Educational Leadership (Specialist)
Specialist in Education Degree Mission: The mission of the Specialist in Education in Educational Leadership is to provide more advanced and intensive graduate study of educational leadership. Many courses are offered at night and weekends on-campus and at off-campus locations via the School of Continuing Education.
Degree Audit: The graduate plan of study is the EIU Degree Audit, which is generated automatically at the time of degree or certificate candidacy. Modifications of the standard EIU Degree Audit are submitted by the graduate coordinator to the certification officer in the Graduate School at the time modifications are approved. The Degree Audit serves as an unofficial summary of requirements for the program. Degree and certificate candidates are advised to review the comprehensive summary of the Degree Audit process specified on the "Requirements for All Degree and Certificate Candidates" section of the Graduate Catalog. Individual programs may require candidates to submit plans of study in addition to the Degree Audit, candidates should consult with the program coordinator.
Degree Requirements
Degree requirements include those outlined for the specialist's degree by the Graduate School (see "Requirements for the Specialist's Degree"). In addition, the courses proposed in the candidate's program for the specialist's degree must total 64 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. Ordinarily, in the first 30 to 33 semester hours, the student will complete the requirements for the master's degree although it is not required that the master's degree be completed within the first half of the total program.
Descriptions
Field Experience
A field experience is required of each specialist candidate. Field Experience provides the student with extended time to synthesize and apply the knowledge, and practice and develop district level skills identified in ISLLC Standards 1-6. The Field Experience provides for additional standards-based work in real settings, planned and guided cooperatively by a practicing district administrator and a university professor.
Comprehensive Project
The candidate for the Specialist in Education Degree must successfully complete a final comprehensive written project. The project is presented to the department and departmental certification of successful completion of the project must be filed in the Graduate School at least one week prior to the graduation date.
Time Limit
A minimum of 33 semester hours of new course work is required for the specialist’s degree and must be completed within the six-year time limit
Information sourced from the 2025-2026 EIU Graduate Catalog.