually hear good things about them. A degree from MSU is well respected and they are an R1 institution and a D1 sports institution.

Looks like the fees for the online doctoral education courses at Mississippi State are $255/course. Not as bad as the CS courses, but still steep IMHO.

I guess there are fees I would have to look deeper into it, but I really like the program, it's my top choice, so I might have to swallow the extra $2550, which is still not bad given the tuition is $606 per credit, which includes theInstructional Support Fee per credit hour. The total would be around $21,336, which is still not bad but not the cheapest. Factor in the cost of Fort Hays State University, which is $349 per credit, totaling $10,470; with the cost of MSU, it comes to $31,806, which is not bad for 61 doctoral-level credits, averaging $521.50 per credit.  If cost is the goal, then going for a cheaper EdD degree, like American College of Education (total tuition is $24,810), would be cheap; even cheaper would be Valdosta State University (total tuition is $20,748 but requires a dissertation). Even some schools in Georgia offer affordable EdD program tuition if you look hard enough. Still, you have to be interested in the program and curriculum to succeed. MSU, Rockhurst University, and William Carey University have all sparked my interest, with MSU in the front running as my top choice. Sometimes you spend a bit more for the name of the school, the quality of education, the school's ranking, and a program you would really like. I know people who have spent more on their undergraduate and master's degrees, so the price is not bad overall if it meets your goal and you are financially well-off.

---

The EdS program at Fort Hays State University accepted me, and I want to complete it by May of 2027. I will begin the program on March 23, 2026. Most courses last 8 weeks, some courses require 16 weeks (Foundation of Research, Leadership Portfolio in Education, and Capstone Course). Aside from summer, which is a single 8-week term, they conduct two 8-week terms every semester. My long-term objective is to apply to an EdD program that takes a significant amount of transfer credits or an EdS degree. I have so far made a list of the colleges I intend to apply to, and my top five are those mentioned below. Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that an EdS is a waste of time and that I should pursue an EdD instead, I chose to complete an EdS first since it provides a flexible program all year round. I am not required to move with a cohort, and they give me the option to finish the degree and take a break if I get bored with the teaching profession or burn out, before continuing with an EdD. In addition to offering a variety of concentrations, the EdS degree is transferable to another institution. Also to mention the cost of tuition is $349 per credit which is cheaper than all EdD programs and only requires 30 credits.

1. Mississippi State University
   
   
2. Rockhurst University
   
   
3. William Carey University
   
   
4. Virginia Commonwealth University
   
   
5. Penn State University World Campus (Although they
   only accept 6 transfer credits)
   

Additionally, I am considering sending applications to the following programs, but will most likely not attend if one of the following schools above accepts me, so I may wait to hear back first from my top 5 schools:

1. Thomas Edison State University
   
   
2. Liberty University
   
   
3. University of the Cumberlands
   
   
4. Baker College
   
   
5. Marymount University
   

Fort Hays State University's EdS program also has a transfer agreement with the following universities:

1. American College of Education - They accept 27 out of 30 credits towards the EdD program
   
   
2. Kansas State University - will accept 18 credits
   out of 30 from EdS towards their EdD program. 
   

I myself am interested in the EdS program through ACE. However, hearing that they accept 27/30 credits from Fort Hays, it's almost enticing to want to do the EdD program there and come back afterwards to top it off with the EdS

You can't beat an EdS from a State school for cheap tuition. American College of Education is a great program; it's just a for-profit school, which may not work for some people, or their employers may not like it. Personally, it's really at the back of my list as a last resort. I considered them for my EdS, applied, and was accepted into the program, but I did not like that they require you to take four one-credit courses, which I have heard are tedious and annoying. I know someone who currently attends the EdD program there, and they said the four 1-credit courses are a lot of work and slow you down because you must take them as prerequisites, and each is 5 weeks long. All 3 credit doctoral and education specialist courses at American College of Education are 10 weeks, with a 2-week gap between terms.

[RingofBarahir]

The EdS program at Fort Hays State University accepted me, and I want to complete it by May of 2027. I will begin the program on March 23, 2026. Most courses last 8 weeks, some courses require 16 weeks (Foundation of Research, Leadership Portfolio in Education, and Capstone Course). Aside from summer, which is a single 8-week term, they conduct two 8-week terms every semester. My long-term objective is to apply to an EdD program that takes a significant amount of transfer credits or an EdS degree. I have so far made a list of the colleges I intend to apply to, and my top five are those mentioned below. Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that an EdS is a waste of time and that I should pursue an EdD instead, I chose to complete an EdS first since it provides a flexible program all year round. I am not required to move with a cohort, and they give me the option to finish the degree and take a break if I get bored with the teaching profession or burn out, before continuing with an EdD. In addition to offering a variety of concentrations, the EdS degree is transferable to another institution. Also to mention the cost of tuition is $349 per credit which is cheaper than all EdD programs and only requires 30 credits.

1. Mississippi State University
   
   
2. Rockhurst University
   
   
3. William Carey University
   
   
4. Virginia Commonwealth University
   
   
5. Penn State University World Campus (Although they
   only accept 6 transfer credits)
   

Additionally, I am considering sending applications to the following programs, but will most likely not attend if one of the following schools above accepts me, so I may wait to hear back first from my top 5 schools:

1. Thomas Edison State University
   
   
2. Liberty University
   
   
3. University of the Cumberlands
   
   
4. Baker College
   
   
5. Marymount University
   

Fort Hays State University's EdS program also has a transfer agreement with the following universities:

1. American College of Education - They accept 27 out of 30 credits towards the EdD program
   
   
2. Kansas State University - will accept 18 credits
   out of 30 from EdS towards their EdD program. 
   

Is this the workforce education Ed.S.? I looked into that and had a call with the program director, but I put it on pause until I could square away some other things I had going on. I'm interested to hear what you expect and eventually get out of the program. Now I'm leaning more toward an Ed.D. at Valdosta.

[newdegree]

The EdS program at Fort Hays State University accepted me, and I want to complete it by May of 2027. I will begin the program on March 23, 2026. Most courses last 8 weeks, some courses require 16 weeks (Foundation of Research, Leadership Portfolio in Education, and Capstone Course). Aside from summer, which is a single 8-week term, they conduct two 8-week terms every semester. My long-term objective is to apply to an EdD program that takes a significant amount of transfer credits or an EdS degree. I have so far made a list of the colleges I intend to apply to, and my top five are those mentioned below. Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that an EdS is a waste of time and that I should pursue an EdD instead, I chose to complete an EdS first since it provides a flexible program all year round. I am not required to move with a cohort, and they give me the option to finish the degree and take a break if I get bored with the teaching profession or burn out, before continuing with an EdD. In addition to offering a variety of concentrations, the EdS degree is transferable to another institution. Also to mention the cost of tuition is $349 per credit which is cheaper than all EdD programs and only requires 30 credits.

1. Mississippi State University
   
   
2. Rockhurst University
   
   
3. William Carey University
   
   
4. Virginia Commonwealth University
   
   
5. Penn State University World Campus (Although they
   only accept 6 transfer credits)
   

Additionally, I am considering sending applications to the following programs, but will most likely not attend if one of the following schools above accepts me, so I may wait to hear back first from my top 5 schools:

1. Thomas Edison State University
   
   
2. Liberty University
   
   
3. University of the Cumberlands
   
   
4. Baker College
   
   
5. Marymount University
   

Fort Hays State University's EdS program also has a transfer agreement with the following universities:

1. American College of Education - They accept 27 out of 30 credits towards the EdD program
   
   
2. Kansas State University - will accept 18 credits
   out of 30 from EdS towards their EdD program. 
   

Is this the workforce education Ed.S.? I looked into that and had a call with the program director, but I put it on pause until I could square away some other things I had going on. I'm interested to hear what you expect and eventually get out of the program. Now I'm leaning more toward an Ed.D. at Valdosta.

I decided to go with the education innovation and leadership EdS as many programs that have bridge programs that usually accept “education leadership” EdS degrees towards their EdD and I assumed it would be the least problematic to explain or transfer. 

The EdS in business education and workforce leadership sounds great but it may have limits for transfer as schools may see it as a business degree.

[RingofBarahir]

I decided to go with the education innovation and leadership EdS as many programs that have bridge programs that usually accept “education leadership” EdS degrees towards their EdD and I assumed it would be the least problematic to explain or transfer. 

The EdS in business education and workforce leadership sounds great but it may have limits for transfer as schools may see it as a business degree.

Yeah, that was my concern, as well. I even asked about that specifically when I was going back and forth with the program director. She kind of dodged the question and said that there have been folks in that particular Ed.S. program who've gone on to Ed.D. and Ph.D. programs but specifically said "but it's all up to those receiving programs," which felt a little like an orange flag, like she was avoiding saying it wouldn't transfer easily.

[newdegree]

I decided to go with the education innovation and leadership EdS as many programs that have bridge programs that usually accept “education leadership” EdS degrees towards their EdD and I assumed it would be the least problematic to explain or transfer. 

The EdS in business education and workforce leadership sounds great but it may have limits for transfer as schools may see it as a business degree.

Yeah, that was my concern, as well. I even asked about that specifically when I was going back and forth with the program director. She kind of dodged the question and said that there have been folks in that particular Ed.S. program who've gone on to Ed.D. and Ph.D. programs but specifically said "but it's all up to those receiving programs," which felt a little like an orange flag, like she was avoiding saying it wouldn't transfer easily.

Yes, it is best to stay with a widely accepted concentration for your EdS if you intend to transfer credits or the degree in its entirety to an EdD or PhD program. While an EdS degree in business education and workforce leadership sounds very interesting, it might work out better for a DBA program or PhD in a business-focused field rather than the educational doctoral field, which typically tailors its curriculum towards leadership and education in the education realm.

[FireMedic_Philosopher]

Question...

I presume none of the schools on your list require a prior M.Ed. ... which many of the grad schools in my area do.

How does the curriculum look if you are entering a program cohort without a prior education degree?

[newdegree]

Question...

I presume none of the schools on your list require a prior M.Ed. ... which many of the grad schools in my area do.

How does the curriculum look if you are entering a program cohort without a prior education degree?

The schools on my list, for the most part, do not require a prior master's in education, except Penn State. Still, if you have an EdS, it should satisfy the requirement, stating that applicants to the D.Ed. program must have a master's degree in education or a related field conferred at the time of application.

Rockhurst University requires 33 graduate credits for admission. (If you have an EdS, depending on which EdS concentration you have, they will knock off a year from their EdD program, but it is up to the dean and the admissions committee to make that decision.)

Mississippi State University & William Carey University require an EdS for admission to their bridge program from EdS to EdD. Mississippi State University, with an EdS, requires 31 more credits, and William Carey University, coming in with a completed EdS, requires 30-36 credits of doctoral-level credits to be completed at the university, depending on whether your EdS meets their prerequisites.

Virginia Commonwealth University requires a general master's degree and 3 years of leadership experience for admission to its EdD in leadership program.