Educational Leadership, MA

This program prepares administrators, supervisors, and other educators who aspire to play important leadership roles and transform schools and communities in pursuit of social justice. The requirements for the Illinois administrative certificate (Type 75) are integrated into the degree program.

Admission

Students must present satisfactory undergraduate or graduate preparation with a minimum GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, a valid teaching or school service personnel certificate, two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. A minimum of two years of successful teaching or school services personnel experience is required by the end of the program to earn the Type 75 certificate. Students with a 3.0 admission GPA or better are eligible for a Dean’s Scholarship over the duration of their program of study. Upon admission, students are placed into cohorts at the campus location most convenient for them.

Requirements

To earn the MA in educational leadership, students must complete 30 semester hours of course work with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. With the permission of a faculty advisor, students who hold an MA in education are eligible to take 24 semester hours to earn the Type 75 administrative certificate.

Two internship courses, ELOC 463 and 464, are taken over the last two semesters of the program. Internship experiences in schools with diverse student populations are required, and provide exposure to important issues faced by school leaders. All students are required to create an electronic portfolio using Taskstream. No grades below C may apply toward the degree (C- grades are unacceptable), and no more than two courses with grades of C+ or C are allowed. The program faculty routinely assess students for evidence of professional dispositions.

The following courses are required to earn the MA in educational leadership: