Programs in Educational Administration and Foundations

Thank you for your interest. We prepare people of diverse backgrounds for leadership roles in education through our master's and doctoral programs in Educational Administration on campus and in off-campus sites such as Chicago, Springfield, the Quad Cities, and Peoria.   See our Cohort information site.

The mission of the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations is to prepare people of diverse backgrounds for leadership roles in education. The academic programs in the department are based on the assumption that leadership in educational systems is essential for the society to produce successfully an enlightened citizenry.  The programs and degrees are grounded in the belief that educational leaders require knowledge, skills, values, and commitment appropriate for administrative, policy, instructional, and research roles in societies striving to realize the democratic ideal. (EAF Department: passed 10/23/01)

Graduates of the programs hold positions as university and community college presidents, deans, professors, superintendents, principals, and teacher leaders. They also hold policy making, program evaluation, and research positions in state agencies and public and private organizations throughout the United States and other countries.

The faculty members in the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations faculty teach and conduct research in four areas:

• P-12 Administration
• Higher education administration
• Research and evaluation
• Educational foundations

To support its graduate mission, the Department houses the Center for the Study of Education Policy .  The mission of the Center is to perform research and public service related to current and emerging policy issues affecting PreK-16 education. The Center specializes in the areas of finance, law, and accountability. Important to the mission of the center is the intersection of research and practice as represented by publications, conferences, and service to educational, professional, and governmental organizations.

The Department publishes three journals to support its mission:

• Grapevine
• Planning & Changing
• Illinois School Law Quarterly Online