Department of Advanced Studies in Education/DASE

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Department Chairperson: Athanase Gahungu

Email: agahungu@csu.edu

Phone: 773-995-2009

Location: ED 319

Department Overview

The Department of Advanced Studies in Education (DASE) empowers educational professionals to become change agents in a diverse and global society by offering the highest caliber of academic programs at the masters, post-master’s  and doctoral level and by balancing theory with practice.

It is committed to developing excellent professional leaders in the area of Education, including educational leadership, curriculum and instructional foundations, higher education administration, principal preparation, and special education. The department strives to prepare scholars and practitioners who cultivate equity and educational opportunity in a diverse and changing world.

Accreditation

All teacher licensure programs are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education, and are aligned with their respected Specialized Program Associations (SPA).

Degree Programs Housed Under this Department Consist of:

The Curriculum & Instructional Foundations Program—M.S.Ed.

The Curriculum & Instructional Foundations Program (CIIF) leads to a Master’s of Science in Education Degree with an option in Instructional Foundations. This program option consists of the following three concentrations: Adult Education, Community Leadership, and Teacher Leadership. Completion of coursework related to these program options does not qualify candidates for licensure by entitlement or a recommendation for licensure.

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the university’s general admission requirements, the applicant must:

1. Have an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4-point grading scale). A 2.75 GPA is needed for conditional admission.
3. Provide (in the online application system) a written and concise statement of purpose, describing his/her academic and research background, career goals, and reason for applying to this degree program. Please be specific in explaining how the course offerings and faculty expertise of this program fit your educational and career objectives.
4. Provide two letters of recommendation, (which need to be uploaded directly by the referees into the online application system), from persons familiar with his/her educational background and work experience.

The Educational Leadership Program—Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership

The Educational Leadership Program leads to a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership degree and is designed to develop excellent educational leaders who are well rounded in research and theory in the organizational, sociological, legal, economic, political, philosophical, and historical foundations of education. It is 54 credit hours beyond the Master’s degree, which includes a minimum of 12 credit hours of dissertation.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the doctoral program, applicants must hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and present a record of prior academic performance that indicates potential for success in a doctoral program. Applicants with a grade point average of 3.5 or better (on a 4.00 scale) in all graduate work, and who satisfy other specific program requirements including personal interviews, are generally recommended for Full admission. There is no conditional admission for the Ed.D. program.

In addition to meeting the university’s general admission requirements, the applicant must:

1. Have successfully taken and completed, (from an accredited institution), at least one 3-semester-hour graduate-level course (with a grade of B or better), in each of the following areas:
   • Educational Law.
   • Curriculum Development and Learning Theories;
   • Foundations of Finance; and
   • Organizational Dynamics or Administration.
2. Submit three letters of recommendation, (which need to be uploaded directly by the referees into the online application system), from professors and/or administrators addressing the applicant’s potential for success in a doctoral program.
3. Submit (in the online application portal) a typed double-spaced goal statement, which describes the applicant’s reasons for pursuing an advanced degree in educational leadership.

Higher Educational Administration Program-M.A. in Educational Leadership and Administration

The Higher Educational Administration (HEA) Program, which leads to a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Administration Degree, is a 33-credit hour program designed to prepare individuals for entry and mid-level managerial or research positions offered at the community, senior college, and university level. This program is also intended to improve the skills of those individuals who currently serve in administrative positions at such institutions, as well as provides alternatives to those who would like to change their careers to enter the field of higher education administration.

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the university’s general admission requirements, the applicant must:

1. Have an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university;
2. Submit official transcripts from all Colleges/Universities attended (except CSU). A 3.0 GPA (on a 4-point grading scale) is required for full admission to the program, while a 2.75 GPA is needed for conditional admission.
3. Provide (in the online application system) a written and concise statement of purpose, describing his/her academic and research background, career goals, and reason for applying to this degree program. Please be specific in explaining how the course offerings and faculty expertise of this program fit your educational and career objectives.
4. Provide two letters of recommendation (in the online application system) from persons familiar with his/her educational background and work experience.

Principal Preparation Program-M.A. in Educational Leadership and Administration

The Principal Preparation Program is designed to provide the background necessary for employment as an elementary or secondary school principal, or assistant principal in related or similar positions. There are two concentrations offered under this Program:

Principal Licensure Only (ELPP)

Candidates who complete this 30-credit hour post-master’s Certificate of Advanced Study option qualify for a principal license (only) on a Professional Educator License. This endorsement requires the successful completion of the Training in Evaluation of Certified Personnel, and Content Area Tests for Principals (subtests 195 and 196).

Program Completion Requirements:

For program completion, candidates for the PreK-22 Principal Endorsement must:

1. Hold a master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution.
2. Document at least 4 total years of successful teaching or school support personnel experience.
3. Pass the Initial Teacher Evaluation Training.
4. Pass both Principal tests (195 and 196).

Admission Requirements

The principal preparation program is open to highly qualified educators with at least three years of teaching or school support personnel experience or equivalent out-of-state license. Candidates must have four years of experience at the completion of the program.

To be considered for admission into the program, the applicants must:

1. Have an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4-point grading scale). A 2.75 GPA is needed for conditional admission.
3. Provide (in the online application system) a resume.
4. Provide (in the online application system) a personal written and concise essay describing his/her academic and research background, career goals, and reason for applying to this degree program.
5. Provide two Letters of Recommendation from supervisors, (which need to be uploaded directly by the referees into the online application system).
6. Provide (in the online application system) employment verification on school letterhead. Applicants must have worked as teachers or school support personnel for three (3) years at the time of application. At program completion, candidates will be expected to have four (4) years required for Principal Endorsement.

Special Education Program (SED)

The Special Education program leads to the Learning Behavior Specialist 1. It is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education, and is aligned with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) standards. Candidates interested in this program can apply for admission into one of the following program options:

The Special Education Learning Behavior Specialist 1- Master’s Degree Program for Initial Certification

This option is designed for candidates who are new to the teaching profession and do not possess a professional teaching license; or

1. The Special Education Learning Behavior Specialist 1-Master’s Degree Program for Certified Teachers This option is designed for candidates who enter the program with valid teaching licensure, usually in the area of general education at the elementary or secondary level.

Completion of all the course work, field experiences, and degree requirements for the two program options specified in the preceding section qualifies candidates for the Illinois Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (K-12)                        Professional Educator licensure, and a Master of Science in Education Degree.

An Endorsement in Special Education Program

This option is also available for candidates who are already licensed as general education teachers and are only interested in taking, (as graduate students at large), the courses required for adding the Special Education Learning Behavior Specialist 1 endorsement to their current/existing professional educator license.

Admission Requirements

Candidates interested in admission to the Special Education Learning Behavioral Specialist - I Master’s Degree Program for Initial Certification or Certified Teachers respectively, are both required to: 

1. Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Have a 3.0 GPA (on a 4-point grading scale) for full admission to the program. A 2.75 GPA is needed for conditional admission.
3. Provide two letters of recommendation, (which need to be uploaded directly by the referees into the online application system), from school administrators, supervisors, or people familiar with his/her educational background and work experience.
4. Submit, (in the online application system), their resume and a one-page essay explaining why they are interested in the program and what they expect to learn
5. Have an Illinois professional educator license (this only applies to candidates who are interested in admission to the program for certified teachers, or those who are only interested in adding the special education endorsement to their current teaching license).
6. Be admitted to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies (this only applies to candidates who are interested in admission to the program for initial certification or certified teachers)
7. Be admitted to the College of Education. This only applies to candidates who are interested in admission to the program for initial certification, or those who are only interested in adding the special education endorsement to their current teaching license).

Applicants who are interested in the special education initial certification program but do not have the required 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours can qualify for a master’s plus licensure program by taking 9 hours of graduate-level program course work (which must be completed within one year) and earning a grade of B or better in each of these courses. Grades of B or above in graduate coursework completed prior to applying to a CSU licensure program can be used towards eligibility. Applicants who do not qualify after taking 9 hours of coursework will be counseled by the Office of Licensure Services to choose another teacher preparation program to pursue at the license-only level.

Programs

• Educational Leadership and Administration, M.A.

• Education in Curriculum and Instruction, M.S.

• Special Education, MSEd

• Educational Leadership, Ed.D.

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