Director of Special Education
Post-Master’s Endorsement
Program Highlights & Benefits
Classes held in convenient online format
One course completed every eight weeks
Holiday breaks included
Transfer credits considered
Admission Requirements
- Must have a master’s degree in special education or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
- Must have at least two years of full-time experience providing special education services as a:
- special education teacher;
- speech-language pathologist;
- school counselor;
- school social worker; or
- school psychologist
- Must have a valid Illinois Professional Educators License with one of the following (unless pursuing Pathway C, Out-of-State)
- Special Education
- School Psychology
- School Social Work
- Speech Language Pathology
- School Counseling
Program Overview
The DOSE Post-master’s endorsement program is designed for candidates who seek the Illinois DOSE endorsement to add to their existing Professional Educator License (PEL).
Coursework addresses the ISBE DOSE standards, national standards, field experiences / clinical practices, and the current ISBE DOSE content exam. Candidates will be prepared in competency and proficiency aligned with the Council for Exceptional Children Administrator of Special Education Professional Leadership Standards (2022): vision, mission, and direction-setting; legal & ethical practices for special education programs & services; management; program improvement; instructional leadership; human & fiscal management; collaboration and communication; advocacy; and responsiveness; including access to individualized general curriculum and individualized independence curriculum.
This program develops special education administrators who can design, implement, evaluate, supervise, manage, and lead programs in a variety of PreK-12+ public and private settings. Additional special education coursework may be required based on the candidate’s prior coursework.
There are three pathways:
- Pathway A: For students who already have a general administrative or principal endorsement on their Illinois PEL.
- Pathway B: For students who do not have a general administrative or principal endorsement on their existing Illinois PEL.
- Pathway C: For students who have an out-of-state teaching license but not an Illinois PEL.
Program Objectives
- Develop the abilities for research and critical thinking in the field of special education,
- Exhibit high standards of professional competence and ethical practice;
- Develop competency in special education leadership, administration, specialized instruction, curricular access, accessible technology, program development, and program evaluation;
- Improve understanding of the needs of families as it relates to special services;
- Understand the role of collaboration and advocacy in supporting key stakeholders specific;
- Expand existing special education and related service provider’s knowledge, skills, and application of leadership and advocacy relevant to special education, disability, and learning differences in PreK-12+ settings;
- Teach future special education administrators/directors to establish, supervise, and oversee equitable and effective special education systems;
- Analyze, synthesize, support, and lead change efforts related to teacher development in special education; and
- Successfully complete at least one course in each of the following areas of special education (Per 23 Illinois Administrative Code, Part 25, Section 25.365 (b)(1)): Special Education Law, Special Education Finance, Supervision of Programs for Children with Disabilities, Cross-Categorical Special Education Methods; and demonstrate proficiencies in field experiences/clinical practice.
Areas of Study
PATHWAY A: For students who already have a general administrative or principal endorsement on their Illinois PEL.
| Course Number | Title | Hours |
| SPED 6225 OR EDL 6225 | Special Education Finance | 3 |
| SPED 6250 OR EDL 6250 | Special Education Law and Policy | 3 |
| SPED 6375 | Supervision of Programs and Facilitation of LRE for Children with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 7030 OR SPED 6355 | Seminar in Low Incidence Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 7040 OR SPED 6365 OR SPED 6425 | Seminar in High Incidence Disabilities Instructional Strategies for Students with Specific Learning Disabilities and Emotional Disabilities Psychology & Methods of Teaching the Exceptional Learner | 3 |
| SPED 7900 | Special Education Leadership and Administration Internship | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
PATHWAY B: For students who do not have a general administrative or principal endorsement on their existing Illinois PEL.
| Course Number | Title | Hours |
| SPED 6225 OR EDL 6225 | Special Education Finance | 3 |
| SPED 6250 OR EDL 6250 | Special Education Law and Policy | 3 |
| SPED 6375 | Supervision of Programs and Facilitation of LRE for Children with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 7030 OR SPED 6355 | Seminar in Low Incidence Disabilities Instructional Strategies for Students with Academic and Physical Challenges | 3 |
| SPED 7040 OR SPED 6365 OR SPED 6425 | Seminar in High Incidence Disabilities Instructional Strategies for Students with Specific Learning Disabilities and Emotional Disabilities Psychology & Methods of Teaching the Exceptional Learner | 3 |
| SPED 7900 | Special Education Leadership and Administration Internship | 3 |
* Pathway B may require one or more additional coursework depending on applicant’s Master’s degree program content:
- Curricular adaptations/modification and/or assistive technology (e.g. SPED-6230 or SPED-7010)
- Facilitation of the least restrictive environment for all students (e.g. SPED-6375 already embedded in the program)
- Characteristics of students with disabilities (e.g. SPED-6350, SPED-6360)
- Collaboration of parents and school personnel (e.g. EDL-6310)
- Educational and psychological diagnosis and remedial techniques (e.g. SPED-6425)
PATHWAY C: For students who have an out-of-state teaching license but not an Illinois PEL.
| Course Number | Title | Hours |
| SPED 6225 OR EDL 6225 | Special Education Finance | 3 |
| SPED 6250 OR EDL 6250 | Special Education Law and Policy | 3 |
| SPED 6375 | Supervision of Programs and Facilitation of LRE for Children with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 7030 OR SPED 6355 | Seminar in Low Incidence Disabilities Instructional Strategies for Students with Academic and Physical Challenges | 3 |
| SPED 7040 OR SPED 6365 OR SPED 6425 | Seminar in High Incidence Disabilities Instructional Strategies for Students with Specific Learning Disabilities and Emotional Disabilities Psychology & Methods of Teaching the Exceptional Learner | 3 |
| SPED 7900 | Special Education Leadership and Administration Internship | 3 |
Out-of-state students may require additional coursework based on seeking their first Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL):
| Illinois Requirement 1: Reading Methods | 3 |
| Illinois Requirement 2: Reading in the Content Area | 3 |
| Illinois Requirement 3: Exceptional Child Instructional Methods | 3 |
| Illinois Requirement 4: ESL/Bilingual | 3 |
Pathway C may require one or more additional coursework depending on applicant’s Master’s degree program content:
- Curricular adaptations/modification and/or assistive technology (e.g. SPED-6230 or SPED-7010)
- Facilitation of the least restrictive environment for all students (e.g. SPED-6375 already embedded in the program)
- Characteristics of students with disabilities (e.g. SPED-6350, SPED-6360)
- Collaboration of parents and school personnel (e.g. EDL-6310)
- Educational and psychological diagnosis and remedial techniques (e.g. SPED-6425)
Note
This is only an introduction of the program. You are responsible to review the Graduate Catalog for program details.
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