Specialist in Education Degree Mission: The mission of the Specialist in Education in Educational Administration is to provide more advanced and intensive graduate study of educational administration.  Degree completion meets the course requirements necessary for Illinois Superintendent Endorsement.  This endorsement is required for superintendents of school districts.  Many courses are offered at night and weekends on-campus and at off-campus locations via the School of Continuing Education.  Students should notify the department if they presently possess a Type 75 Illinois General Administrative Certification.  A copy of the certification should be sent to the department chairperson.

Study Plan Approval: After attaining degree status as a graduate student, the student in consultation with the advisor will develop a study plan.  The study plan shall be approved by the department and filed with the graduate coordinator.  Approval of the study plan for the specialist’s degree should come ordinarily at the completion of 32-33 semester hours of the program. A maximum of 11 semester hours may be considered for transfer credit. Students seeking any variation from this transfer policy must seek approval through the Graduate School waiver and appeals process. Approval of the study plan must come at or before the completion of 50 semester hours and is subject to the following conditions:

• The student must complete the requirements ordinarily fulfilled by earning the master’s degree.  Formal receipt of the master’s degree is left to the discretion of the student.
• The plan must contain a proposed program of studies totaling at least 64 semester hours selected in accordance with the program of studies for the specialist’s degree.
• If a master’s degree was completed independent of the specialist’s program, the courses taken for the degree will be evaluated.  There is no assurance that all credit hours will automatically count toward the specialist’s degree.
• A minimum of 22 of the final 33 hours must be credit earned from Eastern Illinois University.
• Any subsequent changes in the study plan must first be approved by the academic department and then submitted for final approval to the Graduate School.  (The academic department is expected to approve only changes which are consistent with the total study plan.)