The M.S. in Educational Leadership program provides educators with an opportunity to develop leadership skills through relevant coursework and experiences.

The following concentrations are available for this program:
Principal Preparation
  • Consists of 33 credit hours and can be completed in six (6) semesters. Courses are offered in a cohort that provides consistent communication and support between faculty mentors and fellow students.
  • There is a year-long internship with the support of a Mentor Principal and Faculty Supervisor. The administrative work can be completed in the fall and spring before and after school and in the summer, so there is no teacher release time required.
  • The degree leads to the P-12 Principal Endorsement. It is intended for teachers and school support personnel who want to serve as school building administrators.
Teacher Leader
  • Consists of 30 credit hours and can be completed in five (5) semesters. Courses are offered in a cohort setting. No teacher release time is required.
  • The degree leads to a Teacher Leader Endorsement. It is intended for teachers who want to be a school leader other than a principal or assistant principal, such as department chairs, program leaders, curriculum specialist, and others.
Candidates may be eligible for a focused program to earn the Principal or Teacher Leader endorsement only.
View the Educational Leadership Curriculum

The University of St. Francis is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. College of Education programs are further approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (isbe.net).

Principal Preparation

  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Illinois Professional Educator License
  • Three years of full-time teaching or school support personnel experience
  • Two letters of recommendation one from current principal and one from superintendent
  • Admission essay
  • Official transcripts from an accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Illinois Professional Educator License
  • Two years of full-time teaching experience
  • Two letters of recommendation one from current principal and another administrator
  • Admission essay
  • Official transcripts from an accredited institution

Applications are still being accepted for cohorts forming for the upcoming semester. For information regarding program availability and current site information or to inquire about starting a cohort in your school or district,  please contact:

Maggie Stevenson, Graduate Admissions
mstevenson@stfrancis.edu
815-740-3389

CLICK HERE TO APPLY WITH NO APPLICATION FEE!
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