Central to the mission of the Church is the work of Catholic schools. The National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Catholic Schools (NSBECS) state that “An excellent Catholic school has a qualified leader/leadership team empowered by the governing body to realize and implement the school’s mission and vision.” The need for well-prepared leaders for Catholic schools is documented in numerous arenas as well as the challenges that face these leaders.
The Loyola University Chicago (LUC) Catholic Principal Preparation Program is...
- designed to prepare future principals to meet the complex challenges of leading today’s Catholic schools.
- uniquely designed to ensure each principal candidate becomes a mission-driven, faith-based instructional leader within the Catholic School context.
There is an out of state disclaimer regarding licensure for those students who do not reside in nor work in Illinois.
The Unique Coaching Model
This coaching model is based on the foundation of a “support team” to ensure candidates have the breadth of experiences to be able to lead. The support team is comprised of the candidate, the university faculty supervisor, the coordinator of coaches, the internship mentor principal, and the internship coach. The internship coach is a veteran Catholic school administrator with a proven record for leading effective Catholic schools.
Features of the Program
- Focused in-depth coursework with coaching and immediate application for transforming Catholic schools to create increased student outcomes within a faith-based context.
- Program designed by Loyola’s School of Education and community partners to ensure that all candidates acquire a solid foundation to be a Catholic school principal who is a mission-driven, faith-based instructional leader.
- Optional two-week summer course at Loyola University’s Rome campus to develop global leadership perspectives.
Curriculum
A two-year program (including Summers) that leads to a Master’s Degree in Administration & Supervision and Illinois Principal Licensure eligibility, course work will focus on the unique aspects of the principalship of Catholic schools. There are eleven courses (33 semester credit hours) total with 2 one-semester internships and 9 classes of coursework with embedded field experiences and assignments. Courses will focus on instructional leadership, enrollment management, marketing and development. Catholic Identity is infused throughout the coursework.
Courses
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| ELPS 406 | Foundations Using Data for Continuous Improvement | 3 |
| ELPS 407 | Leading for Data-based Decision Making | 3 |
| ELPS 408 | Leading for Diversity | 3 |
| ELPS 471 | MTSS for Instructional Leaders | 3 |
| ELPS 474 | Curriculum Development for Instructional Leaders | 3 |
| ELPS 481 | Mission Driven Leadership for Principals | 3 |
| ELPS 482 | School Supervision for Principals | 3 |
| ELPS 484 | School Law, Policy Formation, and Community Involvement | 3 |
| ELPS 483 | Human and Fiscal Resource for Principals | 3 |
| ELPS 566 | Principal Internship One | 3 |
| ELPS 567 | Principal Internship Two | 3 |
| Total Hours | 33 |
Suggested Sequence of Courses
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
Plan of Study Grid
| Year 1 |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| ELPS 481 |
Mission Driven Leadership for Principals |
3 |
| ELPS 482 |
School Supervision for Principals |
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| Spring |
|---|
| ELPS 471 |
MTSS for Instructional Leaders |
3 |
| ELPS 474 |
Curriculum Development for Instructional Leaders |
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| Summer |
|---|
| ELPS 483 |
Human and Fiscal Resource for Principals |
3 |
| ELPS 484 |
School Law, Policy Formation, and Community Involvement |
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| Year 2 |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| ELPS 406 |
Foundations Using Data for Continuous Improvement |
3 |
| ELPS 566 |
Principal Internship One |
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| Spring |
|---|
| ELPS 407 |
Leading for Data-based Decision Making |
3 |
| ELPS 567 |
Principal Internship Two |
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| Summer |
|---|
| ELPS 408 |
Leading for Diversity |
3 |
| | Hours | 3 |
| | Total Hours | 33 |
Continuous Enrollments
Master's students in administration and supervision are required to maintain the status of continuous enrollment during their program of studies. This means that during each semester of each academic year (excluding Summer Sessions), each student must enroll in at least one course. A formal leave of absence may be granted upon request and the approval of the School of Education’s Assistant Dean of Student Academic Affairs.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supercede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion, principal candidates will ...
- possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be highly effective principals to promote the spiritual, academic and social-emotional growth of their students.
