Education

Contact Information

Website: www.uis/education
Email: education@uis.edu
Office Phone: (217) 206-6306
Office Location: BRK 377

Masters

The School of Education is dedicated to crafting the next generation of collaborative and proactive educational professionals. Our program is a learning experience to mastering the art of leading, teaching, and learning across diverse organizational landscapes.

Our dynamic curriculum includes a unique blend of scholarly and clinical activities, each carefully designed for the practical application of intellectual, democratic, and ethical principles in education. Additionally, all students receive training in restorative practices, equipping you with the skills to not only educate but also heal and build stronger, more resilient learning communities. Our graduate programs develop educational leaders who not only impart knowledge but also foster understanding, empathy, and positive change in educational contexts.

Our dynamic curriculum offers two master's degrees: an M.A. in Educational Leadership and an M.A. in Education, each designed to forge paths in educational excellence. Additionally, we offer course work leading to licensure/endorsements and a plethora of outstanding graduate certificates. Please contact the School of Education for further information on licensure and endorsements.

All Programs are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education.

THE MASTER'S DEGREE

Dive into the dynamic world of our online Master of Arts in Education program, a journey that blends academic rigor with unparalleled flexibility. This program is tailored for those who seek to forge their own educational path, offering the freedom to design a plan of study that aligns perfectly with students' passions and interests. Whether you're drawn to curriculum development, educational technology, or any other niche in the vast education landscape, this program molds to fit your aspirations.

Woven into the fabric of this unique program is specialized training in restorative practices. This crucial component equips you with the skills to create harmonious, inclusive learning environments, emphasizing empathy, conflict resolution, and community building.

Embark on this online adventure that promises not just a degree, but a transformative experience, shaping you into an educator who can inspire, innovate, and make a lasting impact in the ever-evolving world of education.

The master’s degree requires the completion of 36 semester credit hours of course work including 20 credit hours of electives.

Advising

Students are assigned an advisor when they are admitted to the program. The academic advisor will assist students in planning their program of study.

Grading Policy

Students should refer to the campus policy on Grades Acceptable Toward Master’s Degrees section of this catalog.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Goals include:

Gain the ability to tailor your educational journey, leading to specialized expertise in your chosen area of interest within the field of education. This could range from innovative curriculum design to advanced educational technology, positioning you as an expert in your niche.
Acquire comprehensive skills in restorative practices, enabling you to create inclusive, empathetic, and supportive learning environments. Learn to effectively address and resolve conflicts, foster a sense of community, and build stronger, more resilient educational settings.
Develop strong leadership skills with a focus on ethical, democratic, and intellectual aspects of education. Be prepared to lead in a diverse range of educational settings, drive positive change, and influence policy and practice in education, equipped with a deep understanding of contemporary educational challenges and solutions.

Requirements

Required Courses
Research
EDL 541	Educational Research Methods	4
or EDL 505	Introduction To Research
Educational Leadership
EDL 542	Action Research for Leadership	4
PAD 481	Perspectives on Child Maltreatment and Advocacy	4
Electives ¹		20
Master's Closure
EDL 586	Capstone Project ²	4
Total Hours		36

¹: Students may take any 500-level EDL courses to satisfy the elective requirement with the exception of: EDL 526, EDL 527, EDL 531, EDL 532, EDL 586, and EDL 598.
²: If EDL 586 is not completed during initial enrollment, students must register for EDL 598 for zero credit hours (one billable hour) during fall and spring semesters until the project in completed.

Students can choose a certificate to add as a concentration. Topics include, but are not limited to, Educational Technology, English as a Second Language, Higher Education Pedagogy, Computer Science, Leadership and Learning, Legal Aspects of Education, or Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS1). Students may also design their own concentration based on an area of interest in consultation with an advisor or faculty.

Master's Closure

Students who take EDL 586 and do not pass must register for EDL 598 (zero credit hours, one billable hour) each subsequent fall and spring until the closure is complete.

EHS HDC Admissions
Degree Program	Program Type	Dept Application Materials and Admission Criteria	Prerequisite Course Requirements	Department ADM Review	Dept Conditional Admits	Dept Appeal Process
Education	MA	No additional admission requirements beyond the general UIS criteria	N/A	Director and Program Coordinator	N/A	N/A

Courses

EDL 456. Strategies for Teaching Children with Exceptionalities. 3 Hours.

Prepares teachers to support students' learning and behavioral needs through effective assessment and instructional strategies that relate to reading, writing, and mathematics. Three fundamental goals in this course: providing foundational information, supplying detailed methods that allow teachers to implement effective strategies to address academic and behavioral concerns, and presenting information about organization and planning.

EDL 493. Cross-Cultural Studies for Multilingual Students and Families. 3 Hours.

The course is designed to provide an understanding of the socio-cultural and political contexts of multilingual students and families. Course topics will include immigrant and linguistic legal rights and advocacy related to U.S. schooling. Course includes a 15 hour clinical experience.

EDL 502. School Finance. 4 Hours.

Sources of school revenue, analysis of expenditure policies, intergovernmental relationships, introduction to economics of education, trends and issues, and other aspects of school finance. Clinical experiences included.

EDL 503. School Law. 4 Hours.

Examination of the legal aspects of public education; statutory and case law; rights and responsibilities of boards, administrators, teachers, and students; legal principles; and specific applications.

EDL 505. Introduction To Research. 4 Hours.

Basic research methods in educational administration. Topics include qualitative and quantitative research design, sampling, ethics, instrumentation, and validity.

EDL 509. Organizational Dynamics. 4 Hours.

Structure and function of an organization as a social system and of individual, group, and leadership processes and behavior within it. Clinical experiences included.

EDL 511. School Improvement. 4 Hours.

Study of major ideas on curriculum and assessment practices and emerging trends in research on effective school improvement. In-depth examination of reform initiatives for improving the instructional programs, organization of schools, and the roles of teachers and school leaders. Clinical experiences included.

EDL 512. Student Assessment for Online Learning. 2 Hours.

This course will introduce various assessment strategies, tools, and frameworks that can be used to evaluate students in the online environment. Participants will work individually and collaboratively to explore various means of assessing online learners.

EDL 513. Student Assessment and Emerging Technologies in Online and Remote Learning. 4 Hours.

This course will introduce various assessment strategies, tools, and frameworks in current and emerging technologies in education. Students will work individually and collaboratively to explore various means of assessing online and remote learners and practice the delivery of engagement and assessment technologies as well as interactive and administrative tools. Associated ADA compliance approaches and authentication ascertainment strategies are addressed.

EDL 515. Online Teaching and Learning. 4 Hours.

This course will introduce students to online and blended teaching and learning. Major concepts and issues, research in the field, and emerging technologies are covered, as well as practical strategies for designing and teaching online, which students actually get to practice in the course.

EDL 516. Instructional Design for Technology. 4 Hours.

This course will introduce students to the techniques of instructional design with a specific emphasis on the design of technology-based learning. Students will learn a variety of instructional design models and work through the steps of designing of a unit that integrates technology into everyday teaching and learning.

EDL 517. Education Technology Leadership. 4 Hours.

This course will provide content in effective planning, deployment, implementation, evaluation, and legal aspects of technology as it applies to educational environments, including knowledge of the social, ethical, legal and security issues concerning technology in schools.

EDL 518. Educational Technology Systems. 4 Hours.

This course will provide candidates seeking to become Technology Specialists the basics of researching, designing, selecting, and implementing technology that will enhance the educational process in a K-12 education environment.

EDL 519. The Principalship. 4 Hours.

Competencies, role, and responsibilities of the building principal. Elementary, junior high, and senior high school principalships studied. Current research, issues, and problems considered. Clinical experiences included.

EDL 521. Current and Emerging Technologies in Education. 2 Hours.

This course surveys the current and emerging technologies, techniques and tools in education. Delivery and engagement technologies, interactive tools assessment technologies; and administrative tools will be covered. Associated ADA compliance approaches and authentication ascertainment strategies will be addressed.

EDL 522. Legal Rights of Teachers, Parents, and Students in Educational Settings. 4 Hours.

Explores the fundamental legal issues that impact Illinois school districts. School law from a practical perspective to be able to distinguish the legal principles that affect the constitutional and statutory rights of teachers, students, and parents. Prominent attention is given to the legal rights of students with disabilities and the corresponding responsibilities and obligations of school and educational personnel for meeting educational needs.

EDL 523. Understanding the Education Legal System and Minimizing Occupational Risks. 4 Hours.

Designed to acquaint students with fundamental legal concepts of general law, school law, and the legal system, introducing students to basic legal concepts and terms associated with public education. There will be a focus on the legal risks that teachers, administrators, and other school employees encounter in the workplace and strategies to minimize those risks. Examples will be drawn from educational settings.

EDL 524. Educational Bargaining Approaches & Employability Issues. 4 Hours.

Students learn legal principles related to employment in the educational workplace. Topics to be covered include constitutional rights of employees, the employability of teachers and other school personnel, employment discrimination, collective bargaining and interest-based bargaining strategies and approaches. The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act will guide an analysis of the legal rights and responsibilities of employers and employees.

EDL 525. Supervision Of Instruction. 4 Hours.

Application of principles of supervision in the instructional setting. Includes current curricular and instructional practices, K-12. Specific goal is improvement of curricular and instructional practice through the supervisory role.

EDL 526. Principal Internship I. 2 Hours.

On-site principal internship provides students with real-world leadership experiences, required state assessments, the opportunity to work with certified mentor principal and a university supervisor in a school setting. Periodic required seminars will be held on campus during this course. Course Information: Prerequisites: 24 hours of EDL courses in EDL 502, EDL 503, EDL 505, EDL 511, EDL 519, and EDL 525. May be repeated multiple times.

EDL 527. Principal Internship II. 2 Hours.

Second semester of on-site principal internship provides students with real-world experiences, required formal assessments, the opportunity to work with a certified mentor principal and university supervisor in a school setting. Periodic seminars will be held on campus during this course. Course Information: Prerequisites: EDL 526. May be repeated multiple times.

EDL 531. Capstone I. 2 Hours.

Planning and implementation of inquiry-based school improvement effort in a local school setting. Students serve as team leaders to define a problem, analyze its causes and review applicable research, develop and implement an action plan, analyze results and make recommendations for further continuous improvement. Course Information: This course is taken in conjunction with the Principal Internship I.

EDL 532. Capstone II. 2 Hours.

Implementation of inquiry-based school improvement effort in local school setting. Students serve as team leaders to define a problem, analyze its cases and review applicable research, develop and implement an action plan, analyze results and make recommendations for continuous improvement. If the project is incomplete, students must register for EDL 534 for all following semesters until completion. Course Information: Prerequisites: EDL 531.

EDL 533. Administration and Evaluation of Special Education Issues. 4 Hours.

Current issues confronted by directors, such as new state and federal legislation, new state policies and regulations, and their implementation. Emphasis on personnel evaluation, budget management, cooperatives, and governing boards. Effective governing board policies and relations examined. Open to Graduate students.

EDL 534. Capstone Cont Enroll. 0 Hours.

Refer to NOTE in course description for EDL 532. May be repeated.

EDL 541. Educational Research Methods. 4 Hours.

Basic research methods in education. Includes qualitative and quantitative research design, sampling, ethics, instrumentation, and validity. The goal is to increase critical and analytical capabilities and to enhance strategies and systems for achieving excellence in education.

EDL 542. Action Research for Leadership. 4 Hours.

Examination of leadership characteristics and application of processes related to action research. The goal is the ability to understand and apply problem-solving tools while working with people in educational settings.

EDL 543. Assessment for Learning. 4 Hours.

Examination of the role of standards and curriculum at district and school levels in shaping educational changes and reforms. The goal is to examine and understand curriculum and instructional issues within the context of reform efforts.

EDL 547. Technology in the Curriculum. 4 Hours.

Examination of Illinois State Board of Education and International Society for Technology in Education technology standards for teachers and teacher educators. Topics include software applications and the use of the Internet in the classroom. The goal is to integrate technology into educational situations.

EDL 548. Reading And Literacy. 4 Hours.

Explores best practices in literacy education. Topics include improving literacy and ways that literacy can be taught across the curriculum. The goal is to gain an understanding of the uses and value of reading and literacy.

EDL 550. Theoretical Foundations of Teaching English as Second Language. 4 Hours.

Designed to provide the ESL teacher with an understanding of the basic concepts and theories related to teaching English Language learners. Students will develop specific skills and techniques needed to effectively teach English language learners. Implications for language acquisition will be connected to classroom strategies. Course Information: Students must hold a bachelor's degree and a valid teaching certificate.

EDL 553. Assessment of Students' Learning Difficulties and Disabilities. 4 Hours.

Examination of methods of assessment for students with learning difficulties/disabilities. The course will focus on the interpretation and use of assessment results. Course Information: Restricted to Graduate students.

EDL 554. Characteristics of Exceptional Children. 4 Hours.

Examination of characteristics for various classifications of special education students. The course will focus on the identification of criteria required for classification of students with special needs.

EDL 563. Mentoring for Excellence in Teaching. 4 Hours.

Research and practical application of issues involved in mentoring teachers at various levels of development, including student teaching, first-year teaching, teachers new to district.

EDL 566. Strategies for Teaching in Early Childhood Situations. 4 Hours.

Knowledge and skills for early childhood teachers to promote excellence in teaching through observation, interaction, and intervention with their students.

EDL 573. Survey of Exceptional Children. 4 Hours.

Examination of students with special needs of all types with the goal of understanding their educational needs and ways to meet those needs.

EDL 583. Teaching Law In K-12 Schools. 2 Hours.

Assists educators to integrate law and legal materials into school curriculum. Law related educational resources will be examined with a demonstration of common law-related methods. Emphasis will be placed on secondary sources of law.

EDL 584. Assessment of ESL Students. 4 Hours.

Provides ESL teachers with an understanding of the impact of assessment in the classroom regarding ESL instruments, administration, and interpretation. Linguistic and cultural aspects of standardized testing will be discussed. ESL teachers will understand assessment of learning and assessment for learning as a result of this course. Course Information: Students must hold a bachelor's degree and a valid teaching certificate.

EDL 585. Foundations of Online Learning. 4 Hours.

Provides an examination of learning and of being a member of an online community. Included are strategies for e-learning, leaders as part of a virtual learning community, graduate level research and writing.

EDL 586. Capstone Project. 4 Hours.

Students are required to demonstrate the knowledge and skills acquired through the MAE program by leading the design and implementation of an improvement effort (PDSA -Plan-Do-Study-Act) in their school district, carried out with a team over the period of one term. Note: If the project is not completed during initial enrollment, students must register for EDL 598 for 0 credit hour (1 billable hour) during all fall and spring semesters until completion.

EDL 592. Linguistics. 4 Hours.

Designed to provide the ESL teacher with a broad context of linguistics including understanding the theory of modern linguistics and application of linguistic theory in the ESL classroom. Students will develop an understanding of the basic concepts relating to linguistics in relationship to the ESL classroom. Course Information: Students must hold a bachelor's degree and a valid teaching certificate.

EDL 594. Methods and Materials for ESL. 4 Hours.

This course is designed to provide the ESL teacher with a broad spectrum of tools to assist in the teaching and learning of second language literacy skills. An emphasis in Second Language Acquisition research will be connected to practices in the ESL classroom. Course Information: Students must hold a bachelor's degree and a valid teaching certificate.

EDL 595. ESL Clinical Experience. 2 Hours.

The ESL teacher will demonstrate strategies through 100 hours of clinical experience in an authentic supervised classroom approved by faculty coordinator and on-site supervisor. Students must have successfully completed 16 hours of course work prior to enrollment. Clinicals may not be required based on requirements of ISBE ESL Letter of Endorsement. Course Information: Students must hold a bachelor's degree and a valid teaching certificate.

EDL 598. MAE Capstone Continuing Enrollment. 0 Hours.

This course is offered to those students who enrolled in EDL 586 and were unable to complete the project. Students must register for EDL 598 for zero credit hours (one billable hour) during all fall and spring semesters until the project is completed.

EDL 599. Independent Research And Study. 1-12 Hours.

Supervised investigation into specific topic or research project selected by the student with faculty approval. May include library or field work. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 4 hours with approval. Students may register in more than one section per term.

EDL 603. Advanced Seminar on Law and Public Policy. 4 Hours.

Examination of federal and state constitutional, statutory and policy sources applicable to educators and a variety of legal and policy issues affecting educational administration.

EDL 604. Politics of Education: Federal, State and Local Politics and Policies. 4 Hours.

The political and social environment of public education in Illinois: analysis of the power structure and its influence on educational policymaking.

EDL 605. Research in Educational Leadership. 4 Hours.

Examination and critique of education research and issues related to designing and planning research studies and improvement projects. Candidates learn to apply techniques to specific research problems and projects.

EDL 611. Superintendent as Instructional Leader. 4 Hours.

Study of the major ideas and emerging research on school improvement issues of the superintendent. In-depth examination of reform initiatives for changing the organization of schools, the instructional program, and the role of students, teachers, and school leaders.

EDL 612. Management of Educational Funds and Facilities. 4 Hours.

Study of financing public education in Illinois: school finance policy, budgeting, and financial administration as well as management of educational facilities.

EDL 621. Superintendent and Central Staff/Personnel Management. 4 Hours.

The course will address the legal, social, ethical, and financial issues relating to employment, supervision, and evaluation of employees as well as development and leadership of the administrative team or cabinet.

EDL 626. Clinical Experiences/Internship I. 2 Hours.

On-site field experience provides opportunities for candidates to work with administrative leaders and faculty coordinator to improve each candidate's professional developmental needs in a live setting. Course Information: Credit/No Credit grading only.

EDL 627. Clinical Experiences/Internship II. 2 Hours.

EDL 628. Clinical Experiences/Internship III. 2 Hours.

On-site field experience based on previous chief school business official course work documented in their individual clinical portfolios, past district administrative experiences and their previous administrative certification course work. Credit/No Credit grading only. Course Information: Prerequisites: EDL 626 and EDL 627.

EDL 635. Organizational Theory and Leadership. 4 Hours.

Overview of sociological and behavioral theories that relate to administration of various educational organizations.

EDL 640. Business Application Revenues. 4 Hours.

Techniques and methods of estimating local, state, and federal revenues; alternative methods of school budget planning and control; alternative methods for reducing costs/increasing revenues using existing funds.

EDL 645. Business Application Expenditures. 4 Hours.

Principles of school fund accounting with a focus on areas of expenditure to include a study of budgeting for expenses, payroll administration, personnel costs, curriculum costs, bonded indebtedness, accounting for receipts and expenditures, extracurricular funds and expenses and analysis of statements, and auxiliary enterprises such as cafeteria.