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Educational Leadership, M.Ed. (State Credential Track, Illinois)

This program is designed to prepare licensed and experienced teachers for educational leadership. This sequence of courses qualifies the candidate to earn the credential necessary to become a principal. For more details visit Licensure and Endorsements at NLU.

This program is conveniently offered in an online format (some synchronous sessions are required). 

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):

Through the program, candidates will gain and apply knowledge and dispositions so as to ensure that all students are at the center of all educational decisions. Specifically, Program Learning Outcomes of the EDL program include the following:

PLO 1: Mission, Vision and Improvement: Candidates collaboratively lead, design, and implement a school mission, vision, and process for continuous improvement that reflects a core set of values and priorities.

PLO 2: Ethics and Professional Norms: Candidates understand and demonstrate the capacity to advocate for ethical decisions and cultivate and enact professional norms.

PLO 3: Equity, Inclusiveness, and Cultural Responsiveness: Candidates develop and maintain a supportive, equitable, culturally responsive, and inclusive school culture.

PLO 4: Learning and Instruction: Candidates evaluate, develop, and implement coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, data systems, supports, and assessment.

PLO 5: Community and External Leadership: Candidates to engage families, community, and school personnel in order to strengthen student learning, support school improvement, and advocate for the needs of their school and community.

PLO 6: Operations and Management: Candidates improve management, communication, technology, school-level governance, and operation systems; to develop and improve data-informed and equitable school resource plans; and to apply laws, policies, and regulations.

PLO 7: Building Professional Capacity: Candidates build the school’s professional capacity, engage staff in the development of a collaborative professional culture, and improve systems of staff supervision, evaluation, support, and professional learning.

In addition to the National College of Education Graduate Admission Requirements, the program requires:

  • A copy of the applicant’s valid and current Illinois Professional Educator License. Candidates without the current Illinois teaching license seeking to earn an administrative PEL or administrative endorsement approved by ISBE must meet the requirements in the Illinois School Code Part 25.25 coursework in the following areas:
    •  Characteristics and methods of instruction for cross-categorical special education students (SPE 500)
    • Methods of reading and reading in the content area (RLP 550 or RLP 540)
    • Instructional Strategies for English learners which shall address bilingual education or English as a Second Language (CIL 505 or CIL 506)
      • Please note: These requirements must be completed before entitlement and an administrative PEL will not be issued until they are met. Candidates who earn an administrative PEL without holding teaching PEL will not be able to add teaching endorsements. 
  • Letter of recommendation on official letterhead from the principal or human resources verifying at least two years of teaching experience (four years teaching in a public or non-public school recognized by ISBE is required prior to endorsement)
  • In-person interview with no fewer than two of the program's full-time faculty members
  • Submission of an on-site, written response by the applicant to an education scenario provided by the program
  • A portfolio to be submitted during the interview process, including evidence in the following areas:
    • Support for all students achieving high standards of learning
    • Accomplished classroom instruction, which shall include data providing evidence of two years of student growth and learning within the last five years
    • Significant leadership roles in past positions
    • Strong oral and written communication skills
    • Analytic abilities needed to collect and analyze data for student improvement
    • Demonstrated respect for family and community
    • Strong interpersonal skills
    • Knowledge of curriculum and instructional practices

Program Details:

Required Courses

EDL 510Change Leadership for Organizational Equity, Development, and Continuous Improvement

2
EDL 520Leading Diverse Schools

2
EDL 521Building School Community Partnerships

2
EDL 522Leading Student-Centered Schools

2
EDL 523Navigating School and Special Education Law

2
EDL 525Decision-Making for Educational Systems and Organizations

2
EDL 526Realizing Vision through Technical, Human, and Financial Resources

2
EDL 527Guaranteeing a Differentiated and Coherent Curriculum

2
EDL 528Maintaining Accountability with Data Use and Program Evaluation

2
EDL 529Improving Instruction through Teacher Evaluation and Professional Development

2
EDL 570Internship Seminar I: Organizing Leadership Competency Planning

1
EDL 571Internship Seminar II: Resume Building and Professional Writing for Educational Leaders

1
EDL 572Internship Seminar III: Demonstrating School Leadership Competence

2
EDL 573Educational Leadership Project

1 TO 4
EDL 598Administration and Supervision Internship

1 TO 6
Notes: EDL 573 must be taken for a total of 4 semester hours. EDL 598 must be taken for a total of 6 semester hours.

Internship Requirements

To successfully complete the internship, the candidate must display competency in 36 areas as outlined by the Southern Regional Board of Education and exhibit leadership in 80 percent of the competencies. Approved site mentors and faculty supervisors complete a set of assessments from the State of Illinois to ensure candidates are prepared for principalship.

Additional ISBE Requirements for Endorsement:

  • Candidates must pass Principal as Instructional Leader Content Area Tests (195/196)
  • Candidates must complete the AA2001 Administrator Academy Initial Teacher Evaluation Training