Educational Leadership Superintendent Endorsement EdD Online

You'll grow in knowledge of the four core principles of our program: commitment to partnerships with districts and communities, scholarly inquiry to advance transformative district leadership practices, facilitation of greater access to quality schooling for all students, and cultivation of commitment to improve and further district, school, familial, and community capacities.

You'll learn how to facilitate data-driven decision making in your school community, and engage in tangible, real-world internship experience to put these ideas into practice. And you'll be ready to lead, design, and implement a district mission, vision, and process.

You'll be transformed into a leader who promotes the success, health, and welfare of each student and adult, embracing continuous improvement through data-use, technology, values, equity, diversity, digital citizenship, and community. And, you'll be a leader with a deep passion for addressing social justice and equity issues pervasive in school systems.

Students have a maximum of seven years to complete the degree. Most students complete the required coursework in less than three years, including summer enrollment. Completion time for the capstone project varies.

Continuous Enrollments
Doctoral students in educational leadership are required to maintain the status of continuous enrollment during their program of studies. This means that during each semester of each academic year (excluding Summer Sessions), each student must enroll in at least one course. A formal leave of absence may be granted upon request and the approval of the School of Education’s Assistant Dean of Student Academic Affairs.

The Ed.D. Superintendent Preparation Program is comprised of three distinct phases: professional inquiry and equity studies; continuous improvement studies: system, community, self and reflective practice; and doctoral scholarly capstone in practice.

First Year

Fall Semester
ELPS 560: Seminar in School Leadership: Leadership Theory and Strategic School Improvement
ELPS 465: Workshop: Instructional Leadership – Equity and Justice to Foster Community Relationships and Engagement

Spring Semester
ELPS 571: Seminar: Current Instructional Issues in Supervision
ELPS 472: District-Level Administration of Special Education Services

Summer Session I
ELPS 468: Problems in Finance and Business Management

Summer Session II
ELPS 465: Workshop: The Superintendency - Creating District-Level Leadership

Second Year

Fall Semester
ELPS 475: Human Resource Administration for the District School Leader
RMTD 400: Intro to Research Methods

Spring Semester
ELPS 461: Issues in School Law
RMTD 404: Intro to Statistics

Summer Session I
ELPS: 620 Capstone Research

Summer Session II
ELPS 465: Instructional Leadership: Cultural Context Informed Decision Making (Rome Center) or
CIEP 473: Instructional Leadership for Multicultural Schools

Third Year

Fall Semester
ELPS 562: Practicum in School District Administration
RMTD 406: Program Evaluation

Spring Semester
ELPS 562: Practicum in School Administration
CIEP 488: Action Research to Improve Teaching and Learning

Summer Session I
ELPS 620: Problem of Practice Capstone Project

Summer Session II
ELPS 600: Problem of Practice Capstone Project

Fourth Year

Fall Semester
ELPS 600: Problem of Practice Capstone Project

Spring Semester
ELPS 600: Problem of Practice Capstone Project

Summer Session I
ELPS 600: Problem of Practice Capstone Project

Summer Session II
ELPS 600: Problem of Practice Capstone Project

EdD with Superintendent Endorsement Program: 24 transfer credit hours + 33 hours Loyola credit hours for endorsement + 15 credit hours for research courses  = 72 hours total

Candidates in all programs leading to Illinois licensure are required to pass an Illinois Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP), the appropriate endorsement exam, and a State Criminal Background Check.

Administration and Supervision courses are offered Online at Loyola University Chicago's Campus. Illinois Superintendent Preparation students are required to meet at Water Tower Campus twice during each semester. Aspiring District Leaders will study abroad during the second summer of the Superintendent Preparation program at Loyola’s campus in Rome, Italy.

SOE@JFRC - As advocates, leaders, researchers, activists, and community and district leaders, this immersive study abroad experience in Rome, Italy will ignite and reinforce your commitment to social justice by engaging with your peers, professors, and community to understand and engage with educational policy and advance professional district leadership practice to serve complex urban and metropolitan communities throughout the world. You will better understand and work with globally-minded advocates, leaders, analysts, researchers, activists, scholars, and educators in Rome, Italy – all of whom are committed to social justice and equity in local, national and international educational practices, policies, and systems.  

Most superintendent preparation students in the administration and supervision programs take two courses per semester and are able to complete the required coursework in less than three years (including summer enrollment). The length of time for the capstone project depends upon the topic and the diligence of the student. Candidates for the Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) have a maximum of seven years to complete the degree.

If students are unable to work on the degree for a period of more than one semester, they should request an official leave of absence from the program. Students who need more time to complete the degree must file for an official extension of time; the student's advisor will then recommend either a leave of absence or an extension.

Students with at least two years of administrative and leadership experience and who possess an Illinois PEL with Principal Endorsement can complete Loyola's SUPT prep program and meet the academic aspects of licensure requirements for the Superintendent endorsement in the State of Illinois. Successful completion of the required licensure examinations is required.

Please visit placement and licensure for details.