Educational Leadership Ed.D.

Program Rationale:

The doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) is designed for delivery to a cohort of full-time educational professionals on weekends, evenings, and during the summer. The Ed.D. is based on the premise that learning takes place through an integration of course work and experiences that stem from a clear conception of leadership, the knowledge base of the field, and a structure that allows doctoral students and faculty to collaborate on shared work improving education in the State of Connecticut.

The Ed.D. includes two distinct strands that support the learning needs of two different groups of educators.  The PreK-12 strand has many innovative features and serves teachers and administrators in PreK-12 education who want to prepare for a variety of leadership positions: principles, lead teachers, department heads, curriculum and assessment specialists, assistant superintendents, and superintendents.

The higher education strand serves professionals employed in higher education institutions who aspire to a wide range of leadership positions in academic or student affairs at two-or four-year institutions.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Prior to defending their dissertation proposals all doctoral students must document mastery of learning outcomes and show their ability to:

1. demonstrate an ethical and moral commitment to collaborative work that promotes positive learning for all members of the organization;
2. demonstrate the ability to foster best practices with the understanding that teaching and learning are at the heart of the organization's mission;
3. connect the immediate work of organizational improvement to the larger philosophical, political and historical context, and to the organization's mission;
4. establish a commitment to social justice through their work and act in ways that promote social justice in their organizations;
5. utilize evolving technologies to improve organizations, enhance learning, and build institutional identity;
6. foster continuous organizational improvement grounded in the collection, analysis, interpretation, and application of data;
7. locate, interpret, and assess relevant educational research and apply it to both practice and the design and conduct of research;
8. document mastery of learning outcomes in an individually defined area of specialization (higher education strand only).

Admissions Requirements:

To be considered for admission to the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, applicants must have earned a master's degree in an appropriate discipline or professional field and have professional goals that are consistent to the goals and beliefs of the program.

Admission to the PreK-12 strand of the program is available in alternate years for a cohort of 25 students.  The deadline for submission of applications is December 1.

The following minimum criteria have been established for admission into the PreK-12 strand of the Ed.D. Program:

1. Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education in a discipline or professional field that is relevant to the Ed.D. Program
2. 3.00 GPA on all graduate coursework
3. Two positive letters of reference from leaders in education familiar with the applicant's work
4. Detailed resume that illustrates important work-related experiences
5. Acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination (within five years of admission and including a writing assessment)
6. An acceptable personal statement covering three important topics:
   1. Career goals
   2. Reasons for pursuing a doctorate
   3. Ability and commitment to devote four weeks to summer study for the first two summers of the program and some additional on-campus summer study during the third or fourth summers
7. If selected as a finalist, a satisfactory interview with the admission committee.

Admission to the higher education strand of the program is available for a cohort of 25 students.  The deadline for submission of applications is October 1.

The following minimum criteria have been established for admission into the higher education strand of the Ed.D. Program:

1. Master's Degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
2. 3.00 cumulative GPA on all graduate coursework
3. Two positive letters of reference from leaders in higher education familiar with the applicant's work
4. Detailed resume that illustrates important work-related experiences
5. Acceptable scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Exam (within five years of admission and including a writing assessment)
6. An acceptable personal statement covering four important topics:

a. Career goals

b. Reasons for pursuing a doctorate

c. Ability and commitment to study in cohort schedule

d. Initial thoughts about potential areas of specialization that would support career goals

    7. If selected as a finalist, a satisfactory interview with the admission committee.

Admission Process

The application packet for the each Ed.D. strand is available through the Ed.D. Program website.  Admission decisions are made by a faculty admissions committee.

Program of Study

The Ed.D. program includes four major components:  (1) an 18-credit required core in educational leadership; (2) a 1-credit specialty area; (3) a 16-credit series of inquiry-oriented seminars; and (4) the dissertation component (14) credits.  These components and the credits required in each component are summarized below.

Component I:

Core in Leadership (18 credits)

Component II:

Specialty area (15 credits):

Component III:

Inquiry Seminars (16 credits)

Component IV:

Capstone: Dissertation and Dissemination (14 credits)

Total: minimum 48-63 credits

Component I establishes the foundational core of the program with particular emphasis in education leadership and teaching and learning. Five core courses are required of all candidates: EDF 700; EDL 701, EDL 702, EDL 705 (6 cr.); and EDT 700.  All courses in the core are open only to PreK-12 strand Ed.D. students.

Component II includes a specialty area of the student's choice. Two specializations are available:

• Administrative Leadership. This specialization is for students who aspire for administrative positions in public schools. It could lead to certification for intermediate administrator (a State of Connecticut certificate) and the superintendency.
• Curriculum and Literacy. This specialization is for students who plan leadership careers in PK-12 settings such as reading and curriculum specialists. It includes courses in literacy, curriculum, and instructional leadership.

Component III of the program includes research courses, field-based inquiry projects, and a series of seminars designed to help students understand the processes of inquiry. Component III leads into and facilitates Component IV.

Component IV includes completion of the dissertation and dissemination of the results to appropriate audiences.  Special course work in research and ongoing inquiry projects will culminate with the completion of the student's dissertation.  More information about all of these components is available on the program website.

Please note that students in the PreK-12 strand take 10 credits during each of the first two summers in the program, and additional courses during evenings and some Saturdays during the first two academic years. During the third year and beyond, the focus is on dissertation requirements, including some on-campus study during the last summer or winter session of study.

Higher Education Strand

Component I establishes the foundational core of the program with particular emphasis on the history and context of higher education, teaching and learning in higher education, leadership, organizational theory, and resource management.  Six courses are required of all candidates: EDF 700, EDL 705 (3cr.), EDL 730, EDL 731, EDL 732, and EDL 733.  All courses in the core are open only to Ed.D. students in the higher education strand.

Component II is the 15-credit individually defined area of specialization developed early in the program and assessed in the pre-dissertation portfolio review.

Component III of the program includes research courses, field-based inquiry projects, and a series of seminars designed to help students understand the processes of inquiry. 

Component IV is the completion of the dissertation and dissemination of the results to appropriate audiences.  Special course work in research and ongoing inquiry projects culminate with the completion of the student's dissertation.  More information about all of these components is available on the program website.

Candidate Assessment

The curriculum of the Ed.D. program is aligned with applicable professional and accreditation standards and with the program learning outcomes.  During the second year of the program, each Ed.D. candidate completes a summative electronic portfolio which uses a variety of evidence (artifacts, evaluations, projects, and reflections) to document mastery of program learning outcomes.  Prior to being granted the Ed.D. degree, each candidate completes a dissertation.