DOCTORATE OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP (Ed. D.)

 

 

The Ed. D. in Educational Leadership is designed to prepare graduates who can:
• Respond to the changing needs and diverse peoples who participate in education both in traditional schools settings and the increasing number of new educational settings.
• Develop leadership skills to build effective team-oriented approaches to teaching and learning in order to maximize the academic achievements of all learners.
• Demonstrate scholarly behaviors such as reflection and problem solving
with skills for designing, critiquing and implementing research relevant
to effective practice.
• Adapt to changing environments and problems, solve new problems, and
develop adaptive learning organizations.
• Demonstrate ethical standards in all leadership processes.

Admission Requirements
In keeping with St. Thomas University’s mission, candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The program does not discriminate against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The best-qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces available for new students. Special background and experience may allow for conditional admission of those not meeting stated criteria.

Admission Policy:
Admission to the program is based on the following criteria:
• An earned master’s degree from an accredited institution or equivalent and a grade point average of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) in all graduate work attempted. (An applicant with a second masters or an Educational Specialist degree may petition the Program Team to have an additional 1 to 6 courses transferred into the program from one of these additional degrees to fulfill part or all of the course requirements for the program’s cognate area. The applicant must request the transfer of these additional courses as part of the initial interview with the Program Team.)
• A minimum combined score of 900 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (General Test) or a 400 on the Miller’s Analogy Test.
• A formal writing assessment through the St. Thomas University Academic Enhancement Center.
• The demonstration of appropriate work experience by submitting a cover letter and resume.
• Three letters of recommendation from persons knowledgeable about the applicant’s academic and/or professional competence.
• A personal interview with one or more members of the Program Team.
• Foreign applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language.

Admission Procedures: In order to be fully admitted to the doctoral program, an applicant must be accepted by the Department of Education on the recommendation of the Ed. D. Program Coordinator. The admission procedures are as follows:
• A completed application for admission must be submitted to the Admissions Office, St. Thomas University. (Application materials are available online or from the Admissions Office.) Note: For help with the application process, please contact Marilyn Carballosa at 305-628-6589 or mcarballosa@stu.edu is the Admissions Counselor who will be working with anyone interested in the Ed. D.
• Official transcripts of all prior graduate and undergraduate academic work.
• Official copy of the results of the Graduate Record Examination (General Test) with a score of 900 or higher or Miller’s Analogy Test with a score of 400 or higher must be sent to the Admissions Office. Note: St. Thomas University is a host site for the Miller’s Analogy Test. For details on registration, cost, test times, etc., please contact Maria Duarte at 305-474-6838 or mnduarte@stu.edu.
• Take formal writing assessment through the St. Thomas University Academic Enhancement Center. For details on test times, etc., please contact Maria Duarte at 305-474-6838 or mnduarte@stu.edu
• A letter of intent and a current resume (including educational and employment history) must be submitted to the Admissions Office, St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens, 33054.
• Three letters of recommendation must be submitted to the Admissions Office, St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens, FL 33054, by persons knowledgeable about the applicant’s academic and/or professional competence.
• Omission of any one of these items will delay the processing of the application.
• The Admissions Office forwards the applicant’s completed file to the Ed. D. Program Coordinator. On the basis of its review and evaluation of the applicant’s file, the Coordinator will either: 1.) schedule an interview with the applicant; 2.) withhold a decision and request additional information from the applicant; or 3.) bring the applicant’s folder to the Educational Leadership Program Team.
• The Educational Leadership Program Team on the basis of their evaluation of the applicant’s file, credentials, and the personal interview recommends an applicant’s admission to the program.

Program Requirements and Structure
The doctoral program in Educational Leadership requires the completion of a minimum of 90 semester hours of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate degree. The typical program of studies incorporates between 99 and 105 semester hours of graduate work, including 36 to 42 semester hours that may be transferred to the doctoral program from a master’s degree program and at least 63 semester hours of additional course work.

Core Courses (18 credits)

EDL 701 Theory and Practice of Leadership
EDL 703 Technology Assisted Educational Management
EDL 704 Management of Crisis and Change
EDL 705 21st Century Leadership
EDL 706 Fiscal and Economic Accountability in Leadership
EDL 715 Policy Development and Planned Governance

Cognate Area (18 credits)
The cognate area provides the candidate with the opportunity to focus on a particular subject area or individual area of interest. These courses may be taken in one or more subject areas drawn from St. Thomas’ current graduate programs and courses. The selection of subject area and courses should assist the candidate in developing a depth of knowledge and expertise in a particular area of concern and essential administrative leadership skills. The candidate’s faculty advisor must approve these courses.
An applicant with a second masters or an Educational Specialist degree may petition the Program Team to have an additional 1 to 6 courses transferred into the program from one of these additional degrees to fulfill part or all of the course requirements for the program’s cognate area. The applicant must request the transfer of these additional courses as part of the initial interview with the Program Team.

Research Courses (12 credits)

EDU 650 Statistical Methods in Research
Prerequisites: EDU 503 or equivalent
EDL 720 Quantitative Methods in Educational Research
Prerequisites: EDU 650
EDL 721 Qualitative Methods in Educational Research
Prerequisites: EDU 650
EDL 722 Advanced Research Methodologies
Prerequisites: EDU 650

Doctoral Candidacy Comprehensive Examination
When all required coursework is completed, the student must pass a written and oral Doctoral Candidacy Comprehensive Examination covering the subject matter in the major and related fields.

Advancement to Candidacy.
A doctoral student does not become a candidate for the doctoral degree until granted formal admission to candidacy. The Ed. D. Program Coordinator can recommend advancement to candidacy when an individual can demonstrate:

• Maintenance of at least a 3.00 grade-point average in the doctoral course work.
• Completion of all program requirements, except for the doctoral dissertation.
• Passing the Doctoral Candidacy Comprehensive Examination.

Doctoral Dissertation
A candidate for the doctoral degree is required to prepare and present a doctoral dissertation that demonstrates a capacity for independent thought and for the application of the tools and methods of research to educational issues and problems.
A candidate for the doctoral degree must complete a minimum of 15 semester hours of dissertation credit (EDL 792). Once enrollment in dissertation credit is initiated, a candidate must maintain continuous registration of at least 3 semester hours of dissertation credit (EDL 792) each semester until the dissertation is successfully completed and defended.

Time Limit
All program requirements, including the successful defense of the dissertation, must be completed within eight years of first enrollment in the doctoral program.

Financial Aid
Various forms of financial aid may be available to students enrolled in the doctoral program. Information on financial aid may be obtained from the University’s Financial Aid Office. Students in the Ed. D. in Educational Leadership do not qualify for any current discount programs sponsored by St. Thomas University and listed in the Graduate Catalog.

Advisement
A candidate admitted to the doctoral program is assigned a temporary faculty advisor to provide guidance in the initial selection of program courses. During the first semester of doctoral study, or upon completion of twelve (12) semester hours of advised doctoral coursework, the student is expected to choose a Major Professor. The primary function of the Major Professor is to oversee the preparation and completion of the program of studies and the development of the candidacy examination. A Dissertation Committee guides the development and completion of the doctoral dissertation.

Doctoral Studies Policies & Procedures Manual
The Department of Education Doctoral Studies Policies & Procedures Manual provides a set of policies and procedures that govern doctoral study in the department.