College of Education > Academics > Leadership, Language & Curriculum > Licensure & Endorsements > Superintendent Endorsement

Superintendent Endorsement

​​The superintendent endorsement only program is designed to prepare graduate students for administrative positions in PK-12 public and private schools. Through coursework and supervised internships, students are provided with a rich knowledge base to analyze administrative practices and promote socially just leadership of schools and organizations with an educational purpose. The program’s schedule is flexible, allowing the student to attend full time or part time as their professional and personal schedules allow.

This program is uniquely designed to further the professional development of education professionals who wish to become leaders with the knowledge and skills to impact positive growth and change in schools, district offices, and at policy levels.

Graduates of this program are prepared to assume school and district administrative and supervisory roles.

Are you interested in enrolling in this program? View the admission requirements and application instructions below or contact the College of Education’s Office of Graduate Admissions at (773) 325-4405.

Licensure/Endorsement

The superintendent endorsement program was designed in response to changes in the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) standards for Superintendent Preparation Programs. The curriculum developed for this licensure program, is based upon the Educational Leadership Constituent Council’s (ELCC) Standards, State of Illinois Mandates, current research and updated practice.

Program Requirements

The Superintendent ​Licensure program requires 13 courses (40 quarter hours) in Administration and Supervision, as well as an internship.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for the Superintendent Preparation licensure program, students must hold a master’s degree from an accredited college or university. They must have a GPA of 3.25 or higher at the graduate level and 3.0 at the undergraduate level. Students must also possess at least two years of full time administrative or supervisory experience in either a public school district or a non-public school, hold a valid Illinois Professional Educator License (endorsed General Administrative). Out of state candidates must have the requisite experience while holding the appropriate certificate or license that is comparable to the Illinois credential.

To apply, please submit the following items to The Office of Graduate Admission:

  • A completed graduate application with online application fee
  • A copy of valid Illinois Professional Educator License (endorsed in General Administrative)
  • Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.
  • Four letters of recommendation (at least two of which should be from faculty in the applicant's Master's program or from faculty for Master’s level course work taken at other institutions).
  • Résumé or curriculum vitae.
  • Statement of purpose indicating why you want to be a superintendent. It should also articulate an issue or problem of interest or concern.
  • A writing sample, preferably a course paper from the applicant's Master's program.
  • An admissions portfolio including but not limited to
    • Evaluations of the candidate's administrative abilities from supervisors that attest to school and district improvement;
    • Evidence of leadership roles held and descriptions of the impact the candidate has had on the classroom, school or district, or the constituents served;
    • An analysis of school or district data (e.g., student scores) that describes how the data is used to inform instructional planning and implementation, including an explanation of what standards were addressed, the academic achievement or school improvement outcomes, and steps taken when expected outcomes did not occur;
    • Information about the candidate's work with families and/or community groups and a description of how this work affected school or district operations, policies and procedures;
    • Examples of the candidate's analytical abilities as evidenced by a description of how he or she used the results from student assessments to improve student learning; and
    • Evidence of curriculum development, student assessments or other initiatives that resulted from the candidate's involvement with school committees.

Upon initial review, the process will include a required interview. Candidates will be expected to complete an on-site writing sample during the interview and submit a teaching portfolio.

Course Requirements

Licensure Only 

The superintendent licensure program at DePaul University is an approved Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) program.  It is a rigorous program preparing superintendents for work service in public and private schools in the state of Illinois.

This is a 40 quarter hour program, which leads to the State of Illinois’ superintendent licensure.

Course Title Quarter Hours
Core Courses: 8 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required in all courses
A&S 801LEADERSHIP: THEORY AND PRACTICE4
A&S 811ASSESSMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY4
Concentration Courses: 28 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required in all courses
A&S 803THE SUPERINTENDENCY: PROGRAMS, SYSTEMS, AND STRUCTURES4
A&S 823COMMUNITY AND CONSENSUS BUILDING FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT4
A&S 824ADVANCED HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT4
A&S 834THE SUPERINTENDENT AS INSTRUCTIONAL LEADER4
A&S 843THE POLITICS OF SCHOOLING4
A&S 873CURRENT TRENDS IN BUDGETING AND FINANCE4
A&S 883SCHOOL LAW4
Internship: 4 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required in all courses
A&S 898SUPERINTENDENT INTERNSHIP SEMINAR - THEORY INTO PRACTICE1
A&S 899SUPERINTENDENT INTERNSHIP (TOPIC I, Fall quarter)1
A&S 899SUPERINTENDENT INTERNSHIP (TOPIC II, Winter quarter)1
A&S 899SUPERINTENDENT INTERNSHIP (TOPIC III, Spring quarter)1

 Specific requirements for entrance into the superintendent licensure program may be obtained from the office of graduate admissions or the LLC department office.
 
Individuals seeking the superintendent licensure must:

  1. Complete an approved superintendent licensure program at an Illinois institution
  2. Complete all state-mandated training and examinations
  3. Have successfully completed the internship experiences
  4. Hold a master's degree

Upon successful completion of all superintendent licensure program requirements and any additional requirements, students must apply for their license.  Students are to work with the College of Education's Licensure Officer when applying for the license.
 
Note:  Courses in this program leading to the superintendent licensure are designed for practicing educators and are not open to students and any other program without the specific permission of the educational leadership program director. 

Content displayed from this DePaul University catalog page.

Interested in more information?

Contact the College of Education’s Office of Graduate Admissions at (773) 325-4405.

Still deciding? View all of our Licensure and Endorsement programs.

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