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School of Graduate and Professional Studies

Master of Education in Educational Leadership

A degree program leading to Illinois principal endorsement

North Central College’s Educational Leadership program’s moral purpose is to develop leaders who foster educational environments where all individuals can flourish. This program cultivates practical wisdom through the development of:

  • Professional Competencies
  • Leader Virtues and Character

This program inspires leaders who create cultures of character through:

  • Contextualized leadership styles
  • Culturally responsive leadership

Learn more: view our latest INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR

Program Highlights

  • Online delivery with 8 week course sessions, including scheduled virtual class meetings
  • 36 credits, complete in as little as 22 months
  • Personalized year-long ISBE required internship
  • School management preparation with a focus on creating ethical and effective leaders  

Eligibility

  • Illinois Professional Educator License
  • Minimum of 2 years of teaching experience

How to Apply

Launch your degree in the fall, summer, or spring semester! Click below for more information regarding deadlines and application instructions. 

START YOUR APPLICATION

Cost of Attendance

Click here for information on the COST OF ATTENDANCE

Graduate candidates are eligible for up to $20,500 in the federal direct unsubsidized loan annually; this includes fall, spring, and summer semesters.

North Central offers a payment plan for fall and spring semesters through a third party vendor.

Educational Alliance Partnership Benefits

North Central is proud to provide a 20% tuition benefit to educators employed by the listed school district partners. Additionally, educators working in member institutions of the following can receive the benefit:

  • Illinois Network of Charter Schools
  • Lake County Regional Office of Education
  • Midwest Principals' Center
  • North Cook, South Cook and West40 Intermediate Service Center
  • Click here for the full listing of school district partnerships

Applicants whose principal mentor is an Illinois Principals Association member are also eligible. 

Master of Education in Educational Leadership Curriculum

This master's degree requires a student to complete 36 credit hours of prescribed coursework:

  • Seven 4-credit hour courses, each course offered in an 8 week session
  • A year-long internship (3 courses, 8 credit hours total)
    • Can be completed while candidates are employed full-time

llinois Licensure Requirements

  • Illinois Evaluator Training required prior to Internship Project # 2
  • Illinois Content-Area Tests - #195 & 196 Principal as Instructional Leader

Fall Course Schedule

Spring Course Schedule

Summer Course Schedule

Educational Leadership, M.Ed.

Leadership candidates are provided a breadth of theory in leadership as well as a foundation of knowledge, practical experiences, and performances necessary for the enterprise of educational leadership. North Central College's Educational Leadership program's purpose is to develop leaders who foster educational environments where all individuals can flourish. The program cultivates practical wisdom through the development of professional competencies, and leader virtues and leader character. The program inspires leaders who create cultures of character through contextualized leadership styles and culturally responsive leadership. The North Central College Educational Leadership program provides a strong foundation of knowledge, dispositions, and performance based on the National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) standards to prepare candidates to become successful school leaders. It is also aligned to the Illinois Performance Standards for School Leaders (IPSSL) and the Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching & Leading (CRT&L) standards.

The North Central College Educational Leadership admission requirements include the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requirements of appropriate educator licensure and two-years of professional experience in schools. Latest updates to admission requirements are available on the Graduate Admissions web page.

The Master's degree in Educational Leadership requires a student to complete 36 credit hours of prescribed coursework. Students who complete the M.Ed. degree in Educational Leadership may earn a principal endorsement on a State of Illinois professional educator license, a customary requirement to become a principal or assistant principal.

Our faculty commitment to Cultures of Character...
Kathleen B. King

Driven to facilitate the realization of others’ potential, Dr. King is deeply committed to character and leadership development through the fostering of school cultures centered on core virtues.  In her teaching, she is dedicated to assuring professionals in the classroom and administrative ranks are committed to opportunity and equity, skilled in cultivating stakeholders of common mission, dedicated to fostering flourishing communities, and adept at facilitating growth towards our greatest potential.

Maureen V. Spelman

The overarching vision that has guided Dr. Spelman’s journey as a professional educator has been one of ensuring that all children have access to a high-quality learning environment. Her belief that the school leader is the keystone in that vision led her to the NCC Educational Leadership program. Dr. Spelman values and strives to integrate moral, ethical, servant, transformational, and visionary leadership styles into her work. She is committed to a path of personal life-long development focused on the character strengths/virtues of courage, strength, patience, wisdom, dignity, grace, kindness, and compassion.

Professional Partnerships

North Central College is proud to partner with several leading professional associations for educators. The endorsement provided by these organizations adds a professional value added benefit for candidates. In addition, select partnerships add a 20% tuition grant when educators enter the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership program.  

School partner logos

The Master of Education in Educational Leadership program features a curriculum infused with research-based character education instruction. You’ll learn what it takes to promote a culture of character in your school while also mastering strong management and operational skills.

Program Outcomes

Identify and develop your own sense of a leadership role through clarity of your own vision, values, beliefs, and character orientation.

Learn how to create a safe, supportive, and nurturing culture including character frameworks.

Develop your ability to put systems into place and advocate for student-centered cultures of character that promote agency, including story-telling and sharing of best practice.

Advance your ability as a school leader to create environments that promote character development through parent and community partnerships, management efficacy and ongoing school improvement reflective of a growth mindset.

 

"We grapple with authentic ethical dilemmas faced by educational leaders during each class session. We work through the dilemmas, with the goal of preparing prepare candidates to recognize how to build a collective framework of wisdom with which to analyze and address situations." Maureen Spelman, Ed.D. Professor of Education and Coordinator of Character Initiatives

“This is definitely a program that's manageable for working professionals. Being 100% online has made it easy for me to work and return to school. Developing my own vision with the character virtue component has helped me become a stronger educator and person. Using a moral compass through which to filter all of our decisions really strengthens my leadership abilities."

Julie Klemm Educational Leadership Candidate
Julie Klemm