Educational Leadership and Administration, Ed.D.

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:

1. 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)
2. An overall graduate grade point average of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 in undergraduate and graduate coursework
3. Satisfactory scores 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)
4. Successful completion of an educational technology course or equivalent
5. A score of at least 550 on the paper version, 213 on the computer version, or 80 on the internet-based (TOEFL ibT) version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for applicants whose native language is not English
6. A minimum of three years of documented leadership experience
7. North Carolina Principal licensure for applicants pursuing the superintendent licensure track (students not currently holding this license must complete requirements prior to program completion)

Documents and Activities Required

1. An application for graduate admission
2. Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate)
3. Current vita/resume
4. Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing)
5. Three written recommendations addressing potential to succeed in a doctoral program by individuals in professionally relevant fields; greater weight will be given to recommendations from individuals who have supervised the applicant
6. Official score on the TOEFL (if applicable)
7. Letter of interest describing intent to attend full or part time, professional goals related to the program description, teaching and leadership experiences, philosophy of teaching and learning, and vision for educational leadership (maximum of three pages)
8. Interview with Watson School of Education faculty - to be scheduled in the spring for selected candidates

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

Degree Requirements

Students in the Ed. D. in Educational Leadership and Administration will complete a minimum of 60 hours beyond the master‘s degree in the program strands listed below.

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. Amy Garrett Dikkers
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.