The Doctor of Education with a Major in Leadership is a terminal degree and is the highest degree offered in the Department. It seeks to develop effective, ethical, and diverse leaders who will maximize achievement in schools and other organizations. Skill applications serve as the connection between knowledge and inquiry skills developed in the core curriculum, interdisciplinary, and research courses leading to restructured practice and school or organizational improvement. The Ed.D. degree requires 54 hours (including a minimum of 9 hrs. of dissertation). Cognates may be earned in Executive Leadership, Teacher Leadership, Curriculum Leadership, Technology Leadership, and Higher Education Leadership. The coursework for a major in Leadership is found at Leadership Doctorate.
The Ed.D. program of study does not automatically result in leadership certification. Remember, by posting a passing score on the GACE--Educational Leadership assessment educators holding a masters or higher degree are eligible for a non-renewable leadership certificate (NL). A clear renewable performance-based Leadership certificate (PL) can then be pursued in parallel with the Ed.D. Students pursuing certification must also participate in the Performance-Based Leadership Certificate Add-On (PL) program either during or after the Ed.D. program outlined below.
The flow chart shows the pathway to the Ed.D. alone or with PL Certification depending on the degree from which the student begins.
To Add Certification, Remember: 1, 2, 3, 4
3. Earn the Performance-Based Leadership Add-On
4. Apply for PL Certification
**RESOURCES TO GET YOU STARTED ON YOUR DOCTORAL DEGREE**