Program Overview

P-12 Educational Leadership Concentration

The Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a concentration in P-12 Educational Leadership is ideally suited for students who are currently employed at a P-12 institution and wish to advance their knowledge in the field to become scholars. Students interested in becoming a superintendent should pursue an Ed.D. degree with a specialization in P-12 System Level School Leadership. The Ph.D. degree does not offer a superintendent endorsement.

Program Curriculum

The sequence of courses taken by a student is dependent upon whether the student is enrolled part-time or full-time. For part-time students, it is expected that they take 2 courses per semester, including over the summer, for a total of 6 courses per year. Full-time students should take 3 courses per semester and 2 over the summer. Deviating from this sequence may delay program completion, as certain courses are offered at certain times and are subject to enrollment limits. Additionally, a student's specific sequence of courses is also dependent upon the concentration that they select to pursue. Students unable to follow the sequence as outlined should be in regular communication with their advisor.

Course Sequence for Part-Time Students (P-12 Educational Leadership Concentration)

• Fall 1
  • EDAD 900: Pro-Seminar in Educational Leadership and Higher Education
  • EDAD Concentration/Elective Course
• Spring 1
  • EDAD 929: Organizational Theory and Change
  • EDAD 981: Intermediate Quantitative Methods for Educational Administration Research
  • EDAD 983: Qualitative Methods for Educational Administration Research
• Summer 1
  • EDAD Concentration/Elective Course
  • EDAD 995: Doctoral Seminar (1 of 2)
• Fall 2
  • EDAD 920: Diversity and Equity in Educational Organizations
  • EDAD 984(X): Qualitative Methods
  • EDAD 982: Advanced Quantitative Methods for Educational Administration Research
• Spring 2
  • EDAD Concentration/Elective Course
  • EDAD 981: Intermediate Quantitative Methods for Educational Administration Research
  • EDAD 983: Qualitative Methods for Educational Administration Research
• Summer 2
  • EDAD 986: Leadership in Educational Organizations (School Admin & EdD Section)
  • EDAD 995: Doctoral Seminar (2 of 2)
• Fall 3
  • EDAD Concentration/Elective Course
  • EDAD 984(X): Qualitative Methods
  • EDAD 982: Advanced Quantitative Methods for Educational Administration Research
• Spring 3
  • 2 options among the EDAD Concentration/Elective Courses
• Dissertation
  • EDAD 999: Doctoral Dissertation

Concentration Electives

If you elect a concentration in P-12 Educational Leadership, you should abide by the following guidelines:

• Select 1 EDAD 995 or 966 advisor-directed summer seminar
• Select 3 P-12 leadership courses (including from among MEd courses as warranted), at least 2 from the following:
  • EDAD 935: Workforce, Economic, and Community Development
  • EDAD 905: Governance
  • EDAD 906: System Level Admin
  • EDAD 919: Social and Political Contexts of Education Administration (priority doctoral students)