Curriculum

The degree requirements for the Ed.D. in Education Leadership include the completion of 54 credits in five learning strands, including:

1. Leadership and Learning

The purpose of this strand is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of how people and organizations develop professionally over time. Topics will include the acquisitions of expertise, workplace learning, transformational learning, human growth and development, and experiential learning.

Courses

• Adult Development and Transformative Learning, EDD-702 (3.0 Credits)
• Learning through Experience: Individuals and Organizations, EDD-706 (3.0 Credits)

2. Transformative Leadership

The purpose of this strand is to address leadership during the change process. This strand is important for understanding the process of change, building a climate for innovation and change, designing changes, and understanding the dynamic of fostering change.

Courses

• Leadership, Diversity and Equity, EDD-710 (3.0 Credits)
• International Leadership Models, EDD-712 (3.0 Credits)
• Leadership and Change, EDD-714 (3.0 Credits)
• Practicum in Executive Leadership, EDD-716 (3.0 Credits)

Prerequisite: Principal’s Certificate, EDL-589

3. Policy and Procedures

The purpose of this strand is to provide students with an understanding of how to implement and institutionalize transformational change.

Courses

• Contemporary Issues in Education, EDD-720 (3.0 Credits)
• Education Law and Policy P-1, EDD-721 (3.0 Credits)
• Leading Digital Learning and Innovation in Education, EDD-722 (3.0 Credits)
• Organizational Leadership Theory & Research, EDD-724 (3.0 Credits)

4. Research and Assessment

The purpose of this strand is to teach the fundamental principles of knowledge development through the research design, and the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. This strand is important for developing the analytical thinking skills necessary for sound decision-making and good communication with stakeholders.

Courses

• Advanced Program Analysis, EDD-750 (3.0 Credits)
• Quantitative Research, EDD-752 (3.0 Credits)
• Leadership and Assessment, EDD-754 (3.0 Credits)
• Qualitative Research Methods, EDD-756 (3.0 Credits)

5. Transformative Leadership Project

The purpose of this strand is to extend and deepen thinking about education, educational leadership, and inquiry through shared readings, interaction with faculty and local educational leaders, and critical reflective writing and conversation. Based on these reflective writings and conversations, students are expected to initiate and maintain a professional portfolio and to develop and present a dissertation based on their Transformative Leadership Project at the end of their sixth semester in the program.

The hybrid class format combines the convenience of online instruction with the advantages of on-campus courses. On-campus instruction will occur primarily on alternate Saturdays with some supplemental coursework occurring on selected Thursday nights. The coursework will be delivered over a two-year period.

Courses

• Research Design, EDD-801 (3.0 Credits)
• Writing for Professional Publication in Education, EDD-802 (3.0 Credits)
• Design-Based Research, EDD-803 (3.0 Credits)
• Analyzing and Interpreting Data, EDD-804 (3.0 Credits)
• Special Topics, EDD-798 (3.0 Credits)
  Permission of the Program Director is required.
• Independent Study, EDD-799 (3.0 Credits)
  Written evaluation of the research is required.
• Special Topics, EDD-898 (3.0 Credits)
  Permission of the Program Director is required.
• Independent Study, EDD-899 (3.0 Credits)
  Written evaluation of the research is required.