Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
Educational Leadership | College of Education

Program Information

The basis for the curriculum in Educational Leadership at Roosevelt University is constructivism in the form of transformational leadership theory and the open systems model. Its essence implies collaboration, participation, communication, shared planning, decision-making, and unity.

The graduates of the Educational Leadership program at Roosevelt University are imbued with open systems as a tool for assessing and improving schools, and transformational leadership as an article of faith in the sincere desire to serve the needs of children. Fundamentally, the goal is to have "transformed" graduates who will become transformers of schools. Through this process graduates have the potential to attain a level of transformation that reflects effective caring leadership so vital to educational reform.

The program's aim is to produce leaders competent in the area of educational leadership and human relations. The members of the faculty want students to be motivated by a core of attitudes that reflect a desire to be responsive to the needs of the field, the desire to make a difference in the life chances of students and the commitment to sustain them in leading schools or school systems in situations which appear fraught with insurmountable difficulties.

Transformational leadership lends itself well to the cohort model upon which the program in Educational Leadership is organized. As members of a cohort, students’ progress through the program with the same group of professionals, thereby building relationships, support and collegiality.

This program prepares educational leaders, administrators and supervisors for important leadership roles in elementary and secondary schools. In order to qualify for Roosevelt University's recommendation for the Illinois General Administrative Certificate (Type 75), all requirements in effect at the time of application must be met. The Illinois State Board of Education also requires satisfactory scores on the Illinois Certification Testing System Basic Skills Test prior to issuing a certificate. By offering students theories that focus on transformational leadership, and opportunities for practical experiences, as well as a review of issues and problems of educational reform, the college hopes to produce practitioners skilled in communications, human relations, and managerial analysis and informed about law and finance.

Prerequisites

Satisfactory undergraduate preparation; possession of a regular teaching or school personnel certificate; and two years of successful teaching or school service personnel experience (required for the Illinois General Administrative Certificate). Two letters of recommendation and a writing sample are required.

Degree Requirements

To earn the M.A. in Educational Leadership, students must complete 30 semester hours of course work with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and a maximum of two courses with grades of C. Two internship courses, ELOC 463 and 464, are taken during the last two semesters of a student’s program. Students develop a standard-based digital portfolio that represents their work through the program.  These experiences in schools with diverse student populations provide exposure to the issues faced by an administrator or supervisor.

The 10 course-30 semester hour program of study normally takes five semesters to complete.  Students enroll in two courses per semester. Courses are offered Fall, Spring, and Summer Semesters/Sessions.

• ELOC 401 Data Analysis and Action Research for Educational Leaders
• ELOC 411 Social Foundations of Diverse Communities
• ELOC 412 School, Family and Community Relations
• ELOC 430 Theory and Practice in Educational Leadership
• ELOC 432 School Finance and Budget
• ELOC 433 Educational Law
• ELOC 440 Leadership in Human Resources Development
• ELOC 451 Instructional Leadership
• ELOC 463 Internship in Educational Leadership: Part I
• ELOC 464 Internship in Educational Leadership: Part II

Other Information

See Graduate Catalog for course descriptions. See also the Internship Handbook (Word, 220K). For information related to the certification application process, see the Certification home page and/or contact the Certification Officer.

Faculty (click for full list)

 

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Thomas Kersten
College of Education
1400 North Roosevelt Boulevard
Schaumburg, IL 60173
847-619-8609