EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION
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Contact: Graduate Program Director
Application Deadlines:
For domestic classified status, the deadline is approximately a month before the start of classes (Definite dates are on the application itself). International students, please see the FAQs #16 for your deadline. NOTE: If you are a new graduate student and you intend to apply for a Competitive Graduate Award (CGA), the deadline for having all of your application materials turned in moves up to January 15th. If you apply for the CGA but your SIUE application is incomplete, your application for the Competitive Graduate Award will be removed from consideration.
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
The Department of Educational Leadership offers a program of study leading to the education doctorate degree (Ed.D) in educational leadership. The program embeds existing coursework leading to advanced certification as a district level school administrator (superintendent). In addition to this coursework, candidates focus on advanced study of district level leadership, school law, politics, policy-making, and research.
ADMISSION
General requirements for admission to the Ed.D. degree include: Master of Science in Education degree or its equivalent; grade point average of 3.25 (A=4.0) or higher in graduate study; hold or have held a position requiring an Illinois Type 75 (building administration) certificate or its equivalent. Application materials will include:
• Official scores of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), taken within the past five years;
• Current resume that clearly indicates 1) educational background, 2) diversity of P-12 work experience, and 3) progression of P-12 leadership experiences
• Three letters of reference from administrators or supervisors who have first-hand knowledge of the candidate’s professional work. Letters must address: nature of the relationship with the applicant (at least one is current or past supervisor) leadership experience, ability to work collaboratively, ability to impact schools to improve student learning, oral and written communication skills, and potential to become a transformative educational leader.
• Written responses to three focus questions that consider the goals of the Ed.D. program and preparation for doctoral study.
All requirements will be reviewed by a faculty admissions committee to determine the potential of the candidate to affect school district change.
There are two possible admission points for the Ed.D. program.
1) Early admission for students who hold:
• An MS degree
• An Illinois type 75 certificate (or equivalent)
and who wish to earn the superintendent’s endorsement while completing the doctorate degree.
2) Mid-point admission for students who hold:
• A specialist’s degree (within the past ten years)
• A superintendent’s endorsement
• An Illinois type 75 certificate (or equivalent)
and who want to complete the doctorate degree.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
For early admission, fifty-four (54) semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master’s degree are required for the Ed.D. degree. For mid-point admission, twenty-four (24) semester hours of graduate credit beyond the specialist’s degree are required for the Ed.D. degree.
Study of foundational theory of school district level leadership (27 semester hours)
(Early Admission courses)
EDAD 555 – 3 Superintendency and District Administration *
EDAD 560 – 3 Educational Policy Making and Governance*
EDAD 563 – 3 School and Community Relations*
EDAD 565 – 3 Personnel Administration*
EDAD 570 – 3 Leadership Theory and Practice*
EDAD 573 – 3 Educational Facilities, Planning and Management*
EDAD 575 – 3 Strategic Management*
EDAD 580 – 3 District Program Development*
EDAD 585 – 3 School Business Administration*
Internship and Field Study
(Early Admission course)
EDAD 591 – 3 Internship Practicum*
Advanced Study and Research
(Early Admission and Mid-point Admission courses)
EDAD 600 Proseminar in the Superintendency (3)
EDAD 620 – 3 Advanced School Law
EDAD 660 – 3 Politics and Policy-Making in Education
EPFR 605 – 3 Qualitative Inquiry – includes field study*
EPFR 601 – 3 Quantitative Inquiry
EDAD 690 – 3 Research Topics In Educational Leadership
EDAD 698 – 3, 3 Doctoral Capstone Research Project
*Successful completion results in Specialist’s Degree and recommendation for Illinois Superintendent’s certificate.
EXIT REQUIREMENTS
Qualifying examination for advancement to candidacy: The examination consists of essay questions that address course content and is taken after EPFR 605 (or before EDAD 690 and 698). The exam is read by three faculty members and assessed for content and quality. Candidate must pass the examination to advance.
Final Capstone Research Project: The project requires an extensive written document that presents the results of the candidate’s research. An oral presentation and successful defense of the project before a committee of three faculty members is required for program completion. Planning the project occurs in EDAD 690 and the project is carried out, defended, and finalized in EDAD 698.
SPECIALIST DEGREE
The Department of Educational Leadership offers a program of study leading to the specialist degree in educational administration. Programs of study are designed for persons desiring career positions as principals or superintendents.
ADMISSION
General requirements for admission to the specialist degree program include: a Master of Science in Education degree or its equivalent; a grade point average of 3.25 (A=4.0) or higher in graduate study. Applicants seeking admission to the General Administrative program must hold, or have held a pre-K-12 teaching position. Applicants for the Superintendent’s program must hold, or have held, a position requiring a Type 75 Certificate.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
Thirty-three (33) semester hours of acceptable graduate credit are required for the specialist degree in educational administration. Two areas of emphasis are available: general administrative, and superintendent. General requirements are as follows:
General Administrative Area of Emphasis
Required courses (24 hours)
Instructional Leadership: EDAD 525, 535, and 545.
Management of Public Schools: EDAD 510, 520, 530.
Schools and Public Policy: EDAD 500, 505.
Internship practicum/Principalship (3 hours): EDAD 590 or approved elective for students with supervisory experience who have successfully completed EDAD 550, with consent of adviser.
Field study (3 hours): EDAD 595.
Cognates/directed electives (3 to 6 hours).
Superintendent Area of Emphasis
Required Courses (27 hours)
Governance of Public Schools: EDAD 555, 560, 563.
Management of Public Schools: EDAD 565, 570, 573, 585.
Educational Planning and Program Development: EDAD 575, 580.
Internship practicum/Superintendency (3 hours): EDAD 591.
Field study (3 hours): EDAD 595.
EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION
The Department of Educational Leadership offers studies leading to the Master of Science in Education (MSEd) degree in educational administration with a general administrative emphasis. The degree program provides students with a broad theoretical background that facilitates career movement in a variety of administrative positions.
Completion of the Master of Science in Education degree in educational administration ordinarily satisfies Illinois general administrative certification requirements (required for elementary, middle school, and high school principals, assistant principals, assistant superintendents, or other positions carrying multi-department or building-wide responsibility), and Missouri certification requirements for the initial principal endorsement. Courses are generally acceptable for certification in other states. Individuals who may have unusual certification problems should consult with the graduate program director for additional information. Illinois certification for various administrative endorsements may also be met through the specialist degree in educational administration.
ADMISSION
General requirements for admission to graduate study at the master's level in educational administration are the same as those of the Graduate School. Applicants must hold, or have held, a K-12 teaching position in order to be admitted to the program.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
Thirty-six (36) semester hours of graduate credit are required for the Master of Science in Education degree with a major in educational administration. General requirements are as follows:
General Administrative Area of Emphasis
General professional core (9 hours): EPFR 501, 515; 520 or 521.
Required courses (27 hours)
Instructional Leadership: EDAD 525, 535, 545, 550.
Management of Public Schools: EDAD 510, 520, 530.
Schools and Public Policy: EDAD 500, 505.
EXIT REQUIREMENTS
All candidates for the master’s degree in educational administration must complete a comprehensive program portfolio. Students are required to participate in a school/school district based internship experience. The program portfolio standards follow the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education standards, Educational Leadership Constituent Council standards, and Illinois State Board of Education General Administration Endorsement standards. The portfolio is evaluated for content (knowledge and information gained from the Educational Administration program as related to the most recent educational research), and rationale (supporting basis from the literature in educational administration). The internship is supervised and evaluated by an administrator in the field and a faculty member of Educational Administration of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
