Certificate
Part-Time Only
Summer
Online
About the Online Certificate Program for Superintendent Endorsement at Loyola
As an Illinois superintendent of schools, you can make a positive impact on students, schools, and our larger communities. Become a scholar-practitioner who can lead our school districts through complex challenges and change through Loyola University Chicago's Online Superintendent Endorsement Certificate.
With Loyola's one-of-a-kind superintendent certificate, you will be empowered to be a responsive, adaptive leader who works to improve Chicago's educational community. You will learn as an apprentice of superintendents from the moment you enter the program, developing into a reflective, transformative leader who continuously works to make a difference in Chicago's diverse school districts.
Program Structure
The superintendent certificate can be pursued part-time. This is an online program that culminates in Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) endorsement (Superintendent Certification Exam required). Courses feature both asynchronous and synchronous learning experiences, with live sessions meeting on evenings and weekends. Our curriculum is aligned with the NELP (2018), and ISBE Standards (2016). Students must successfully pass the required licensure examinations.
Why Choose Loyola for Your Superintendent Endorsement Certificate?
At Loyola, you will join a distinguished program that brings together practice, research, and scholarship. Our superintendent endorsement certificate prepares you to lead school districts in a way that promotes social justice, equitable practices, and continuous improvement.
- Developed in partnership with educational leaders
- Grounded in four core principles
- A convenient, yet rigorous program
- Built-in internships
- Study abroad in Rome
- Committed to social justice
Join a reputable program designed by practicing superintendents and school administrators in the Chicagoland area. Loyola's superintendent endorsement certificate program was developed in partnership with the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) and Advisory Board composed of active superintendents and alumni of Loyola University of Chicago.
Become a mission-driven leader in a mission-driven program. Loyola's superintendent endorsement certificate program is rooted in the following core principles that empower you to become an effective, socially just leader:
- A commitment to partnerships with districts and communities
- Scholarly inquiry to advance transformative district leadership practices
- Support of candidate development of a critical lens to dismantle and restyle organization to provide greater access to quality schooling for all students
- Cultivation of candidate commitment to improving and furthering district, school, familial, and community capacities.
Earn your superintendent endorsement for Illinois completely online, on your schedule. Our courses feature live sessions and asynchronous learning to help accommodate the schedules of working professionals like you and to ensure you master course content.
Get practical experience in educational leadership with two required internships. Through your district-level internship courses, you will gain real-world experience in administration, decision-making, community relations, data gathering, and more.
Get exposure to global leadership perspectives in a two-week summer course at Loyola University's campus in Rome. This course provides the opportunity to meet educational leaders from around the world while exploring a city rich in history and significance.
Study at a respected Jesuit, Catholic university committed to excellence in teaching and learning. As a Jesuit, Catholic institution, Loyola is uniquely positioned to foster social change and justice in educational communities throughout Chicago and Illinois.
Meet the Faculty
Loyola is proud to have talented and nationally-recognized scholar-teachers as part of our diverse community of exceptional faculty, students and staff. Loyola faculty are known for their commitment to teaching, the dissemination of knowledge through innovative and interdisciplinary scholarly research, and a commitment to social justice and cura personalis, or care for the whole person. Visit the School of Education faculty and staff directory to learn more about the teachers and mentors involved with the Educational Leadership: Superintendent Endorsement Certificate program.
FacultySuperintendent Endorsement Certification: Career Connections
Loyola's online superintendent endorsement qualifies you for positions as a superintendent of schools in Illinois and other educational leadership roles.
Specific job options include:
- Superintendent
- Assistant superintendent
- Principal
- Curriculum director
- Policy analyst
Because Loyola is a member of the Jesuit network of 27 colleges and universities nationwide, our graduates can access career advising services, resume and interviewing assistance, career fairs and events, and employment listings in our Career Services center, as well as at career centers at other U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good place to start exploring the outlook and pay potential for superintendent jobs.
Curriculum and Program Outcomes
While courses for the Educational Leadership: Superintendent Endorsement Certificate program may vary from semester to semester, Loyola’s extensive Academic Catalog will always house the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies, degree requirements, and specialization or concentration options.
Additionally, this resource will provide Educational Leadership: Superintendent Endorsement Certificate learning outcomes, showcasing the commitment to specific skills and growth graduates can expect to achieve following completion of the program.
2023-2024 Catalog
Browse Academic CatalogSuperintendent Certificate Results and Skills
In Loyola's online superintendent certification program, you will be prepared to take the Superintendent Certification Exam through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). In addition, you will develop several skills that will help you serve as an educational leader.
- Instructional leadership
- School district management
- An understanding of educational policy
- Strategic planning
- Educational policy evaluation
- Budgeting and financial management
- Curriculum development
- Collaboration
- Data-based decision making
- Community relations
- Advocacy
Costs, Scholarships, and Aid
Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your graduate and professional studies a reality. Our Cost & Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education.
If you are a current Loyola undergraduate or recent alum, you may be eligible for a Returning Rambler discount. Learn more and see if you qualify on our Returning Rambler Scholarship page.
Tuition and Costs
The estimated tuition and fees for the Educational Leadership: Superintendent Endorsement Certificate totals $33825.00, or 33 credit hours at a cost of $1,025.00 per credit hour. Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.
For more detailed information about tuition and fees, and a breakdown of how these costs are calculated on a yearly basis, please visit Tuition and Fees from the Office of the Bursar.
School of Education Financial Aid & Scholarships
Visit the School of Education Scholarships page for detailed information about eligible scholarships.
More information about financial aid opportunities can be found on the Financial Aid Office website.
Appointments and Events
Whether you’re just beginning your search, in the midst of the application process, or eager to explore our graduate and professional programs, our admissions staff is here to assist you every step of the way.
Schedule an AppointmentThe School of Education offers graduate open houses, information sessions, individual appointments, open Zoom and text sessions, and a multitude of other ways to get to know us better.
View all EventsVisit and Connect With Us
With our visit opportunities, you can tour our beautiful Chicago campuses and learn more about Loyola's ties to one of the most prestigious cities in the world.
Application Process
Application Deadlines
The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the Educational Leadership: Superintendent Endorsement Certificate are listed below. Please keep in mind that both the application and the required materials must be submitted by the specified deadline.
Summer I: November 15
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the Educational Leadership: Superintendent Endorsement Certificate include:
Official Transcripts
1 Letter of Recommendation
3.0 Minimum GPA
Licensure
Resume/CV
Statement of Purpose
Statement of Purpose Details
Your statement should be 1-3 pages and describe your academic and research interests, professional goals, and life experiences that have influenced your view of social justice.
Official Documents
Official transcripts are those that are sent directly by the college/university to Loyola University Chicago. Transcripts sent by the student to Loyola are considered unofficial documents, and while they may be utilized for initial review of your application, official transcripts are still required. Official documents should be sent by the institution to gradapp@luc.edu.
International Applicant Requirements
An official English language proficiency exam is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. If you have non-U.S. educational credentials, you are required to submit an official transcript evaluation. The transcript evaluation cannot be waived.
Please visit our International Applicant Requirements page for specific information regarding the application process for international students.
Start Your Application
Applying online to the Educational Leadership: Superintendent Endorsement Certificate program is a swift, uncomplicated, and cost-free process. After submission, you can proceed to send and upload any additional requirements.
APPLY TODAY