MEd in Instructional Leadership

Please note: The concentrations in Elementary Education and Secondary Education have been suspended effective Fall 2014. Contact the department for more information.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. The following requirements for admissions represent recommended minimum levels of performance. Decisions are made on the strength of the overall evidence of academic and professional capacities and on available enrollment space. Applicants to the Secondary Education concentration must submit transcripts from all undergraduate work; applicants to the other concentrations must submit transcripts from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. Applicants to all concentrations must also submit transcripts from all postbaccalaureate work. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

  • Baccalaureate Field No restrictions.
  • Grade Point Average
    • Secondary Education: Requires a 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study, a 3.00/4.00 for any postbaccalaureate/graduate course work, and a 3.00/4.00 for the courses in the undergraduate major or in the intended teaching subject.
    • Policy Studies: Requires a 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study and for all postbaccalaureate/graduate course work.
    • Other Concentrations: Recommended minimum of 2.75/4.00 for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study and at least 3.00/4.00 for all postbaccalaureate/graduate course work.
  • Tests Required See the Illinois State Board of Education website for the most current information concerning Educator Licensure Testing Information.
  • Minimum English Competency Test Score
    • TOEFL 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Test). Note: Total score is higher than the sum of the subscores; 60, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Writing 21 (revised Paper-Delivered Test). OR,
    • IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores, OR,
    • PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
  • Letters of Recommendation
    • Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Educational Studies: Three letters addressing the applicant’s academic qualifications, teaching experience, and ability to carry on advanced degree studies. Letters should be from current or former professors or supervisors.
    • Policy Studies: Three letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s capacity for graduate-level studies. Letters may be from current or former professors or supervisors.
  • Other Requirements
    • Elementary Education: A 3–4 page statement of professional goals addressing the applicant’s relevant background and experience, interest in elementary-aged children, and goals for the MEd program.
    • Secondary Education: A 3–4 page statement addressing the applicant’s commitment to and/or experiences working with urban youth. The Secondary Education concentration also requires 18 hours of courses in the subject area the applicant would like to teach and an interview with advisory staff. This concentration requires transcripts from all undergraduate and postbaccalaureate work.
    • Educational Studies: A 3–4 page statement of the professional goals addressing the applicant’s relevant background and experience, and goals for the MEd program.
    • Policy Studies: Applicants must submit a 3–4 page statement of professional goals and reasons for seeking admission to this concentration.
  • All Concentrations Submit materials required by the specific concentration directly to the College of Education at one time in a large envelope. All materials must be submitted by the stated application deadlines. Applicants should give themselves enough time to gather all materials (especially letters of recommendation) and submit them by the deadline.
  • Deadlines The application deadlines for these concentrations are earlier than the Graduate College deadline; contact the College of Education for information on current deadlines.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required Varies by concentration.
    • Elementary Education: 35 hours. Note that students complete additional hours for student teaching to earn an Illinois Professional Education (PEL) License.
    • Secondary Education: 34 hours. Note that students complete additional hours student teaching to earn an Illinois Professional Education (PEL) License.
    • Educational Studies: 32 hours.
    • Policy Studies: 32 hours.
  • Course Work

Elementary Education Concentration

Required Courses
Philosophy of Education and Urban School Policy
Policy Issues in the History of American Education
Advanced Educational Psychology
Advanced Developmental Psychology and Educational Processes
Exceptional Learners
Literature, Social Studies, and the Arts in the Elementary School
Creating Learning Environments in the Elementary School
Dynamics of Learning Environments
Foundations of Literacy Instruction, K-8
Teaching and Learning Mathematics in the Elementary School
Teaching and Learning Science in the Elementary School
Student Teaching in the Elementary Grades I
Student Teaching in the Elementary Grades II
Bilingualism and Literacy in a Second Language
Integrated Reading and Writing Instruction

Secondary Education Concentration

Required Courses
Philosophy of Education and Urban School Policy
Policy Issues in the History of American Education
Advanced Educational Psychology
Adolescence and the Schools
ED 429
See advisor
Instruction and Assessment in the Urban Secondary Classroom
Colloquium on Diversity in Secondary Education
Exceptional Learners
Curriculum and Teaching in Secondary Education
Secondary Literacy
All required teaching areas and methods courses for teachers in designated teaching field, and other course work selected with the consent of the faculty advisor.

Educational Studies Concentration

Required Courses
Philosophy of Education and Urban School Policy
Policy Issues in the History of American Education
Advanced Educational Psychology
Advanced Developmental Psychology and Educational Processes
Adolescence and the Schools
Curriculum and Teaching
Improving Learning Environments
14 semester hours of graduate work offered by the College of Education and selected with consent of the faculty advisor.

Policy Studies Concentration

Core Requirements (9 hours)
Philosophy of Education and Urban School Policy
Policy Issues in the History of American Education
Advanced Educational Psychology
Advanced Developmental Psychology and Educational Processes
Adolescence and the Schools
Curriculum and Teaching
Improving Learning Environments
Concentration (12 hours)
12 semester hours of selectives in policy studies (400- and 500-level courses from the EDPS rubric that are not designated as courses reserved for doctoral students) chosen with an advisor.
Electives (11 hours)
11 semester hours of general electives to be chosen in consultation with and approved by a faculty advisor. A maximum of 4 semester hours of EDPS 596 may be taken as a general elective.
9 of the concentration/elective hours must be taken at the 500 level.

Other Requirements

  • Comprehensive Examination Not required.
  • Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Course work only. No other options are available.

Interdepartmental Concentrations

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in select concentrations after consulting with their graduate advisor. Interdepartmental concentrations available for this degree include: