Program Overview
The purpose of Argosy University’s Doctor of Education (EdD) in Initial Educational Administration degree program is to prepare individuals to serve as school principals and/or building-level administrators. The program is designed for practicing educators who have already completed a graduate level program from a regionally accredited institution or an appropriately certified foreign institution, and seeking administrative licensure at the initial or K-12 level. Completion of the EdD in Initial Educational Administration degree program results in a terminal degree which includes a specific writing, research, and dissertation sequence.
Note
This program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and only meets the certification requirements for the State of Illinois. If students want to work in any other State it is their responsibility to investigate the other State’s criteria about the reciprocity of the State of Illinois Type 75 General Administrative Certificate.
Note
There are limits to the number of online courses students may take and remain eligible for certification by the State of Illinois. When considering taking courses online students must seek guidance from the program chair or academic advisor to avoid jeopardizing their eligibility to obtain Type 75 General Administrative Certification.
Admission Requirements
- A master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or an appropriately certified foreign institution
- A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) in work leading to the master’s degree and in any subsequent graduate study
- A minimum score on an Argosy University pre-approved English language proficiency test is required for all applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an institution at which English is the language of instruction as specified in Section Five, Admission Policies, “English Language Proficiency Policy .”
- A minimum of 3 years of full‐time teaching in an Illinois-approved school. If teaching experience is from another state, applicant must submit formal verification that the school was a state‐approved school
- Argosy University Professional Education Unit recommendation
- Interview with the program Admissions Committee
- Evidence of a criminal background check
- A valid education certificate
- Evidence of passage of the Illinois Test of Basic Skills
- A Writing Sample submitted with the program application
All applications for admission must be submitted to the Admissions Department. An admissions representative is available to help interested applicants complete the following required documentation:
- Completed Application for Admission Form
- Application fee (Non-refundable, except in California and Arizona. In the state of Arizona, the application fee is refundable if the application is canceled within three business days of the applicant signing the Enrollment Agreement.)
- Personal goal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the profession
- Current résumé
- Three letters of recommendation (two from a source familiar with the student’s academic abilities and one from a current school or district administrator)
- Official transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended
Graduation Requirements
To qualify for graduation, the following conditions must be met:
- Successful completion of 60 credit hours that includes
- 45 credit hours of coursework
- 12 credit hours of dissertation
- 3 credit hours of practicum (E 8383 and E 8384 )
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of B‐ or better on all coursework
- Passage of the dispositional assessment
- Passage of the Comprehensive Exam
- Successful defense of dissertation
- Passage of the Illinois Type 75 certification exam
- Completed Petition to Graduate Form submitted to campus administration
- Completion of all requirements within 7 years
Illinois Principal Certification Requirements
Graduation from this program does not guarantee certification. To qualify for certification, the following conditions must be met:
- Successful completion of all program requirements, including E 8383 School Administrative Practicum/Internship I and E 8384 School Administrative Practicum/Internship II
- Evidence of passage of the Illinois Test of Basic Skills
- Passage of the Illinois Administrator Certification Exam
Note
The MAEd in Educational Administration degree program, the EdS in Initial Educational Administration degree program, and the EdD in Initial Educational Administration degree program lead to the State of Illinois Type 75 General Administrative Certificate (principal) upon completion of all state and program requirements. The EdS in Advanced Educational Administration degree program and the EdD in Advanced Educational Administration degree program lead to the Illinois Type 75 Superintendent’s Endorsement upon completion of all state and program requirements. All other programs offered through the College of Education DO NOT lead to teacher or administrator certification, licensure, or endorsement in any State in the United States. The programs offered through Argosy University Online Programs DO NOT lead to teacher or administrator certification, licensure, or endorsement in Illinois regardless of the State in which the student resides.
Program Requirements
The EdD in Initial Educational Administration degree program requires the satisfactory completion of 60 semester credit hours distributed as follows: Core Course requirements, 21 credit hours; Academic Writing and Research requirements, 18 credit hours; Elective requirements, 6 credit hours; Practicum requirements, 3 credit hours; Dissertation requirements, 12 credit hours.
