Doctor of Education Program (Ed.D.) - Leadership in Educational Administration

Dr. Marlene Zipperlen, Program Director

Vision

 Graduates of the Doctor of Education program will be thoroughly prepared to engage in leadership, collaboration, decision-making, research, and reform initiatives in P-12, higher education and Nursing education.

Mission

The mission of the Doctor of Education program is to create exemplary educational leaders for the P-12, higher education, and nursing environments through a Christian framework. These leaders will be grounded in leadership theory, application strategies, consumption/production of research, collaboration, data-driven decision making, and the blending/balancing of knowledge, ethics, and faith in the overall leadership process. The three-year 60 hours program prepares graduates to engage in leadership, collaboration, decision-making, research, and reform initiatives in various educational sectors.

Program Entrance Requirements

  • Submit official transcript of a completed Master’s degree from an accredited university in an area related to the proposed studies, with a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for courses applied toward a Master’s degree.
  • Interview with members of the Ed.D. faculty.
  • Compose an essay response to an educational leadership prompt. (The essay and the interview will be held on the same day.)
  • Submit resume or curriculum vita documenting educational background, professional experience, certifications and endorsements, professional development and training, community service, and general references.
  • Receipt of three completed letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s professional and academic background.
  • Submit employment verification document or artifact, if employed.

Transfer Credits

  • Credit must be earned within five years prior to matriculation into the doctoral program.

  • Graduate level credit must be beyond the master’s degree from an accredited Graduate School.

  • Credits transferred in must be appropriate to the degree sought.

  • Transfer credit must be approved by members of the Ed.D. Faculty

Mode of Instruction

Students will be admitted to the program in cohorts and complete all courses and experience as a group over a three-year period. The cohort promotes collaboration and helps to create a community of learners.

Courses will be delivered in a variety of methods including, but not limited to lecture, discussion, presentations, readings, speakers, group collaboration, problem-based activities, and case studies. The program also includes required state, national, and international summer institutes. The Doctor of Education Program affords doctoral students the flexibility to study while maintaining obligations to families and careers. Classes will meet five weekends during each long semester on Friday and Saturday.

Residency Requirement

The doctoral student may fulfill residence requirements through completion of 30 credit hours of which 18 must be taken as a full-time student (9 hours in a long semester; 6 hours summer semesters). 

Admissions to Candidacy

Students are admitted to candidacy for the Doctor of Education degree only after they have successfully passed the research qualifying examination and have completed thirty-six (36) semester hours of program study. The qualifying exam must be completed at least two semesters prior to the date the degree is conferred.  If any part of the examination is failed the examining committee shall recommend reexamination.  No more than two failures are permitted.  The qualifying examination is a test of competence in the areas of research, methods and design.

Assignment of Dissertation Committee

Upon advancement to candidacy, students are allowed to recommend their preference for dissertation committee members and chairpersons to the Ed. D. faculty. The committee will consist of the faculty member chairperson and two other committee members.

Culminating Assessments

The Doctor of Education Program has three (3) culminating assessments which serve as final prerequisites for graduation. Students are permitted to graduate only after they have successfully completed the LEAD Read exam, professional portfolio-presentation, and dissertation defense.

Time Limitation

The maximum time limit for the doctoral degree is seven years from the point of matriculation. After this time, the appropriate required coursework may be revalidated or not according to the policy of the individual degree program in consultation with the Graduate School. Candidates are not allowed to continue in the doctoral program after ten years has elapsed from the semester of admission.

Curriculum

Leadership in Educational Administration P-12 or Higher Education 14-15

Leadership in Educational Administration Nursing 14-15

Leadership Core: (24 hours)

EDAD 7301Advanced Learning Theories/Practice

3

EDAD 7302Professional Ethics and Values

3

EDAD 7303Diversity and Learning

3

EDAD 7304Planning and Problem Solving

3

EDAD 7305Organizational Change

3

EDAD 7306Dynamics of Leadership

3

EDAD 7307Education Law and Policy

3

EDAD 7308Field-Based Internship

3

Research: (9 hours)

EDAD 7310Research I Design and Methods

3

EDAD 7311Research II Design and Methods

3

EDAD 7312Research III Advanced Design and Methods

3

Summer Institutes: (9 hours)

EDAD 7313Trends in Educational Thought

3

EDAD 7314Seminar: Education (Washington DC)

3

EDAD 7315International Trends in Educational Leadership

3

Cognate Studies: (12 hours-preparation for Superintendent Certification)

P-12:

EDAD 7316Leadership Challenges for Superintendency

3

EDAD 7317Leadership in a Global Community

3

EDAD 7318Managing the P-12 Curriculum

3

EDAD 7319School Reform 21st Century

3

Cognate Studies: (12 hours)

Higher Education:

EDAD 7320Managing the Higher Education Curriculum

3

EDAD 7321American College & University Professor

3

EDAD 7322Higher Education Administration

3

EDAD 7323Student Affairs in Higher Education

3

Cognate Studies: (12 hours)

Nursing
NURS 7330Advanced Curriculum Development and Interprofessional Education in Nursing Education

3

NURS 7331Theories and Concepts in Nursing Leadership

3

NURS 7332Evidence-Based Practice in Classroom and Clinical Instruction

3

NURS 7333Innovation in Classroom Clinical, and Simulation Teaching and Evaluation in Nursing

3

Dissertation: (6 hours)

EDAD 7324Dissertation I

3

EDAD 7325Dissertation II

3