Master of Education in Educational Leadership Degree Program

Master of Education in Educational Leadership Curriculum

This master's degree requires a student to complete 36 credit hours of prescribed coursework:

• Seven 4-credit hour courses
• A year-long internship (3 courses, 8 credit hours total)
  • Can be completed while candidates are employed full-time

Master of Education Grants and Scholarships 

Education Alliance Partnership

North Central College has partnered with several businesses and school districts to offer eligible M.Ed. students a 20 percent tuition discount. We invite you to explore the Education Alliance Grant to learn more.

• Find out how your school district can qualify for the Education Alliance Grant. (PDF)

The Kern Family Foundation Cultures of Character Scholarships

The Cultures of Character Scholarship was established thanks to the generosity of the Kern Family Foundation. Annual scholarships will be awarded for 20-40 percent off tuition for select candidates who meet the eligibility criteria.

Scholarship Eligibility

• Interested candidates must first be accepted to the master of education in the educational leadership program.
• Scholarship applications must be completed prior to beginning the first course in the program.
• Awards will be considered based primarily on the applicant’s ability to demonstrate:
  • service to an underserved community
  • qualifications as an applicant currently underrepresented in administrative ranks
  • commitment to fostering a culture of character in a PK-12 school educational setting through demonstrated teaching experience or expertise

Learn more about the scholarship program by watching this video. 

Scholarship Participation

Recipients of the scholarship are expected to:

• be fully engaged in coursework
• promote the goals of the scholarship through character development work
• participate annually in a minimum of two activities sponsored by North Central College to promote the educational leadership program and/or the scholarship and its aforementioned goals

Next Steps

• More information, including a link to the Cultures of Character Scholarship application, will be provided upon acceptance into the master of education in the educational leadership program.

Our faculty commitment to Cultures of Character...

Bruce Spitzer 

With a light heart and a servant’s perspective, Dr. Spitzer seeks to empower the work of individuals and groups that value learning, seek justice, and promote equality and success for all. He considers himself a teacher at heart, a teacher educator by calling, and technology-using professional by training. He enjoys working with people who are dedicated to creating tomorrow's teachers, school professionals, and community leaders who will make a difference in the world. Bruce believes our work with character development provides North Central College with a framework and a vocabulary to put into words the deeply held beliefs and dispositions we teachers and teacher educators have long known in our hearts. Schools are about more than the content we teach: we work to develop the whole child into a virtuous citizen who can contribute to building a better world.

Kathleen B. King

Driven to facilitate the realization of others’ potential, Dr. King is deeply committed to character and leadership development through the fostering of school cultures centered on core virtues.  In her teaching, she is dedicated to assuring professionals in the classroom and administrative ranks are committed to opportunity and equity, skilled in cultivating stakeholders of common mission, dedicated to fostering flourishing communities, and adept at facilitating growth towards our greatest potential.

Maureen V. Spelman

The overarching vision that has guided Dr. Spelman’s journey as a professional educator has been one of ensuring that all children have access to a high-quality learning environment. Her belief that the school leader is the keystone in that vision led her to the NCC Educational Leadership program. Dr. Spelman values and strives to integrate moral, ethical, servant, transformational, and visionary leadership styles into her work. She is committed to a path of personal life-long development focused on the character strengths/virtues of courage, strength, patience, wisdom, dignity, grace, kindness, and compassion.

Colleen M. Transier

Throughout her tenure as an educator, Dr. Transier has focused on building the capacity of others to achieve their maximum potential, both personally and professionally. Her journey as a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent has provided keen insights into the diverse needs of school communities where aspiring school leaders will serve. As a professor, Dr. Transier strives to support school leaders in cultivating the essential knowledge and skills necessary to effectively lead schools, while additionally nurturing a culture of character in their school settings. Having served in both the public and parochial school settings, Dr. Transier affirms the contribution character education provides in a flourishing school culture.