The Ed.D. program requires 60 semester hours beyond a master's degree, a written comprehensive examination, and a dissertation. In some circumstances, students with an Ed.S. degree or post-Master's coursework from an accredited institution may reduce the number of hours required for the doctoral degree. The coursework includes core courses in leadership, research, and an extensive internship, as well as coursework in the concentration.
Admission to the Educational Administration or Curriculum and Instruction concentration without a master's degree in school administration or supervision may require completion of additional courses related to these areas of study.
The program requires 60 semester hours beyond the master’s degree; a core of coursework in leadership, research, and a concentration area; an extensive internship; a written comprehensive examination and a dissertation. The areas in which courses must be completed are as follows:
Community College/Higher Education
Leadership Core: 24 semester hours selected from:
- EDCI 800 - Research in Rural Education Credits: 3
- EDCI 805 - Advanced Studies in the Foundations of Education Credits: 3
- EDL 800 - Advanced Leadership Theory Credits: 3
- EDL 810 - Behavior and Management of Educational Organizations Credits: 3
- EDL 820 - Educational Politics and Policies Credits: 3
- EDL 876 - Ethics in Educational Leadership Credits: 3
- EDL 895 - Advanced Seminar in Instructional Leadership Credits: 3
- EDL 896 - Seminar in School Law Credits: 3
- EDRS 820 - Program Evaluation for Educational Leaders Credits: 3
Research Core
- EDL 805 - Academic Writing for Research Credits: (1-3 R6)
- EDRS 800 - Advanced Research Methods Credits: 3
- EDRS 806 - Statistical Analysis in Research Credits: 3
- EDRS 811 - Qualitative Research Credits: 3
- EDRS 895 - Doctoral Research Seminar Credits: 3
Concentration Electives (12 semester hours)
- EDHE 805 - Role of Higher Education in Society Credits: 3
- EDHE 810 - Community College/Higher Education Leadership Credits: 3
- EDHE 820 - Community College/Higher Education Politics and Board Relations Credits: 3
- EDHE 830 - Adult Programming in Community College and Higher Education Credits: 3
- EDHE 840 - Community College/Higher Education Finance & Business Operation Credits: 3
Internships
- EDL 883 - Internship in Rural School Leadership I Credits: 3, R3
- EDL 884 - Internship in Rural School Leadership II Credits: 1-3, R3
Dissertation (6 semester hours minimum)
- EDL 899 - Dissertation in School Leadership Credits: 1-6, R12
- Oral defense required
Curriculum and Instruction
Leadership Core- EDL 820 - Educational Politics and Policies Credits: 3
- EDL 896 - Seminar in School Law Credits: 3
One of the Following:
- EDL 800 - Advanced Leadership Theory Credits: 3
- EDL 810 - Behavior and Management of Educational Organizations Credits: 3
One of the Following:
- EDL 715 - Leadership of Professional Learning Credits: 3
- EDL 895 - Advanced Seminar in Instructional Leadership Credits: 3
Research Core
- EDL 805 - Academic Writing for Research Credits: (1-3 R6)
- EDRS 709 - Educational Testing and Assessment Credits: 3
- EDRS 800 - Advanced Research Methods Credits: 3
- EDRS 806 - Statistical Analysis in Research Credits: 3
- EDRS 811 - Qualitative Research Credits: 3
- EDRS 895 - Doctoral Research Seminar Credits: 3
Concentration Requirements
- EDCI 807 - Cognitive Issues in Curriculum and Instruction Credits: 3
- EDCI 811 - Curriculum Theory Credits: 3
- EDRS 820 - Program Evaluation for Educational Leaders Credits: 3
One of the Following:
- EDCI 800 - Research in Rural Education Credits: 3
- EDCI 805 - Advanced Studies in the Foundations of Education Credits: 3
One of the Following:
- EDCI 808 - Advanced Studies in Teaching Methods Credits: 3
- EDCI 809 - Current Literature in the Leadership of Curriculum and Instruction Credits: 3
Concentration Electives (6 semester hours)
- EDL 730 - School Finance and Business Management Credits: 3
- EDL 732 - Leadership in E-teaching and E-learning Credits: 3
- EDL 750 - Educational Human Resource Management Credits: 3
- EDL 760 - School Community Relations Credits: 3
- EDL 877 - The Superintendency Credits: 3
or - EDL 878 - District Level Leadership Credits: 3
Internships
- EDL 883 - Internship in Rural School Leadership I Credits: 3, R3
- EDL 884 - Internship in Rural School Leadership II Credits: 1-3, R3
Dissertation (6 semester hours minimum)
- EDL 899 - Dissertation in School Leadership Credits: 1-6, R12
- Oral defense required.
Educational Administration
Leadership Core
Research Core
- EDL 805 - Academic Writing for Research Credits: (1-3 R6)
- EDRS 800 - Advanced Research Methods Credits: 3
- EDRS 806 - Statistical Analysis in Research Credits: 3
- EDRS 811 - Qualitative Research Credits: 3
- EDRS 895 - Doctoral Research Seminar Credits: 3
Concentration Electives (12 semester hours)
- EDL 715 - Leadership of Professional Learning Credits: 3
- EDL 730 - School Finance and Business Management Credits: 3
- EDL 732 - Leadership in E-teaching and E-learning Credits: 3
- EDL 740 - School Plant Planning and Management Credits: 2
- EDL 750 - Educational Human Resource Management Credits: 3
- EDL 760 - School Community Relations Credits: 3
- EDL 877 - The Superintendency Credits: 3
or - EDL 878 - District Level Leadership Credits: 3
- EDRS 709 - Educational Testing and Assessment Credits: 3
- EDRS 820 - Program Evaluation for Educational Leaders Credits: 3
Internships
- EDL 883 - Internship in Rural School Leadership I Credits: 3, R3
- EDL 884 - Internship in Rural School Leadership II Credits: 1-3, R3
Dissertation (6 semester hours minimum)
- EDL 899 - Dissertation in School Leadership Credits: 1-6, R12
- Oral defense required.