Director of Special Education (DOSE) Endorsement

• Director of Special Education
• State-approved Director of Special Education
• Cooperative/Joint-agreement Director of Special Education
• District Director of Special Education
• Public or Private Facility Director of Special Education
• Special Education Supervisor
• Special Education Program Supervisor
• School Administrator
• Higher Education Instructor in Special Education / Special Education Leadership Content Area(s) (bachelor’s and master’s level)
• Other

The DOSE Program consists of a minimum* six courses (eight weeks in length, online). A required two (2) hour Orientation Program supplements the program and provides the candidate with all resources for the program including portfolio design and development, as well as an overview of all standards of assessment.

• Evidence of a regionally accredited bachelor’s and master’s degree, with a minimum graduate cumulative GPA of 3.00.
• Completed online application including an objective statement of the applicant’s goals in pursuing the DOSE endorsement.
• Official transcripts from each college or university from which a degree was earned.  International transcripts must be evaluated by a Concordia approved international credentialing service, such as WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators).
• Hold a valid and current Professional Educator License (PEL).
• Two letters of recommendation  from individuals able to comment on the applicant’s academic potential, personal character and competence and effectiveness in professional work. 
• Copy of professional resume.

Full admission to the program is granted after the first term upon successful completion of the following: 

• One required DOSE course earning a grade of B or higher.
• Employment verification letter confirming 2 years of full-time experience:

• public schools, as a special education teacher, speech-language pathologist, school social worker, or school psychologist; or
• nonpublic schools, if the candidate holds the appropriate corresponding Illinois professional educator license endorsed in a special education teaching field or for school support personnel as a speech-language pathologist, school social worker, school psychologist, or school counselor.
• Faculty Interview

All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago graduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.

New students are accepted into graduate degree-seeking, approval, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study in the fall, spring, or summer semesters.  Previously admitted students seeking to change programs may do so at the beginning of a semester (only) by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app.  Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards at the time of requesting a program change.

Master’s degree in Special Education or a related field from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

Students seeking the DOSE endorsement must provide proof of at least two years of full time experience providing special education services, prior to application, in:

• Public schools, as a special education teacher, speech-language pathologist, school social worker, or school psychologist; or
• Nonpublic schools, if the candidate holds the appropriate corresponding Illinois professional educator license endorsed in a special education teaching field or for school support personnel as a speech-language pathologist, school social worker, school psychologist, school counselor.

Please see specific Pathway sections for more qualifying information.

The DOSE Post-master’s endorsement program is designed for candidates who seek the Illinois DOSE endorsement to add to their existing Professional Educator License (PEL). There are three pathways:

• Pathway A: For students who already have a general administrative or principal endorsement on their Illinois PEL.
• Pathway B: For students who do not have a general administrative or principal endorsement on their existing Illinois PEL. 
• Pathway C: For students who have an out-of-state PEL but not an Illinois PEL.

This program develops special education administrators who can design, implement, evaluate, supervise, manage, and lead programs in a variety of PreK-12+ public and private settings. Additional special education coursework may be required based on the candidate’s prior coursework. This program can lead to the Director of Special Education Endorsement requirements and is an ISBE-approved DOSE Program (PK-22) for those who are eligible, provided that the appropriate state testing standard has been met.

Coursework addresses the ISBE DOSE standards, national standards, field experiences / clinical practices, and the current ISBE DOSE content exam. Candidates will be prepared in competency and proficiency aligned with the Council for Exceptional Children Administrator of Special Education Professional Leadership Standards (2022):

• Vision, mission, and direction-setting.
• Legal & ethical practices for special education programs & services.
• Management.
• Program Improvement;
• Instructional Leadership.
• Human & Fiscal Management.
• Collaboration and Communication.
• Advocacy and Responsiveness.
• Including access to individualized general curriculum and individualized independence curriculum.

Admission Requirements: DOSE Pathway A

If an applicant is endorsed in general administrative or principal on their Illinois PEL, and are interested in the DOSE endorsement, they can apply to the DOSE post-master’s endorsement program, IF they have a master's degree and a professional educator license in one of the following:

• Special Education,
• School Psychology,
• School Social Work,
• Speech Language Pathology, or
• School Counseling,

Students seeking the DOSE endorsement must also provide proof of at least two years of full-time experience providing special education services in: 

• public schools, as a special education teacher, speech-language pathologist, school social worker, or school psychologist; or
• nonpublic schools, if the candidate holds the appropriate corresponding Illinois professional educator license endorsed in a special education teaching field or for school support personnel as a speech-language pathologist, school social worker, school psychologist, school counselor.

General Graduate Admission Requirements

All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago graduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.

New students are accepted into graduate degree-seeking, approval, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study in the fall, spring, or summer semesters.  Previously admitted students seeking to change programs may do so at the beginning of a semester (only) by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app.  Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards at the time of requesting a program change.

Program Information Pathway A

View Curriculum For students who already have a general administrative or principal endorsement on their Illinois PEL.

Program requirements

Admission Requirements: DOSE Pathway B

If applicant is not endorsed in general administrative or principal on their Illinois PEL, and are interested in the DOSE endorsement, they can apply to the DOSE post-master’s endorsement program, IF they have a master's degree and an Illinois PEL in one of the following:

• Special Education,
• School Psychology,
• School Social Work,
• Speech Language Pathology, or
• School Counseling,

Students seeking the DOSE endorsement must also provide proof of at least two years of full time experience providing special education services in: 

• public schools, as a special education teacher, speech-language pathologist, school social worker, or school psychologist; or
• nonpublic schools, if the candidate holds the appropriate corresponding Illinois professional educator license endorsed in a special education teaching field or for school support personnel as a speech-language pathologist, school social worker, school psychologist, school counselor

NOTE: Students may be required to take additional courses based on applicant’s master's degree program content.

General Graduate Admission Requirements

All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago graduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.

New students are accepted into graduate degree-seeking, approval, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study in the fall, spring, or summer semesters.  Previously admitted students seeking to change programs may do so at the beginning of a semester (only) by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app.  Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards at the time of requesting a program change.

Program Information Pathway B

View Curriculum For students who do not have a general administrative or principal endorsement on their existing Illinois PEL.

Program Requirements

• Curricular adaptations/modification and/or assistive technology (e.g. SPED-6230 or SPED-7010)
• Facilitation of the least restrictive environment for all students (e.g. SPED-6375 already embedded in the program)
• Characteristics of students with disabilities (e.g. SPED-6350, SPED-6360)
• Collaboration of parents and school personnel (e.g. EDL-6310)
• Educational and psychological diagnosis and remedial techniques (e.g. SPED-6425)

Admission Requirements: DOSE Pathway C

If an applicant is not endorsed in general administrative or principal and does not have an Illinois PEL, but does have an out-of-state PEL, and is interested in the DOSE endorsement, they can apply to the DOSE post-master’s endorsement program, IF they have a master's degree and an out-of-state PEL in one of the following:

• Special Education,
• School Psychology,
• School Social Work,
• Speech Language Pathology, or
• School Counseling,

Students seeking the DOSE endorsement must also provide proof of at least two years of full-time experience providing special education services in: 

• public schools, as a special education teacher, speech-language pathologist, school social worker, or school psychologist; or
• nonpublic schools, if the candidate holds the appropriate corresponding Illinois professional educator license endorsed in a special education teaching field or for school support personnel as a speech-language pathologist, school social worker, school psychologist, school counselor.

NOTE: Out of state applicants may require additional coursework. Please see Program Requirements section for more information.

General Graduate Admission Requirements

All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago graduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.

New students are accepted into graduate degree-seeking, approval, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study in the fall, spring, or summer semesters.  Previously admitted students seeking to change programs may do so at the beginning of a semester (only) by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app.  Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards at the time of requesting a program change.

Program Specific-Admission Requirements

Master’s degree in Special Education or a related field from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

Program Information Pathway C

View Curriculum For students who have an out-of-state PEL but not an Illinois PEL.

Program Requirements