The Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
(M.A.E.L.) will provide students with the knowledge, attitudes and skills
necessary to perform successfully in the elementary and secondary schools
and districts as an administrator. Aurora University’s graduate
program in Educational Leadership provides a comprehensive theoretical
and practical format which allows students to use the knowledge and skills
presented in class in order to become an effective administrative professional.
The M.A.E.L. leads to a Type 75 Administrative Certificate in Illinois
and a Wisconsin Code 10/51-Principal.
Students who already have a master’s
degree may complete the State of Illinois requirements for the Type 75
Certificate by completing the graduate coursework without completing an
additional degree.
Options within the program include:
- Type 75 Certificate with Administrative Endorsement
- Illinois
- Code 10/51-Principal - Wisconsin
For certified teachers who seek administrative
positions in the schools as Department Chair, Division Coordinator, Assistant
Principal, Principal, Assistant or Associate Superintendent, or other
similar or related positions, the Educational Leadership program provides
a Master of Arts degree and a program of preparation leading to the Type
75 Certificate with the General Administrative Endorsement. The course
plan requiring 36 semester hours is as follows:
Curriculum– 6 semester hours:
- EDU6050 Technology in the School of the Future 3 semester hours
- EDU6630 Curriculum Development and Evaluation 3 semester hours
Educational
Research – 6 semester hours:
- EDU6020 Assessment in the Schools 3 semester hours
- EDU6070 Introduction to Action Research 3 semester hours
Supervision
and Staff Development – 6 semester hours:
- EDU6610 Educational Leadership 3 semester hours
- EDU6620 School Supervision 3 semester hours
Schools and Public Policy – 15 semester hours:
- EDU6010 Contemporary Issues in Education 3 semester hours
- EDU6600 School Administration 3 semester hours
- EDU6640 School and Community Relations 3 semester hours
- EDU6650 School Law 3 semester hours
- EDU6660 School Finance 3 semester hours
Clinical Experience – 3 semester hours:
- EDU6670 Practicum in Educational Leadership 3 semester hours
M.A.E.L. Core Course Descriptions:
EDU6010 Contemporary Issues in Education 3 semester hours
This course is designed to initiate a professional conversation among
individual students, school teams, and cohorts about the major issues
facing America’s schools. The questions that emerge will become
the focus for subsequent independent inquiry in master’s program
classes.
No prerequisites.
EDU6020 Assessment in the Schools 3 semester hours
This course is designed to develop skills in selecting, developing, and
interpreting assessment methods that will provide reliable, valid, and
fair measurement of valued educational achievement targets.
No prerequisites.
EDU6050 Technology in the School of the Future 3 semester hours
This course studies the impact of technology on curriculum design, classroom
practice, and the learning patterns of candidates with emphasis on the
integration of multi-media, telecommunications, authoring systems, and
interactive resources throughout the instructional program.
No prerequisites.
EDU6070 Introduction to Action Research 3 semester hours
The course is designed to launch individual and/or group investigation
of school-related issues facing America’s schools. Candidates will
create a proposal of an investigated project for their research with applications
to the school and complete an extensive literature review. A writing sample
essay will be scheduled in this course.
No prerequisites.
EDU6600 School Administration 3 semester hours
This course provides students with an orientation to the administration
of public elementary and secondary educational institutions. The impact
of local school districts, governmental agencies and interest groups on
each other with respect to policy formulation, decision-making and program
implementation will be explored.
No prerequisites.
EDU6610 Educational Leadership 3 semester hours
This course describes the role of the educational leader in the school
as one who creates a vision of an educationally better culture in the
school and then plans and organizes times and resources to communicate
this vision to teachers, students and parents.
No prerequisites.
EDU6620 School Supervision 3 semester hours
This course provides students with an introduction to the supervision
of instruction. Supervisory strategies are elaborated with special attention
to the improvement and enrichment of instruction through faculty development
approaches
No prerequisites.
EDU6630 Curriculum Development and Evaluation 3 semester hours
This course will introduce the principles of curriculum and instruction
with an emphasis on curriculum development and design, implementation
and delivery, and organization and evaluation.
No prerequisites.
EDU6640 School and Community Relations 3 semester hours
This course provides an overview of the importance of community involvement
in developing effective schools. Ways in which parents and community members
can be involved in the schools will be explored. Techniques will be developed
for fostering better parent-teacher communication and for fostering better
public relations with the community.
No prerequisites.
EDU6650 School Law 3 semester hours
This course provides the school administrator with an in-depth examination
of the legal basis of public education in the U.S. Special reference is
made to current legal issues and major court decisions. First Amendment
rights, due process, privacy, discrimination, desegregation, special education,
multicultural difference, and related matters are examined in terms of
their impact on the school administrator.
No prerequisites.
EDU6660 School Finance 3 semester hours
This course studies the history of school finance with emphasis on the
significant role of the local property tax in school funding. The role
of state and federal funding is examined, along with issues of equity,
adequacy and appropriateness. Emphasis is given to budget construction,
fiscal planning, and management of capital outlay programs.
No prerequisites.
EDU6670 Practicum in Educational Leadership 3 semester hours
This course will involve candidates of Educational Leadership in practical
administrative and supervisory projects to be carried out in a field placement,
under the supervision of the program instructor. Field placements will
ensure that candidates have experiences with diverse populations of students.
No prerequisites
Please Note: The information listed on this page is current according to the 2007-2009 Graduate Catalog, unless otherwise noted.
