Educational Leadership and Administration, Ed.D.

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Susan Catapano

The mission of the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is to prepare leaders to be informed, proactive, and reflective change agents to improve public schools for the benefit of all students, particularly in southeastern North Carolina. The Ed. D. program consists of 60 credit hours of coursework including six hours of dissertation research. Each candidate‘s program of study will be carefully designed to meet appropriate educational objectives.

Admission Requirements

Students will be admitted to the Ed.D. Program in Educational Leadership and Administration by a recommendation of the Ed.D. Admissions Committee based upon eligibility requirements and available resources. Admissions decisions are based on several factors. Under most circumstances, students admitted to the program will have met the following requirements:

A Master’s degree in school administration, supervision, curriculum, instruction, or related educational field from an accredited university (official transcripts from undergraduate and graduate school are required)
An overall graduate grade point average of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 in undergraduate and graduate coursework
Satisfactory scores (mean or above) on all three parts of the Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE scores more than five years old at the time of application will not be considered)
A score of at least 79 on the internet-based (TOEFL) version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for applicants whose native language is not English or that did not earn their baccalaureate degree from an accredited US institution
A minimum of three years of documented leadership experience

Documents and Activities Required

An application for graduate admission (available at www.uncw.edu/gradschool).
Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate).
Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing).
Three written recommendations by individuals in professionally relevant fields addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in a doctoral program. Recommendations from individuals who have supervised the applicant will be given greater weight.
Official score on the TOEFL or IELTS (if applicable/see number 4 above).
Letter describing your interest in pursuing a degree in leadership, focusing on either administration or curriculum and instruction, professional goals related to the program description, teaching and leadership experiences and philosophy of teaching and learning (maximum of three pages).
Interviews with Watson College of Education faculty—to be set-up in the spring for selected candidates.
Current vitae/resume- to be submitted if scheduled for an interview.

Candidates should consult the program web page at www.uncw.edu/ed/el/edd for more information.

Degree Requirements

The program of study for the Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration includes core courses and concentration-specific courses. A total of 60 credits are required for graduation. Students must fulfill the requirements for a specific concentration of study and work closely with an advisor to plan their course of study.

Program Core (24 credits)

The primary purpose of the program core is to provide all students with a foundation in leadership and organization theory and practice. Other courses in the core prepare students as researchers. All courses in the core are required for graduation and are offered in a specific sequence.

EDL 601 - Leadership Theory Credits: (3)
EDL 605 - Social Foundations of Education Credits: (3)
EDL 609 - Organizational Development: Structure, Processes and Practices Credits: (3)
EDL 641 - Applied Research Credits: (3)
Additional Research Courses Credits: (6) (To be determined with advisor)
EDL 699 - Dissertation in Education Credits: (3-6)

Program Concentrations

Program concentrations focus on two areas, Leadership or Curriculum and Instruction Supervision. Courses in each concentration build upon the foundation of leadership, organization, and research. Courses are offered on a rotating basis and a final course program will be determined in consultation with an advisor. Courses in the program typically begin with the EDL prefix, however some courses are offered through other departments in the Watson College of Education, the Cameron School of Business and other programs on campus.

Leadership Concentration (36 hours)

Students will take a set of courses that focus on areas related to educational administration, such as policy, law, regulation, technology, curriculum, assessment, decision making, global achievement, and resource management.
All students are required to take two internship courses (2 credits each). Students may select from three options that include a focus on: international perspectives (requires study abroad); business and government institutions; or educational organizations. Specific details will be determined in consultation with a faculty advisor. Students will also select appropriate electives to meet the program requirement of 60 credits.

Curriculum and Instruction Supervision Concentration (36 hours)

Students will take a set of courses that focus on areas related to curriculum and instruction, such as planning and design, innovation and change, accountability and assessment, policy and law, diversity and special education, and supervision and resource management. All students are required to take two internship courses (2 credits each). Students are required to participate in an international study abroad internship and may select from two other options that include a focus on: business and government institutions or educational organizations. Specific details will be determined in consultation with a faculty advisor. Students will also select appropriate electives to meet the program requirement of 60 credits.

Add-on Licensure Programs

Graduate Coordinator, Academically and Intellectually Gifted Add-on Licensure: Dr. Edward Caropreso
Graduate Coordinator, Curriculum/Instruction Supervision Add-on Licensure: Dr. William Sterrett
Graduate Coordinator, English as a Second Language Add-on Licensure: Dr. Eleni Pappaminiel
Graduate Coordinator, Reading Add-on Licensure: Dr. Barbara Honchell
Graduate Coordinators, School Administration Add-on Licensure: Dr. Susan Catapano

Students who have earned master‘s degrees may add on licensure at the graduate level in the areas of Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG), Curriculum and Instruction Supervision, English as a Second Language (ESL), Reading, and School Administration. Candidates must meet with the Program Coordinator for the licensure area to have an individual Plan of Study developed for program completion. Up to six hours from a previous master‘s degree may be counted towards the add-on licensure. Candidates must apply and be accepted to the Graduate School as non-degree students to enroll in courses for add-on licensure unless they are completing the requirements as part of a degree program. In addition to completion of coursework and internships, Praxis II Specialty Area examinations are required for licensure recommendation except for the Academically and Intellectually Gifted add-on licensure.

Students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree and currently hold a valid NC Teaching License may add-on licensure in the areas of Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AID) and English as a Second Language (ESL).

Students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree but do not currently hold a valid NC Teaching License may complete the add-on licensure program in the area of English as a Second Language (ESL), but will not earn licensure as a result of this coursework.