M.S.Ed. in Educational Administration Principal Preparation Program (Online)

We offer conditional admission to the first semester of our program. Requirements for conditional acceptance:

• Completed and approved application to the NIU Graduate School
• Valid and current Illinois professional educator license
• For teachers, data providing evidence of two years of student growth and learning within the last five years
• For school support personnel, a minimum of two years of related experience in an educational setting with data providing evidence of two years of student growth and learning within the last five years

• Leadership portfolio
• Letter of support from the superintendent where you are currently employed
• Letter of commitment from your prospective internship mentor
• Written response to a given scenario
• Interview with at least two NIU faculty members
• A grade of B or higher in LEEA 500 and 501

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A leadership portfolio demonstrates clear evidence of your proficiency in each of these categories:

• Support all students achieving high standards of learning and two years of related experience in an educational setting
• Analytical abilities needed to collect and analyze data for student improvement
• Knowledge of curriculum and instructional practices
• Significant leadership roles
• Demonstrated respect for family and community
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills

Our internship program, which spans three consecutive semesters, occurs during the second year of our program and is considered the culminating experience for all candidates. While you continue to work full time, you'll apply the knowledge and skills you've acquired through your coursework as you engage in authentic and meaningful leadership opportunities and experiences in a public and/or private school setting.

You'll participate in or lead a wide variety of activities designed to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to facilitate learning for all students. Working with your principal mentor and a faculty supervisor, you'll become involved in innovative projects, management functions and problem-based activities, as well as the day-to-day administrative duties faced by principals. These include helping create, implement and evaluate a school improvement plan; conducting a full teacher evaluation cycle; reviewing the school budget; joining an IEP, Section 504 or disciplinary conference; participating in the hiring process; and collaborating with teachers to modify curriculum and instructional strategies.

Our principal preparation instructors come from a diverse array of experiences, including principals, university professors, general and special education teachers, school psychologists, assistant superintendents, school business officials, directors of special education, superintendents and consultants to the Illinois State Board of Education.

They offer experience in leadership; school improvement planning; teaching-and-learning; curriculum development; professional development; multi-tiered systems of support; collective bargaining; school boards; referendums; partnerships with parents, communities and business; school finance and facilities; policy development; school law; special education law; and educational research.

Requirements for the principal endorsement include:

• Master's degree awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education that encompasses the coursework in educational administration or supervision
• Complete a state-approved Illinois program approved for the preparation of administrators
• A valid and current Illinois professional educator license
• Must pass state required content area exam(s)
• Must complete the two-day Illinois Performance Evaluation – Teacher Evaluation Training

Semester One

• LEEA 500 Educational Organization and Administration (3)
• LEEA 501 School Leadership and Data-Based Decision Making (3)

Semester Two

• LEEA 520 Education Finance and Facility Management (3)
• LEEA 535 Supervisory Behavior (3)

Semester Three

• TLCI 505 Site-Based Curriculum Development (3)
• LEEA 554 Policy Analysis for School Administrators (3)

Semester Four

• LEEA 511 Principalship (3)
• LEEA 525 Education Law (3)
• LEEA 586(a) Internship (1)

Semester Five

• LEEA 526 Legal Requirements for Educating Diverse Learners (3)
• LEEA 586(b) Internship (2)

Semester Six

• EPS 512 Principal, Family and Community (3)
• LEEA 586(c) Internship (3)