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Masters

Educational Administration and Foundations - Principal Prep (P-12 Educational Administration)

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Overview

The master's degree in P-12 Educational Administration is Illinois State's 36-hour principal preparation program, leading to the principal endorsement on a professional education license. The online cohort model program features 10 courses (3 credit hours each) and 6 credit hours of mentored internship experiences. The program is approved by ISBE and qualifies graduates for positions as principals and assistant principals, or in related or similar positions.

Principal Prep with a Director of Special Education Concentration This concentration allows licensed teachers with a Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS1), Low Vision and Blindness (LVB), or Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) background to obtain their M.S. or M.S.Ed. with the opportunity to take additional courses ISBE requires as part of the Director of Special Education Endorsement. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree and license as a Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS1), Low Vision and Blindness (LVB), or Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH). Applicants can indicate their interest within the application.

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Point of Pride

The Department of Educational Administration and Foundations prepares superintendents, principals, university administrators, and other educational leaders.

Graduate Advisor

Dr. Lindsey Hall
(309) 438-1301
DeGarmo 331D

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How to Apply

University Admission Requirements

A student applying to this 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 by the time of program matriculation.
  • Submit unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term.
  • If admitted, official domestic transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, Graduate School, 208 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.
  • If admitted, official international transcripts can be emailed directly from the international institution to InternationalAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, International Admissions, Campus Box 6180, Normal, IL 61790-6180.

International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Graduate School Admission Requirements.

Additional Program Admission Requirements

To be considered for this program, you must meet the following requirements.

GPA

You must have a minimum 2.8 GPA (on a scale in which an A is a 4.0) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.

The Grade Point Average (GPA) of all undergraduate credentials earned in the United States that are used for graduate degree admission evaluation is calculated by the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. International credentials are evaluated by using cumulative GPA (CGPA) in lieu of the GPA from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.

Resume

Submit an updated resume with evidence of at least two years teaching experience and strong leadership credentials.

Professional Goals Statement

Provide a statement describing your professional goals.

Evidence of Experience

Submit the following documents:

  • a valid teaching license/certificate
  • at least two years of full-time P-12 teaching experience

Evidence of teaching experience can be provided by a letter from your school district or a screenshot from your ELIS account.

Letters of Recommendation

Provide names and email address of two individuals to write a letter recommending you for this program. One letter of recommendation should be from an individual who has supervised you, like a principal. This recommendation should not be from your superintendent, as they will provide a separate document acknowledging their support.

Support and Acknowledgment Form

Upload a signed copy of ISU EAF Superintendent School District Recommendation and Acknowledgment to Support the Candidate form, which will be uploaded as a document in the application.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall  Term — April 15, rolling admission after if space permits

Apply Now

Graduate Assistantships

The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,

  • be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
  • be in good-standing
  • be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).

Benefits

Graduate assistants receive

  • monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
  • a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
  • a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment

Costs & Funding

See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.

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Contact Information

  • Educational Administration & Foundations
  • (309) 438-5422
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