Special Education - Director of Special Education
Fully Online
Overview
The program is designed to prepare educational professionals for leadership, organization, and administration of special education programs in Illinois. Completion of this post-Master's, non-degree certificate program enables qualified individuals to meet Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) standards leading to endorsement as a Director of Special Education. Candidates for the endorsement must also pass the State of Illinois DOSE Content Area Test.
For more information regarding our graduation rates, cost of instruction, and the median loan debts of students who complete the program, please review the gainful employment disclosures.
Point of Pride
The Department of Special Education has strong partnerships with school districts across the state, providing a wide range of clinical placements and collaborative opportunities.
Advising
Yun-Ching Chung
(309) 438-2456
Degarmo Hall - DEG 533C
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Discover what life as an Illinois State graduate student is like.
How to Apply
University Admission Requirements
A student applying to a graduate certificate program must have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so within one academic year.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
Applications will be reviewed by the Department of Special Education DOSE Program Coordinator who may ask you to submit additional information.
To be considered for this program, you must meet the following requirements.
Degree and Licensure
You must have a master's degree and a professional license in one of the following:
- Special Education
- School Psychology
- School Social Work
- Speech Language Pathology
- School Counseling
GPA
You must have a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for all graduate level coursework.
Proof of Professional Experience
You must have two or more years of successful teaching experience or related service provision.
In the online application system, upload an official letter from a school or district employer documenting your teaching experience or related service experience working with students with disabilities.
Transcript
Provide one official copy of transcripts from all institutions in which you completed graduate courses.
Cover Letter and Resume
Upload a cover letter and current resume.
Your cover letter should outline your professional goals as related to special education administrative leadership.
Letter of Recommendation
Include one professional letter of recommendation. The letter should come from a person who has knowledge of your professional work, especially your work as a school or district leader.
The letter must address the following with examples or details:
- Leadership experiences
- Ability to make a difference in student performance
- Ability to work with colleagues and staff as a team
- Oral and written communication skills
- Potential to become a special education administrative leader who can motivate and support faculty and families and who can promote learning by students with disabilities
Application Tip
When applying to the Director of Special Education program, be sure to select the Student Type as “Certificate/Specialist” as the level of study on the application for admission.
Global Access to Online Degree Programs
When applying, international students applying to a fully online program must agree to our international online and hybrid programs disclosure and disclaimer statements. Due to limited on-campus courses, immigration documentation cannot be issued for students seeking F-1 or J-1 status.
Application Deadlines
Fall 2022 (August) Term — Next cohorts begins Fall (August) of 2022. Application deadline is July 15, 2022. Cohorts begin online every other year.
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