Education, PhD Specialization in Education Leadership

The PhD in Education Leadership concentration focuses on how leadership, policy, and research influence and directly impact education at the local, state, national, and international levels.

The Education Leadership doctorate specialization allows for flexible academic planning and research according to participants' interests, career goals, and learning format. PhD participants have five years to complete all course work and an additional five years to complete the dissertation.

Education Leadership doctorate candidates complete a minimum of 75 credits. PhD students are required to complete three portfolios at different stages in their program. Each student must demonstrate competence in oral and written English, computer literacy mastery of knowledge and skills in the area of professional expertise, and the ability to apply general and specific knowledge and skills to significant educational problems.

Reduction of Credit (9 credits)

Students must have a master's degree before being admitted to the PhD in education. As such, admitted students will receive a reduction of 9 credits bringing the minimum coursework requirement total (including dissertation proposal and research) to 66 credits.

Core Requirements

All students pursuing the PhD in education take the following core courses, and dissertation:

General Culture (3 credits)

EDUC 800: Ways of Knowing (3 credit hours) ( OR EFHP860. EFHP 860 is for Kinesiology concentration students only. Other students should select EDUC 800. Course should be taken 1st semester.)

Research Methods (15 credits)

EDRS 810: Problems and Methods in Education Research (3 credit hours) (2nd semester)
EDRS 811: Quantitative Methods in Educational Research (3 credit hours)
EDRS 812: Qualitative Methods in Educational Research (3 credit hours)

Choose two from below:

EDRS 818: Critical Discourse Analysis in Education Research (3 credit hours)
EDRS 820: Evaluation Methods for Educational Programs and Curricula (3 credit hours)
EDRS 821: Advanced Applications of Quantitative Methods (3 credit hours)
EDRS 822: Advanced Applications of Qualitative Methods (3 credit hours)
EDRS 823: Advanced Research Methods in Single Subject/Case Design (3 credit hours)
EDRS 824: Mixed Methods Research: Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (3 credit hours)
EDRS 825: Advanced Research Methods in Self-Study of Professional Practice (3 credit hours)
EDRS 826: Qualitative Case Study Methods (3 credit hours)
EDRS 827: Introduction to Measurement and Survey Development (3 credit hours)
EDRS 828: Item Response Theory (3 credit hours)
EDRS 830: Hierarchical Linear Modeling (3 credit hours) *
EDRS 831: Structural Equation Modeling (3 credit hours)
EDRS 832: Document Analysis and Archival Research (3 credit hours)
EDRS 833: Participatory Action Research (3 credit hours)
EDRS 897: Special Topics in Research Methods (3 credit hours)

Specialization Required Courses (24 credits)

EDLE 801: Contemporary Organization Theory (3 credit hours)
EDLE 802: Leadership and Decision Making (3 credit hours)
EDLE 803: Foundations of Education Leadership: Economics and Leadership (3 credit hours)
EDLE 813: Social and Political Forces in Education Leadership (3 credit hours)
EDLE 816: Instructional Leadership-Curriculum Policy and Practice (3 credit hours)
EDLE 818: Instructional Leadership-Supervision Policy and Practice (3 credit hours)
EDLE 895: Emerging Issues in Administration and Supervision (3 credit hours)

One of the following:

EDUC 870: Education Policy: Process, Context, and Politics (3 credit hours)
EDUC 897: Independent Study for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education (3 credit hours)

Other course as determined by the doctoral committee

Dissertation Proposal and Research (12 credits)

EDUC 998: Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (Must register for 3 credits)

EDUC 999: Doctoral Dissertation Research (1 - 9 credit hours)

Research Electives

Choose at least 3 additional credits from the following

EDUC 897: Independent Study for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education (1 - 6 credit hours)

EDUC 994: Advanced Internship in Education (3 credit hours)

EDUC 998: Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (1 - 6 credit hours)

EDUC 999: Doctoral Dissertation Research (1 - 9 credit hours)

Portfolio

Students complete an educational portfolio as part of the requirement of the PhD in Education and Human Development Program. The portfolio is an organized, selective collection of documents designed to facilitate a student's academic and professional development, and to provide a basis for evaluation degree progress. The portfolio represents the scope and depth of a student's goals, plans, and accomplishments in coursework, independent study, research, internships, and other advanced learning activities. The portfolio thus provides both a vehicle for self-reflection and a comprehensive record of a doctoral student's experiences and ongoing progress toward academic and professional goals.