Key Features

Resulting in the Illinois State Board of Education Superintendent Certification Endorsement

• A focus on servant leadership as viewed through a Catholic/Franciscan lens (kind, caring, compassionate, and mission-driven toward helping others.)
• In the coursework, candidates will be presented with administrative dilemmas to be solved in an ethical manner.
• Dissertation work begins shortly after the research methods courses; thereby, offering the opportunity for candidates to apply their learning in real-life situations in school districts.
• Dissertation topics are focused on solving real-life problems faced by today’s school districts and their leaders.
• The dissertation is broken into manageable pieces that are addressed in research courses.
• Candidates will have guidance and support from two university professors and the school district superintendent throughout the dissertation process.
• Courses will be delivered in a blended format consisting of a combination of face-to-face, on-line, and writers’ workshop sessions.
• Candidates carry 6 credit hours per semester (including the summer) and can complete the program in 3.5 years.
• Candidates belong to a cohort that offers networking opportunities, guaranteed course offerings, a defined program sequence, and a genuine learning community.
• Performance-based assessments are used in each course to provide an opportunity to apply what was learned.
• Candidates are recognized as unique individuals. Teaching is differentiated to meet their diverse needs and to help them to succeed.