Course Descriptions

Please click here for course syllabi. Please keep in mind that these syllabi represent the general course content and are updated each semester.

EDA 5410 School Law (4): This course includes an analysis of selected general legal principles, case and stature law, and law-making agencies that effect leaders and educational institutions.Key content areas should include but not be limited to the legal system, role of federal, state, and local governments, the legislative process, governance of schools, and policies and rules and regulations, church and state, civil rights, student and parent rights and responsibilities, teacher rights and responsibility, collective bargaining, torts and contracts, and legal research.

EDA 5420 School/Community Relations (2): The course focuses on the purposes, techniques and administration of school/community relations programs in school districts and individual schools.Attention is given to the roles of board members, superintendents of schools, school principals, students, teachers, and other staff members in promoting good relationships between the school and community.The course includes attention to techniques for encouraging citizen involvement in schools, effective communication between the school and community, the use of media in promoting good school/community relations, community study and analysis, tax referenda and bond issue campaigns, and evaluations of school/community relations programs.

EDA 5600 Introduction to Organization and Administration (3): In this course prospective administrators are introduced to schools as organizations, the nature of administrative work, leadership and the change process, and current issues facing schools.

EDA 5630 The Principalship (4): Develops interrelationship of pupils, staff and resources in the elementary school. Focus on the tasks performed and leadrship skills needed.

EDA 5700 Supervision of Instruction (2): This course deals with the supervisory process, and introduction to the research on teaching, and current issues in instructional supervision.

EDA 5870 Personnel Administration (3): Focuses upon personnel functions in education including recruitment, selection, induction and evaluation of staff; staff development and in-service education programs; personnel compensation and fringe benefits; collective bargaining processes; and master contract between boards of education and employees.Attention is also given to factors involved in maintaining the continuity of personnel services including organizational and climate development and improvement; conflict resolution; team buildings; collaborative decision making; substitute services; leave of absences; and personnel promotions, transfers, resignations, and dismissals.

EDA 5890 Practicum in School Leadership (4): This course provides students with clinical experiences in educational administration and organization under the direct supervision of a practicing administrator and a university professor.

EDA 5900 Introduction to Research in Education (2): The major purpose of Introduction to Research in Education is to present information pertinent to understanding how to conduct and utilize research as a school administrator.A major emphasis is placed on understanding basic principles of research in order to be able to conduct research.An emphasis is also placed on interpreting existing research for application purposes as a school administrator.

EDA 5960 Management and Analysis of Data (4): Focus on the development of skills which will enable school administrators to utilize data management functions logically and systematically, to provide effective services, and to make effective decisions. Hands-on microcomputer applications are provided as is a basic introduction to software and hardware analysis and utilization. No prior microcomputer skills are necessary for the course.

EDA 5980 Internship in Administration (3): Prerequisite: Permission of the Department Chair.

EDA 6200 Evaluating Student Achievement (4): The major purpose of this course is to develop knowledge and skills in educational leaders, which will enhance their effectiveness in working with various aspects of evaluating student achievement.A major thrust of "Evaluating Student Achievement" is to provide students with a conceptual framework for developing and managing the evaluation of student achievement.An emphasis is placed on students developing skills needed for effective educational leadership in the realm of improving student achievement.

EDA 6600 Organizational Development in Educational Administration (4): This course stresses educational leaders' competencies in possessing the knowledge, skills, and abilities to maximize the human potential of staff.To complete the laboratory component of the course, students will document approximately 15 hours of school administrative clinical experiences.Experiences may include one-on-one interviews with "successful" superintendents, one-on-one interviews with "successful" private business executives, or specific on-line web based communication activities, or other experiences as approved/assigned by the instructor.

EDA 6650 The Superintendent of Schools (4): The course focuses on the leadership roles of the superintendent of schools in working with the board of education, central school district administrative staff, building principals, school staff members, citizens of the community and political and educational leaders.Attention is given to the role of the superintendent of schools in instruction and curriculum, personnel administration (including collective bargaining), finance and business management, and buildings and grounds.The course also includes treatment of the unique role of the superintendent of schools in various types of school districts and the role of the superintendent of the intermediate school district.Attention is also given to staff development programs for superintendents of schools and possible future trends in the position of the superintendency.

EDA 6700 Planning and Evaluation of Instructional Programs (3): The major purposes of this course are to develop educational program planning and evaluation skills needed by school administrators and the skills necessary to prepare an acceptable prospectus for the field experience in educational administration.

EDA 6800 Current Issues in Educational Administration (4): This course focuses on developing knowledge, skills, and abilities for school leaders in the context of providing leadership for common and on-going issue and policy areas.To complete the laboratory component of the course, students will document approximately 15 hours of school administrative clinical experiences.In consultation with the instructor, students will evaluate their background and knowledge in areas of current issues critical to the performance of a school superintendent.Clinical experiences will be individualized to the needs of each student and may include on-on-one interviews with "successful" superintendents, one-on-one interviews with school board members, attendance at board of education meetings, participation in specific school committee meetings, participation in workshops provided for superintendents, specific on-line web based communication activities or other experiences as approved/assigned by the instructor.

EDA 6810 Seminar: School Law (2): The major purpose of Seminar: School Law is to present information pertinent to understand how to interpret and apply appropriate law as a school administrator. A major emphasis is placed on understanding basic principles of law in order to be able to apply them. An emphasis is also placed on interpreting current legislation for application purposes as a school administrator.

EDA 6850 School Facilities (2): Emphasizes the planning procedures and criteria, data needs, health and safety concerns, internal and external environments, the up-grading of existing facilities, and flexibility of building use for educational programming.Planning, development, utilization, maintenance, and evaluation of educational facilities are highlights by consultants, field trips, and class projects designed to emphasize practical applications.

EDA 6860 School Finance (3): This course deals with the financing of Illinois Public Schools.Emphasis will be placed on the practical approach to school financing, with theoretical background of Public School Finance.Students will be given an opportunity to apply theory to various school finance models.

EDA 6870 Collective Bargaining in Education (3): The major purpose of Collective Bargaining in Education is to develop and nurture those educational leadership skills, which are germane to the understanding and application of collective bargaining law.The major thrusts are to provide the students with a conceptual base from which they can exert educational leadership, leadership, develop those technical skills necessary to function effectively, and identify and foster human skills associated with successful contract development and management.

EDA 6910 Field Experience in Administration (4) (Credit/No Credit): The major purpose of Field Experience in administration is for students to demonstrate a synthesis of knowledge, skills, and abilities acquired in the courses leading to the Educational Specialist degree for the purpose of solving a problem in the area of school administration.After identifying a major educational problem related to school administration, students develop a proposal that indicates how they purport to address the problem.Students then operationalize the proposal in order to solve the problem.

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