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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (September 1, 2016)— Today, Milligan College continued its commitment to helping area teachers by launching two new graduate programs in summer 2017: Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) and Education Specialist (Ed.S.).
Leveraging the strength of its teacher education and business faculty, as well as regional school partnerships, Milligan’s Ed.D. and Ed.S. programs will help lead currently practicing teachers toward certification as school administrators in two years.
“The environment of education is ever changing,” said President Dr. Bill Greer. “Our world needs transformative leaders in preK-12 education who are well-trained in organization and management. Both Milligan’s Ed.D. and Ed.S. programs are not only specifically designed to help meet that need and reflect Milligan’s Christian mission, but they are some of the most economical education programs in our region—even priced below the local state university.”
Like Milligan’s distinguished Master of Education program, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the college’s Ed.D. and Ed.S. programs have deep roots in regional school systems, where many Milligan alumni serve as teachers, coaches and administrators.
“Our programs were designed with the help of representatives from these local school districts who served on the planning committee,” said Dr. Lyn Howell, chair of Milligan’s Area of Education. “In addition, we truly value the strength of the mentored experience and each Ed.D. candidate will be assigned to a local, working administrative mentor—many of whom studied education at Milligan.”
Graduates of Milligan’s 24-30 month Ed.D. program are uniquely prepared to become principals and administrators in public and non-public school systems, nonprofits and government agencies. The Ed.D. is a practice-based program built on a cohort learning model of approximately 10-20 candidates who progress through the program together.
The Ed.S. allows candidates who don’t need a doctorate to develop a specialized knowledge with many of the same courses in the Ed.D. program, but without the requirement to write a dissertation.
The education area is accredited by the State of Tennessee and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Both the Ed.D. and Ed.S. programs are pending accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). They have been approved by the State of Tennessee.
The application deadline is Feb. 13, 2017.