Master of Education in Educational Leadership

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. 

• Find out how your school district can qualify for the Education Alliance Partnership. (PDF)
• Questions? Contact Jennifer Jeschke, jjeschke@noctrl.edu

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

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.  

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