Educational Leadership and Administration, Ed.D.

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Susan Catapano

The mission of the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (www.uncw.edu/ed/el/edd) 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 EdD. Program in Educational Leadership by a recommendation of the EdD. 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, higher education, or related educational field from a regionally 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, curriculum and instruction, or higher education 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 conducted in the spring for selected candidates.
Current vitae/resume to be submitted if scheduled for an interview.

Degree Requirements

The program of study for the Doctorate in Educational Leadership 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 credit hours)

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)
EDL 699 - Dissertation in Education Credits: (3-6) May take once for 6 credit hours or twice for 3 credit hours each
AND choose six credit hours of additional research courses from the list below:
EDL 642 - Program Evaluation Credits: (3)
EDL 643 - Quantitative Research Credits: (3)
EDL 644 - Qualitative Research Credits: (3)

Program Concentrations

Students choose one of three program concentrations: Leadership, Curriculum, Instruction and Supervision, or Higher Education. 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 credit 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.

26 credit hours from EDL 600 - 699 or SED 603 - Special Education for Educational Leaders Credits: (3)
And 4 hours of internship:
EDL 661 - Internship I-Issues Affecting Diverse Rural and Urban Educational Communities Credits: (2)
EDL 663 - Business Internship Credits: (2)
And
6 credit hours from any EDL 500 - 599 that is approved by an advisor or 6 additional credits from EDL 600 - 699.

Curriculum, Instruction and Supervision Concentration (36 credit 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.

26 credit hours from EDL 600 - 699 or SED 603 - Special Education for Educational Leaders Credits: (3)
And 4 credit hours of internship:
EDL 661 - Internship I-Issues Affecting Diverse Rural and Urban Educational Communities Credits: (2)
EDL 663 - Business Internship Credits: (2)
And 6 credit hours from any EDL 500 - 599 that is approved by an advisor or 6 additional credit hours from EDL 600 - 699

Higher Education Concentration (36 credit hours)

Students will take a set of courses that focus on areas related to higher education, such as student learning theory, innovation in higher education, accountability and assessment, policy and law, and resource management. All students are required to take one internship course (2 credits). Students may select from an international study abroad internship business and government or an educational internship. 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.

28 credit hours from EDL 600 - 699 or SED 603 - Special Education for Educational Leaders Credits: (3)
And 2 credit hours of Internship. Students may select from the following:
EDL 661 - Internship I-Issues Affecting Diverse Rural and Urban Educational Communities Credits: (2)
Or
EDL 663 - Business Internship Credits: (2)
And 6 credit hours from any EDL 500 - 599 that is approved by an advisor or 6 additional credit hours from EDL 600 - 699

Exit Requirements

All Ed.D. students must complete and pass an oral comprehensive examination. They must all propose and defend a dissertation topic. All students must complete and defend a dissertation. All students must take and pass at least one section of EDL 699 . All dissertations must be submitted to the Graudate School.