Program Overview

Doctor of Education in the Field of Educational Leadership and Administration

The doctoral program in educational leadership and administration offers students the opportunity to develop, shape, and grow their leadership and policy work in PreK–12 school administration and leadership. The program emphasizes four critical goals: leadership for equity and social justice; leadership for school improvement; leadership for change; and research-based practice and practice-informed research. The EdD in educational leadership and administration includes intentionally sequenced, cohort-based content and research methods coursework designed to engage students in critical problem-solving of pressing needs and challenges facing PreK-12 school leaders. The degree culminates in a practice-informed dissertation research study.

Overview of the Program

• The program is designed to develop students' leadership and policy work in PreK–12 school administration and leadership.
• The program emphasizes four critical goals:
  • Leadership for equity and social justice
  • Leadership for school improvement
  • Leadership for change
  • Research-based practice and practice-informed research
• The EdD in educational leadership and administration includes intentionally sequenced, cohort-based content and research methods coursework.
• The degree culminates in a practice-informed dissertation research study.

Admissions

• Admission deadlines:
  • Fall – Rolling admissions
  • Spring – Rolling admissions
• Standardized tests: Submission of GRE general test or the Miller Analogies Test is optional.
• Recommendations required: Two recommendations from an academic instructor/advisor or someone who can speak of your academic abilities.
• Prior academic records: Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended.
• Statement of purpose: In an essay of 750 to 1,200 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study, describing your academic objectives, research interests, and career plans.
• Additional requirements:
  • A resumé
  • An interview with a program advisor
  • A piece of scholarly writing

Requirements

• The requirements for the Doctor of Education programs.
• A minimum of 48 credits, successful completion of a comprehensive examination, and an approved dissertation proposal.
• Course List:
  • Required:
    • EDUC 8120: Group Comparison Designs and Analyses
    • EDUC 8122: Qualitative Research Methods
    • EDUC 8240: Leading Organizations Through Change: Systems Thinking and Theory
    • EDUC 8268: Leading Ethically: Transformative, Adaptive, and Culturally-Responsive Leadership
    • EDUC 8271: Policy Formation, Implementation, and Change for Educational Leaders
    • EDUC 8272: Strategic Planning and Organizational Transformation in Education
    • EDUC 8276: Seminar: Administration and Supervision
    • EDUC 8277: Equity-Centered Advanced Instructional Leadership for School Improvement
    • EDUC 8280: Critical Review of Educational Leadership Literature
  • Advanced Research:
    • 3 credits in Level B Research Methods coursework selected in consultation with the advisor.
  • Elective:
    • One 3-credit elective course selected from the following:
      • EDUC 6116: Introduction to Educational Statistics
      • EDUC 8998: Pre-Dissertation Seminar
      • 3 credits in Level B Research Methods coursework selected in consultation with advisor
      • One 8000-level course selected in consultation with advisor.
  • Dissertation:
    • EDUC 8998: Pre-Dissertation Seminar
    • EDUC 8999: Dissertation Research (taken for a minimum of 12 credits)
    • An approved dissertation proposal is required.
  • Comprehensive Examination: Successful completion of a comprehensive examination is required.

Doctoral Program Level B Courses

• GSEHD's Level B research methods courses are advanced courses in a specific research methodology.
• All GSEHD doctoral students are required to take at least one Level B course in the methodology of their dissertation.
• Course List:
  • EDUC 8100: Experimental Courses (Mixed Methods Research)
  • EDUC 8130: Survey Research Methods
  • EDUC 8131: Case Study Research Methods
  • EDUC 8140: Ethnographic Research Methods
  • EDUC 8142: Phenomenological Research Methods
  • EDUC 8144: Discourse Analysis
  • EDUC 8147: Critical Methodologies in Educational Research
  • EDUC 8148: Qualitative Data Collection
  • EDUC 8149: Qualitative Data Analysis
  • EDUC 8170: Educational Measurement
  • EDUC 8171: Predictive Designs and Analyses
  • EDUC 8172: Multivariate Analysis
  • EDUC 8173: Structural Equation Modeling
  • EDUC 8174: Hierarchical Linear Modeling
  • EDUC 8175: Item Response Theory
  • EDUC 8177: Assessment Engineering