Educational Leadership, M.Ed.
The Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership with principal endorsement is designed to assist current certified teachers to move into principal positions that deal with school governance and management, transformational leadership, supervision for school improvement, school and public policy, and research. This program includes the ELCC standards and the State standards for the Principalship (ISLLC).
See complete admission requirements in College of Education introduction.
Prerequisites
- Professional Educator License with Teacher Endorsement.
- Four years successful teaching experience.
- Current vita or resume.
- Fulfillment of Survey of Exceptional Child requirement (105 ILCS 5/21-2a).
- Successful completion of Illinois Basic Skills Test, the Test of Academic Proficiency or have a composite score of 22 on the ACT Plus Writing Test taken within the last ten years.
- Successful completion of the Graduate Advanced Writing Assessment.
Course of study for the Master of Education degree: total of 33 semester hours plus comprehensive exam.
Degree Requirements
I. Core Courses (27)
| 51-522 | Ethical and Moral Foundations of Educational Leadership | 3 |
| 51-538 | Critical Issues in School Law for Educational Leaders | 3 |
| 51-548 | Organizational Systems in Educational Leadership | 3 |
| 51-557 | Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for School Improvement | 3 |
| 51-558 | School Finance | 3 |
| 51-577 | Supervision for Professional Development | 3 |
| 51-578 | The Principal as Critical Transformative Leader | 3 |
| 51-588 | Internship 1 | 3 |
| 51-589 | Internship 2 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 27 |
II. Non-core courses: (6)
Transfer credit accepted
A maximum of six (6) credit hours may be accepted for transfer from a regionally accredited institution, earned within the last five years, with no grade lower than a B; transcript must be accompanied by a performance portfolio indicating that the courses requested for transfer has addressed the appropriate ISLCC/ELCC standards.
Non-core courses (6)
| 51-575 | Practical Research for Learning Communities | 3 |
| 51-576 | Multicultural Foundations for Educators and Counselors | 3 |
Special Education non-core courses beyond M.Ed. (8)
| 51-581 | Supervision and Administration of Special Education | 3 |
| 51-586 | Principles of Counseling: Guidance, Supervisory, and Special Education Personnel | 3 |
| 51-570 | Special Education Finance | 1 |
| 54-566 | Special Education Law | 1 |
III. Master of Arts Option
| XX-XXX- | 3 credit hours elective approved by advisor | 3 |
| 51-599 | Thesis | 3 |
Director of Special Education Endorsement
Candidates who have an administrative endorsement on their Professional Educator License may elect to complete coursework leading to Illinois State Board of Education approval for the Director of Special Education Endorsement. The Director of Special Education Endorsement is granted by the ISBE not Lewis University via individual transcript evaluation. Candidates are urged to apply for the Endorsement and submit all transcripts to ISBE for review. ISBE will notify the candidate if any additional coursework is required this Endorsement.