Graduate Education Programs

The School of Education traces its roots to the teacher preparation programs offered at St. Clara College. Always responsive to the evolving needs of schools in society, the School of Education currently offers a Master of Science in Special Education, a Master of Arts in Teaching, and a Master of Arts in Education (available as an elevation from an endorsement program), as well as non-degree programs leading to state endorsements or approvals including Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language, Technology Specialist, and Learning Behavior Specialist I. For those teachers, library media specialists, and other school personnel who wish to take technology courses for their own professional development, but are not interested in an Illinois State Board of Education endorsement, the School of Education offers a Technology Specialist certificate.

Requirements for Admission

Admission requirements for School of Education programs are specified for each program. An applicant must complete the admissions process to the selected degree or endorsement/approval program prior to the first term of enrollment. Any exceptions require the approval of the director of the School of Education. Applicants must register for courses before the first class meeting.

English Proficiency

Students whose native language is other than English are required to pass the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of at least 550 (paper) or 250 (online).

Transfer of Credit

Up to six semester hours of appropriate graduate-level credit from an accredited college or university may be accepted in transfer at the time of matriculation. The applicant must provide:

• a copy of the course description as printed in the catalog of the institution attended and
• an official transcript demonstrating an earned grade of B or better and that the course was completed within the previous 5 years.

Residency Requirement

Once candidates (including those accepted conditionally) are matriculated into a School of Education graduate program, they must take all required courses and electives at Dominican University’s main campus or one of its off-site locations. Any exception to this policy requires the written approval of the director prior to the candidate’s registration for the course(s) at another college or university.

Course Registration

At the time of initial registration each candidate will be assigned a graduate faculty advisor. Candidates should consult with their advisors as they plan and develop their programs. Candidates in the School of Education must secure the approval of an advisor to complete registration.

Well in advance of the term the dates for each registration period are posted on the registrar’s office page on MyDU (Dominican’s internal web site). Candidates may register in person or online after the scheduled registration period begins. No registrations will be accepted after the published late registration date.

Dominican University reserves the right to cancel any course for which the registration does not warrant the organization of a class

Degree Completion

Candidates have five years to complete their degrees. In exceptional circumstances, a one-year extension may be granted with approval of the director. Those wishing to extend program completion beyond that timeframe will need to reapply to the School of Education and fulfill any additional requirements necessary.

Programs

• Alternative Licensure Degree Programs
• Master of Arts in Education
• Master of Arts in Teaching
• Master of Science in Special Education

• Bilingual Education Approval
• Bilingual Education Endorsement
• English as a Second Language Approval
• English as a Second Language Endorsement
• Learning Behavior Specialist I Endorsement
• Technology Specialist Certificate
• Technology Specialist Endorsement

Courses

• EDUA 559 - Methods in Middle and Secondary Science and Disciplinary Literacy
• EDUA 561 - Content Area Reading and Social Studies Methods for Elementary and Middle Level Teachers