Northeastern Illinois University Graduate Programs

Become a School Leader

Master of arts Degree in school Leadership with Illinois Principal Endorsement

Join the Lake County/ NEIU Cohort in Fall 2026

Program Sequence & Degree Requirements

What Can I Do With This Degree?
Graduates of the School Leadership Program
are prepared for leadership positions in Pre-K
– Age 22 schools e.g., Principal, Assistant
Principal, Dean, Department Chair, Curriculum
Director, etc.

Who is Eligible to Apply?
• The cohort is open to all Lake County educators
and school support personnel

(former Type 73).
• Applicants must have two years of teaching or
school support personnel experience to enroll.
Course Modality
Classes will be held online in synchronous
format via zoom.

For further information regarding the
graduate program cohort contact:
Noreen Powers, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & School Leadership
Program Coordinator
Literacy, Leadership, Development and
Special Education Department
Email: N-Powers@neiu.edu
Cell: 312-339-2739

Year 1: Students take two classes per semester

(back-to-back) one night a week, with the
exception of summer. Summer classes are held
two separate nights each week.

• Year 2: Students take one class per semester
in addition to completing their year-long
internship. All students keep their current
full-time jobs while completing the internship.
• Degree Requirements:

Twelve Courses
Comprehensive Exam
PERA Training
ILTS 195 and 196 Principal as
Instructional Leader Exams

Cohort Start Date: Fall 2026
Cohort Graduation: Summer 2028

See Cost and more Information>

Master of Science
Special Education with
Learning Behavior Specialist II
(LBSII) Endorsement

The Learning Behavior Specialist II (LBS II) program is designed
to offer current special education teachers preparation in targeted academic and behavioral areas through a tailored academic program from an accredited institution. Program options include a comprehensive Master’s degree program with Illinois state endorsement(s) (MS-LBS II).

Talk to an Academic Advisor

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Students may begin the MA in fall,
spring, or summer semesters.
Application deadlines are as follows:
For fall, July 1st
For spring, Nov. 1st
For summer, April 1st

ACADEMIC CALENDAR
The Fall Semester starts in August, the
Spring Semester starts in January, and
the Summer Session starts in May.

COST:
$463.53 per credit hour plus $85 fees
per credit hour
FINANCIAL AID
https://www.neiu.edu/financial-aid

REGISTRATION PROCEDURE:
Apply to NEIU through the Graduate
Admissions Office for the Master of Science
Degree in Special Education. Meet with the
Program Advisor to create a plan of study
The Program Advisor will guide students
through the course registration process and
provide course authorization.

SPED 519: Collaborative Relationships
in Special Education
SPED 521: Issues and Interventions for
Individuals with Autism Spectrum
Disorder
SPED 522: Foundations and Practices in
Challenging Behaviors
SPED 523: Educational Assessment and
Planning for PBIS
SPED 524: Practicum in Behavior
Disorders
SPED 525: Alternative Assessment and
Test Accommodations
SPED 526: Adaptations of Curriculum
SPED 527: Language-Based Disorders
SPED 529: Curriculum Practicum
SPED 530: Capstone Project

Mr. Jason Gallardo
Phone: (773) 442-5933
E-mail: j-gallardo2@neiu.edu

ENLACE

ENLACE, pronounced EN-LAH-SEH in Spanish, stands for ENgaging Latinx Communities for Education. ENLACE began in 2000 with an initial $1.5 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as part of a national initiative to increase opportunities for Latinx students to enter and complete higher education. Northeastern Illinois University was one of 13 sites selected across the United States and was the only site in the Midwest. Additional financial and in-kind support has supported the program's continued success along with the ongoing commitment from the state of Illinois. The program was recognized in 2016 as a finalist for the national Examples of Excelencia Award, which recognizes evidence-based practices that increase Latinx student success in higher education.

ENLACE Fellowship
The program also offers the ENLACE Fellowship on a limited basis to students with a demonstrated commitment to careers working at Hispanic Serving Institutions, with Latinx communities, first-generation college students, immigrant students, and/or other members of under-represented groups.

Candidates are selected by their personal statement submission and its relevancy to OUR MISSION.

The deadline for the ENLACE fellowship is June 30, 2026. Recipients will be informed in early July.

Talk to an Academic Advisor

ENLACE Admission Procedures

Candidates desiring admission to the master's degree in Educational Leadership program with a concentration in Higher Education are encouraged to send an email to enlace@neiu.edu.

Students can then complete the online graduate application, indicating their program preference by choosing code GX06.

Please note: We are now accepting applications on a rolling basis and will notify candidates at the end of each month until the final deadline, July 15, 2026.

Master of arts in
Literacy Education
with Reading Specialist License

Talk to an Academic Advisor

The MA in Literacy Education with Reading Specialist license prepares K-12 teachers for roles outside the classroom, such as reading specialist, literacy coach, and interventionist. Teachers gain additional skills and knowledge for supporting literacy development schoolwide as well as in the classroom. Evidence-based strategies learned benefit all students, including below-level readers of all ages, resistant readers, English learners, minoritized students, and those with disabilities. Our program meets all state requirements for the Reading Specialist license, which is a PK-12 entitlement.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Students may begin the MA in fall,
spring, or summer semesters.
Application deadlines are as follows:
For fall, July 1st
For spring, Nov. 1st
For summer, April 1st

ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Fall 2025 classes begin on Aug. 26.
Spring 2026 classes begin on Jan. 20.
Summer 2026 classes begin on May 27.

TRANSFER HOURS POLICY:
Courses taken elsewhere that meet ISBE and
university requirements may be substituted
for up to three classes, or nine credit hours.
LTCY 507 and LTCY 508/510 (Clinical
Practicum) must be taken through
Northeastern Illinois University.

TCY 501 Literacy Instruction in Primary and
Elementary Grades
LTCY 502 Disciplinary Literacy Instruction in
Secondary Grades
LTCY 503 Theoretical Foundations of Literacy
Education/Introduction to Research
LTCY 504 Children’s and Young Adult Literature for
Literacy Instruction
LTCY 505 OR LTCY 506 Writing Instruction in the
Elementary Grades or in the Secondary Grades
LTCY 507 Literacy Assessment and Instructional
Planning
LTCY 508 and 510 Clinical Practicum (double
course)
LTCY 511 Research Seminar/Teacher Research
LTCY 512 Leadership in Literacy Education
CHOOSE ONE ELECTIVE:
LTCY 513 Teaching Reading in Middle School
LTCY 514 Teaching Literacy to Culturally and
Linguistically Diverse Students OR
LTCY 515 Technology for Literacy Instruction

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must have their initial
teaching license and an undergraduate
GPA of 2.75 or higher.
COST:
Each three-credit course costs roughly
$1650, which includes fees. The MA in
Literacy Education requires 11 threecredit courses.

Contact person:

Dr. April Nauman
Phone: (773) 442 5377
E-mail: A-Nauman@neiu.edu