Individuals who already have a master's degree can pursue an Ed.S. (Specialist in Education) or Ed.D. (Doctor of Education) degree at UWF in the area of instructional and performance technology. Classes for the individual specializations are available online; core classes are available on campus and at the Fort Walton Beach campus. Pursuit of either degree can enhance your current career or open the door to new career paths. For additional information, contact Dr. Karen Rasmussen.

What is the difference between a specialist and a doctor?

	A specialist is a consumer of research. Specialists find, evaluate, and apply research in the workplace.
		A doctoral graduate is not only a consumer of research but also a developer of research. That is why a doctoral student must plan and conduct a rigorous, original research study and write a dissertation.
A specialist degree involves much of the same coursework as a doctorate. If you are planning to pursue a doctorate after receiving your specialist degree, inquire about dual enrollment in the Ed.S. and Ed.D. programs so that your coursework will apply to both degrees.

Specialist Degree (Ed.S.)

Choose an Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction (see catalog) with a specialization in instructional technology if you are a professional in the field of education or training who wants an administrative and leadership position. The degree requires that you complete at least 36 semester hours and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.

There are two options available for an Ed.S. with a specialization in instructional technology:

	Performance Technology Option. This option focuses on the innovative use of technology to enhance human performance.
	Distance Learning Option. This option focuses on the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of distributed learning systems.

Doctoral Degree (Ed.D.)

Choose an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (see catalog), with a specialization in instructional technology, if you

• are a professional in the field of education or training
• want to assume an administrative and leadership position
• want to conduct and evaluate research studies to address local, regional, and state educational issues and problems

The doctoral program has the same two options as the specialist program:

However, in addition to the coursework, Ed.D. students take a comprehensive written and oral exam, design and execute a research study, and write a dissertation.