Superintendent certification may be obtained within the post-master's certification program or within the doctoral program.
The program is designed for Illinois educators interested in advanced study and preparation in the leadership, organization, and administration of public school districts in Illinois. Candidates should hold a master's degree, P-12 leadership experience, and a Type 75 certificate.
Learn more about graduate school at Illinois State University.
Superintendent certificate graduates will have developed the ability to approach challenges and opportunities in schools using multiple perspectives and leadership skills in order to:
Applicants for post-master's certification programs must have already earned a master's degree. Admission to the programs in EAF is competitive. The Department has a rolling admissions policy and considers admission three times a year. Learn about the application process.
Tuition and fees for the program are determined each year by the University. These costs exclude textbook or software requirements for courses.
Financial assistance is available through scholarships, graduate assistantships, and tuition waivers. Learn about financial aid opportunities.
The course requires at least 36 hours of coursework in a required sequence. Courses are offered nights and weekends to accommodate schedules of full-time educational professionals. Some online options exist for select courses.
Find when the following courses will be offered and their syllabi:
Total: 36 credit hours (*CSBO indicates course also counts toward CSBO Endorsement.)
Graduate Catalog
Download the Graduate Catalog (pdf) to learn more about program requirements, course descriptions, and prerequisites.
To successfully complete Educational Administration and Foundations courses, students in all programs are expected to have frequent and convenient access to a computer and Internet resources. Illinois State University students can take advantage of special hardware and software pricing as well as installation support at ISU TechZone. Review the computer and technology requirements for EAF students.
Before completing the last semester of professional practice, candidates must pass the appropriate content test with the Illinois Certification Testing System.
Certification is recommended after two Department raters judge that your portfolio meets or exceeds the required standards.
Application for graduate-level certification is processed by the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center's Office of Clinical Experiences and Certification Processes. Individuals planning to pursue coursework for a certificate should first complete the steps listed in Part 1.
So that an initial evaluation for certification can be completed, the evaluation should be made early in the student's program in order to provide a list of deficiencies to be completed prior to the issuance of the certificate. A copy of the evaluation is sent to the student for use as a reference for all requirements. Allow up to four weeks for the Certification Office to process each initial evaluation.
For more information about the certificate programs, please contact the program advisor for an appointment:
Larry Lowe
340D DeGarmo Hall
(309) 438-3948
List are faculty who specialize in educational administration. (NOTE: There are several other faculty in EAF who are involved in the P-12 Administration concentration in teaching, scholarship, or professional service roles as well as professionals having adjunct, part-time relationships.)
