1. Provide an official transcript showing receipt of a master's degree in an education or related field from a regionally accredited institution (or the equivalent from a foreign country that is accredited through the appropriate accrediting system of that country) with GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
2. Provide a minimum of three letters of recommendation, submitted on organizational letterhead stationery, from either university faculty or from previous supervisors who can write concerning the applicant's capability to succeed in a doctoral program in the following areas: ability to communicate in writing and speaking, professional abilities, ethics and values, interpersonal skills, and work ethic.
3. Provide a résumé (curriculum vitae) listing all previous educational degrees, professional positions, awards, publications, and other pertinent information.
4. Participate in an oral interview with members of the Doctoral Admissions Committee.
5. Submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test scores including verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking and analytical writing.
6. Present one of the following combinations of minimum test scores:
   1. Combined GRE score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative sections, with neither score below 400.
   2. MAT score of 400.
7. Provide documentation of competence in (a) learning theory, (b) understanding measurement and assessment, (c) curriculum & instructional theories, and (d) educational research methodologies.  This requirement may be met by through course work or through professional activities. Successful completion of the following courses meets the requirement:
   1. EDF 6215  Learning Principles Applied to Instruction (3)
   2. EDF 6432 Foundations of Measurement (3)
   3. EDF 6481 Foundations of Educational Research (3)
   4. EDG 6627 Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction (3)
8. Foreign nationals whose native language is not English must present a minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) on the TOEFL examination (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

Waivers of the above requirements may be granted by the Admissions Committee based on a rationale provided by the student or holistic evaluation of the applicant's information. 

Applicants denied admission may appeal the decision by submitting a request for reconsideration to the program director within 30 days of the date of denial. The request must present additional evidence of potential for academic success and contain reasons why reconsideration is warranted.

An Advising Committee is appointed upon entrance into the major. This committee includes the student’s advisor and at least one other faculty member in the student’s concentration. The committee provides support for the student including approval of transfer credits, assistance in planning his/her program of study, and approval of the final program of study. A Culminating Project Committee is appointed prior to student registration in the Specialist Proposal Development course. This committee has three members, including the chair and a member who teaches in the student’s cognate field. A minimum of two committee members must vote to approve the student’s proposal and culminating project.

1. Major (18 hrs)
   
   
   • EDA 7066 Organizational Leadership (3)
   • EDG 7046 Foundations for Sustainability in Educational Practice (1)
   • EDG 7047  Sustainability in Education: Global Issues (1)
   • EDG 7908 Pedagogical and Curricular Considerations on Sustainability in Education (1)
   • EDG 7707  Diversity and Global Studies in Education (3)
   • EDA 7193 Instructional Leadership (3)
   • EDG 7221 Curriculum Theory (3)
   • Internship Listed separately below (3)


2. Concentration (9 hrs)
   
   Select 9 hours in consultation with the Advising Committee:
   
   
   1. Curriculum & Instruction Concentration
      
      
      • EDG 7286 Curriculum Design and Evaluation (3)
      • EDG 7347 Transform. Learning Through Narrative (3)
      • EDG 7065 Historical Perspect. & Impact of Critical Literacies (3)
      • EDG 7635 Curricular Perspect. on Exceptionalities (3)
      • EDG 7325 Multiple Pedagogies (3)
      • EDG 7362 Advanced Learning Theory (3)
      • EDG 7930 Special Topics in Curriculum and Instruction (3)
   
   
   2. Educational Leadership Concentration
      
      
      • EDA 7235 Seminar in School Law (3)
      • EDA 7281 Education Policy Analysis (3)
      • EDA 7241 Economics and Finance in Education (3)
      • EDA 7197 Current Issues in Education & Leadership (3)
      • EDA 7930 Special Topics in Educational Leadership (3)


3. Internship (hours listed in major)
   
   Select one based on concentration:
   • EDA 7940 Internship in Leadership (3)
   • EDG 7940 Internship in Curriculum & Instruction (3)


4. Research/Evaluation (6 hrs)
   
   
   • EDF 7416 Quantitative Analysis (3)
   • EDF 7943 Current Issues in Educational Assessment and Decision Making (3)
   • EDF 7475 Qualitative Research Design and Analysis (3)


5. Cognate (9 hrs)
   
   Select coursework approved by the Advising Committee in accordance with student's area of interest and career goals in consultation with Advising Committee.


6. Culminating Activity (6 hrs)
   
   
   • EDG 7974  Specialist Proposal Development (3)
   • EDG 7975  Specialist Culminating Project (3)
   
   Students enrolled for Culminating Project credits must attend at least three seminars per semester. The purpose of the seminars will be developmental in nature--to support and encourage student progress.  Committee chairs attend seminars in which their students are participating.

1. Successful completion of each course with a grade of B or better.
2. Final GPA of 3.5 or better prior to taking qualifying exams; grades for the proposal, and culminating project will be Pass/Fail only.
3. Successful completion of written comprehensive examinations.
4. Successful completion of specialist proposal and oral defense of the proposal.
5. Successful completion of culminating project and oral defense of the culminating project.

A maximum of 18 hours taken for a master's degree or other advanced study may be substituted, if appropriate, for requirements in the college major, concentration, research and evaluation, and cognate.  Course substitutions are restricted by the following distribution, which must be completed at FGCU as part of the Ed.S. program of study:

1. At least 12 hours in the major.
2. At least 6 hours in the concentration.
3. At least 3 hours in research and evaluation.
4. At least 3 hours in the cognate.

At least 30 hours must be taken at FGCU. No substitutions are permitted for the specialist proposal, or culminating project. Courses used in substitution must be no more than 7 years old upon admission and no more than 10 years old upon graduation. Waivers may be granted by the Advising Committee.