Program Description

The Doctorate (EdD) in Educational Leadership is a 45+ hour post-master’s professional degree for qualified candidates who wish to pursue the terminal degree in Educational Leadership. The program is designed to further develop experienced leaders in the areas of school improvement, strategic planning and institutional development, and other areas of critical need for the twenty-first century. The EdD program is designed to build candidates’ critical understanding and expert use of transformational leadership skills. Our goal is to develop school leaders who integrate thoughtful, globally minded leadership practices with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of effective educational leaders.  

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to: 

1. Write clearly and convincingly that reflects accurate and precise use of grammar, usage and mechanics for scholarly writing.
2. Write in precise adherence to the APA format.
3. Clearly demonstrate the use of scholarly, professional, and academic language at a doctoral level in the oral presentation and in answers to questions during the defense.
4. Demonstrate the ability to orally present all chapters; sections of at a scholar doctoral-level competence.
5. Clearly demonstrate a comprehensive, scholarly, doctoral-level understanding of the literature and content area(s) pertinent to the study.
6. Clearly demonstrate scholarly, doctoral-level understanding of the need for and potential application of the research in educational contexts and on student learning.
7. Write clear and convincing responses in their comprehensive exams using scholarly academic language and correct APA formatting.
8. Write clearly and convincingly the first three chapters of their dissertation proposals.

 This program is a part of the Leland and Clarice C. Bagwell College of Education .

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Admissions, Enrollment, and Graduation Criteria

Admissions Criteria

This program will admit new students to start classes in Fall 2023 and again in Fall 2025.

The following are program-specific criteria beyond the general Graduate Admissions  requirements. To be considered for admission to this program, the following application materials must be submitted to the KSU Graduate Admissions Office:

• Earned Educational Specialist in education or a related field 
• Clear Renewable Georgia Leadership Certificate - you MUST hold a PL6, L6, or Tier II Leadership certification or comparable certificate from another state PRIOR to admission consideration. To print a copy of your Georgia clear, renewable certificate, you may log onto www.gapsc.com.
• Employment:  Current full-time employment as a professional educator with at least five years of teaching and/or administrative experience in P-12 education
• Professional Reflections Statement - Can be uploaded into the online application. Should be 1-2 pages and address your professional leadership training and interest, educational beliefs, professional goals, and why you seek to pursue your degree at KSU.
• Resume or Professional Vitae - Can be uploaded into the online application.
• Interview - An interview may be required. If so, you will be contacted by the program to set up an interview.

Admissions Criteria for Unique Cases

Currently there are no exceptions to the admissions requirements.

Transfer Credit

Ed.D. may accept up to 6 hours of approved credit.  

Transfer credit will not be accepted for the core course requirements that are central to the program’s distinctive focus. Consequently, transfer credit considerations will typically be restricted to courses in the concentration, guided electives, and the initial course in applied research methods. Decisions about the acceptability of transfer credit will be made on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the concentration advisor and Director of the Doctoral and Specialists Programs.

Enrollment Criteria

This program does not have specific enrollment requirements. 

Graduation Criteria

Each student is expected to meet the requirements outlined in Academic Policy 5.0 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS & GRADUATION .

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Program Course Requirements