Educational Leadership, Ed.D.

Program Overview

---

The Educational Leadership, Ed.D. The program utilizes a cohort model with experienced faculty who guide students through problem-based learning scenarios and internships. With a specialization in Catholic education available, the curriculum emphasizes ethics, school law, and effective leadership strategies to equip graduates for diverse leadership roles in various educational organizations.

Program Outline

---

Degree Overview:

The Educational Leadership, Ed.D. The program is highly respected and has a long history of preparing successful educational leaders.

---

Objectives:

The program aims to:

• Prepare students to become executive-level educational leaders, such as school district superintendents, assistant superintendents, directors, teacher leaders, and organizational leaders.
• Strengthen the knowledge and skills of building-level leaders.
• Equip students for potential faculty positions in colleges and universities.
• Offer a specialized program for those seeking the principalship or leadership roles in non-profit, medical, or business organizations.

---

Description:

The Ed.D. program is designed for students who already hold a master's or specialist degree in educational leadership or a related field. The program includes a concentration in Catholic education, which prepares students for executive-level leadership roles in Catholic schools. This concentration focuses on the unique aspects of Catholic educational leadership, including spiritual leadership, the vocation of a Catholic school leader, and non-public school administration, such as funding mechanisms and applicable laws.

---

Outline:

---

Structure:

• The Ed.D.
program requires the completion of 38-44 credits of coursework, a comprehensive written examination, an oral examination, and a doctoral project.
• Students entering with a specialist degree complete 28-34 credits of coursework.
• The doctoral project is designed to address a problem of practice and is completed by a team.
Each member also prepares an individual analysis report.
• In the Catholic education concentration, the doctoral project focuses on a problem of practice in Catholic educational leadership.

---

Course Schedule:

• Courses are taught in a four-Saturday format (fall and spring) and in an eight-week period spanning mid-May to mid-July in the summer.
• EDR 6971 Research Topics EdD (3 credits): This course introduces students to research methods and methodologies relevant to educational leadership.

---

Content Courses:

• EDL 5914 Internship: Superintendent Internship (3 credits): This internship provides practical experience in superintendent-level leadership roles.
• EDL 6110 School District Administration (3 credits): This course examines the administrative functions of school districts.
• EDL 6190 School, Community, and Politics (3 credits): This course explores the relationship between schools, communities, and political systems.
• EDL 6200 Ethics of Ed Leadership (3 credits): This course examines ethical issues in educational leadership.
• EDL 6300 Advanced School Law (3 credits): This course provides an in-depth understanding of legal issues related to education.
• EDL 6400 Sem: Human Resources Admin (3 credits): This course focuses on human resource management in educational settings.
• EDL 6450 Managing the District Level Curriculum (3 credits): This course examines curriculum development and management at the district level.
• EDL 6470 School Facilities (3 credits): This course explores the management and maintenance of school facilities.
• EDL 6690 School Business Administration (3 credits): This course examines the financial management of schools.
• EDL 6730 District Level Professional Development and Teacher Evaluation (3 credits): This course focuses on professional development and teacher evaluation at the district level.
• EDSP 6110 Special Education Administration (3 credits): This course examines the administration of special education programs.

---

Catholic Education Concentration:

• EDF 6300 Studies in Catholic Education (3 credits): This course explores the history, philosophy, and theology of Catholic education.
• EDF 6310 Seminar: Catholic Education (3 credits): This seminar provides an in-depth examination of current issues in Catholic education.
• EDL 5200 School-Community Relations (3 credits): This course examines the relationship between Catholic schools and their communities.

---

Research Courses:

• EDR 5000 General Research Methods for Education (3 credits): This course introduces students to research methods and methodologies relevant to education.
• EDR 5100 Intro to Inferential Stats: Ed (3 credits): This course provides an introduction to inferential statistics.
• EDR 5400 Qualitative Research in Education (3 credits): This course examines qualitative research methods.
• EDR 5500 Evaluation of Education Programs (3 credits): This course explores the evaluation of educational programs.

---

Assessment:

---

Methods:

• Written Comprehensive Examination: Students must pass a written comprehensive examination covering the core concepts and theories of educational leadership.
• Doctoral Project: Students must complete a doctoral project that addresses a problem of practice in educational leadership.
• Doctoral Project: The project is evaluated based on its relevance to a problem of practice, the quality of the research design and methodology, the clarity and depth of the analysis, and the significance of the findings.
• Oral Examination: The examination assesses students' ability to articulate and defend their doctoral project, as well as their understanding of the broader field of educational leadership.

---

Teaching:

---

Methods:

• Problem-based learning: The program utilizes problem-based learning to engage students in real-world scenarios and challenges.
• Evidence-based content: The curriculum is grounded in evidence-based practices and research.
• Practice opportunities: Students have opportunities to apply their learning in practical settings through internships and fieldwork.

---

Faculty:

• The program is taught by experienced and qualified faculty who are experts in their fields.

---

Unique Approaches:

• Cohort program: The program is structured as a cohort program, which allows students to build strong relationships with their peers and faculty.
• Professional learning: The program emphasizes professional learning through collaboration, study, and practice.

---

Careers:

---

Potential Career Paths:

• School district superintendents
• Assistant superintendents
• Directors
• Teacher leaders
• Organizational leaders
• Faculty positions in colleges and universities
• Principals
• Leadership roles in non-profit, medical, or business organizations

---

Opportunities:

• The Ed.D.
program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a wide range of leadership roles in education.
• The program's focus on evidence-based practices and research prepares students to be effective and innovative leaders.

---

Outcomes:

• Graduates of the program are highly sought after by school districts and other educational organizations.
• Students seeking Missouri state certification as a superintendent may be required to take additional coursework.
• The program is designed to prepare students to take the assessments for superintendent certification.
• The program is enhanced by problem-based learning, evidence-based content that connects theory and practice, and practice opportunities.
• Students engage in professional learning by collaborating with peers using problem-oriented instructional strategies, studying a curriculum grounded in the literature on effective practice, and engaging in professionally-guided practice in schools.