Admission Requirements

To be admitted as a graduate student and take DSEE courses, candidates must submit:

• A completed Aurora University Director of Special Education Endorsement admission application (aurora.edu/apply).
• Official transcripts* from all colleges attended.
• A current resume documenting two or more years of teaching (or other education-related career experience) and current district employment.

*Most institutions use Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse to send transcripts. If your college or university does not use either, please have your official transcripts sent to AU-Etranscripts@aurora.edu or the mailing address below. 

Aurora University
Office of Admission
347 S. Gladstone Ave.
Aurora, IL 60506

Applicants should be aware of all additional requirements for the Director of Special Education Endorsement through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), including:

• Successful completion of the Director of Special Education content exam (180).
• Two (2) years of full-time experience providing special education services as a special education teacher, speech language pathologist, school counselor, school nurse, school social worker, or school psychologist.

Specific Requirements:

Aurora University does not offer a program for directors of special education referenced in Option 1 below. Only the four required endorsement courses are offered. Applicants who do not currently hold an administrative endorsement and a Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS 1) endorsement are encouraged to submit their transcripts to ISBE for review prior to enrolling in the Director of Special Education coursework to determine whether any deficiencies must be addressed before receiving the endorsement.

• Option 1: Completion of an approved program for directors of special education that includes a minimum of one course in each of the following: special education law, special education finance, supervision of programs for children with disabilities, and cross-categorical special education methods.
• Option 2: Hold a professional educator license endorsed in an administrative field and complete 30 semester hours of coursework in special education with at least one course in special education law, special education finance, supervision of programs for children with disabilities, and cross-categorical special education methods. The remainder if the 30 semester hours of coursework may be in any of the following areas: curricular adaptation and modifications and assistive technology, facilitation of the least restrictive environment for all students, characteristics of students with disabilities, collaboration with parents and school personnel, transition services for students with disabilities, and educational and psychological diagnosis and remedial techniques.