The Ed.S. degree is an education specialist degree program of advanced study for those individuals who have already completed a master’s degree in Education. No dissertation is required. The Ed.S. degree qualifies individuals for superintendent, central office, program leader and department director positions in schools.
The Ed.S. Illinois Superintendent Endorsement program consists of seven courses (eight weeks in length face to face) and three internship field based experiences (sixteen weeks each in length) which meet the State of Illinois requirements for the Illinois Superintendent Endorsement. A required orientation program supplements the program and provides the candidate with all resources for the program including portfolio design and development, as well as an overview of all standards of assessment.
Throughout the Ed.S. Superintendent Endorsement program, candidates are required to upload documents into an electronic portfolio set up for them in the University’s Blackboard Learning Management System. Entries in the portfolio provide evidence of compliance with the requirements established by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for the Superintendent Endorsement program.
The student must choose the Illinois Superintendent Endorsement Only or the Superintendent Endorsement/Ed.S. at the time of initial enrollment in the program.
General Graduate Admission Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago graduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.
New students are accepted into graduate degree-seeking, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Previously admitted students seeking to change programs may do so at the beginning of a semester (only) by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app. Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards at the time of requesting a program change.
Candidates may be asked to show evidence of a valid and current Professional Educator License (PEL - Illinois) endorsed in general administrative, principal, chief school business official or director of special education.
Standard Admission for students who meet admission requirements and are pursuing the Ed.S. Illinois Superintendent Endorsement program is granted after the first semester upon successful completion of:
Degree Requirements
The first seven courses are eight weeks in length and are offered face-to-face. An Electronic Portfolio is required for selected assignments from each of the following:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Law & Governance | ||
| EDL-7210 | Policy Analysis (PK-12) | 3 |
| EDL-7255 | Managing Legal and Human Resource Issues | 3 |
| EDL-7301 | Ethics for Educational Leaders for the Illinois Superintendent Endorsement | 3 |
| Management | ||
| EDL-7245 | Managing Illinois School District Finances | 3 |
| EDL-7241 | Supervisory Theory and Practice for the Illinois Superintendent Endorsement | 3 |
| Educational Leadership | ||
| EDL-7111 | Strategies of Educational Leadership for the Illinois Superintendent Endorsement | 3 |
| EDL-7260 | School/District Improvement Using Data Analysis | 3 |
| Field Based Experience 1 | ||
| EDL-7894 | Superintendent Internship I: The Superintendent as Instructional Leader | 3 |
| EDL-7895 | Superintendent Internship II: The Superintendent as Change Agent | 3 |
| EDL-7896 | Superintendent Internship III: The Superintendent as HR and Resources Manager | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Concordia University’s field based experience training meets all Illinois state requirements which include the candidate completing three, sixteen week internships with their District Superintendent Internship Supervisor (DSIS) and the Concordia University Chicago Internship Supervisor (CUCIS).
Graduation Requirements
- Have on file an application as a degree-seeking graduate student.
- Have on file one official transcript from EACH college/university attended of all previous coursework taken.
- Complete, for the degree being sought:
- the credit hours and levels as designated,
- within the specified time limit,
- with grades of C- or higher,
- with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Students completing multiple advanced programs or degrees at CUC must have a 3.0 GPA in each academic program in addition to a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- If transfer credit is approved to be applied: have on file an approved “Graduate Transfer Credit Approval” form(s) or evaluation(s).
- Have on file the Intent to Graduate/Complete form with the Office of the Registrar by the published deadline.
- Have on file, if applicable, necessary copies of a project, thesis or dissertation.
- Take and pass the final examination or terminal requirements in the program during or after the final course.
- Approval of the faculty.
- All administrative obligations to CUC must be cleared in order to prompt the release of CUC transcripts and diploma(s).
Every attempt has been made to include information to aid the student with information about his/her program, degree and graduation/completion requirements. It is, however, the student’s responsibility to complete all steps and meet all deadlines relevant to graduation requirements.
This program leads to Illinois licensure with direct University entitlement. The awarding of Illinois licensure will require the completion of your academic program, and may require an existing PEL, a passing score on the corresponding Illinois State Licensure Test(s), associated work experience, a previous master's degree, and completion of a state training academy. For your licensure’s specific requirements please refer to ISBE’s webpage or contact the Licensure Officer at licensure@cuchicago.edu.