Educational Leadership, Ph.D.
Saint Louis University
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Saint Louis University's School of Education is rooted in a commitment to serve the community by focusing on interdisciplinary research and innovation in teaching.
Go from learning in classrooms to teaching in classrooms with Saint Louis University’s School of Education field experience opportunities.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership at Saint Louis University's School of Education is designed to prepare students to be scholars, professors and/or organizational leaders. Students enter the program with a master's in education, leadership, or a related field. The curriculum is based on a selection of core courses in educational leadership and courses that complement students’ professional goals.
The degree requires the completion of 30-36 credits of coursework, 12 credits of dissertation research, a comprehensive examination, an oral examination/proposal defense and a public defense of the dissertation.
The program includes site-based activities aligned with coursework as well as the three-credit internship. The internship is required for superintendent certification.
Possible career paths for graduates with advanced degrees in educational leadership include faculty positions in colleges and universities, positions in research institutes and organizations, educational leader (superintendent/principal) or teacher leader.
Additionally, some doctoral students design a special individualized program to prepare for a leadership role in a nonprofit, medical, Catholic, or business organization.
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
Please note that application deadlines for this program differ for international students.
A committee reviews each application.
Domestic students should apply for the fall semester by June 15, for the spring semester by Nov. 1, and for the summer semester by April 1. International students should apply by May 1 for the fall semester, Oct. 1 for the spring semester, and Feb. 1 for the summer semester.
For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, applicants should complete their applications by Feb. 1.
For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.
The candidate will explain how district-level leadership vision, mission, and goals promote student success.
The candidate will analyze district-level leadership implementation strategies.
The candidate will explain how district-level culture affects student learning.
The candidate will analyze the effectiveness of district-wide instructional practices.
The candidate will explain how district-wide professional learning affects student learning.
The candidate will explain district-level educational management and organizational theories.
The candidate will explain the district-level educator evaluation and management process.
The candidate will explain district-level effective resource strategies.
The candidate will explain how to build community relationships that promote student learning across the district.
The candidate will analyze district/community connection strategies.
The candidate explains how to identify community resources to support student learning across the district.
The candidate will explain principles of educational ethics.
The candidate will explain how political, economic, legal, and cultural issues affects the education system.
The candidate will explain how communication across various shareholders affects a district’s success.
The candidate will analyze how policy and advocacy affects the education system.
The candidate will explain how to support district employees with professional development.
Ph.D. students complete 42-48 credits, including research courses, leadership courses, and individually selected courses. Students may select courses from the following, or may choose courses for their program plan that fit their program goal. If a student seeks a superintendent certificate upon graduation, specific coursework is required. Students design a program plan with their advisor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 18 credits of the following: | 18 | |
| School-Community Relations | ||
| Internship: Superintendent Internship | ||
| School District Administration | ||
| School, Community, and Politics | ||
| Ethics of Ed Leadership | ||
| Advanced School Law | ||
| Gateway Leadership Institute | ||
| Sem: Human Resources Admin | ||
| Managing the District Level Curriculum | ||
| School Facilities | ||
| School Business Administration | ||
| District Level Professional Development and Teacher Evaluation | ||
| Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams | ||
| Research Courses | ||
| Introductory Research Courses | 3-9 | |
| Advanced Research Courses | 6 | |
| EDR 6970 | Research Topics in Education | 3 |
| Dissertation Research | ||
| EDR 6990 | Dissertation Research | 12 |
| Total Credits | 42-48 | |
Students must complete master’s level graduate research coursework as prerequisites for advanced research courses. Students are required to successfully complete the following three research courses. Up to six credits may be waived based on students' prior coursework.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDR 5000 | General Research Methods for Education | 3 |
| EDR 5100 | Intro to Inferential Stats: Ed | 3 |
| EDR 5400 | Qualitative Research in Education | 3 |
Students choose 6 credits of research electives from either the qualitative or quantitative focus (see lists below)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Qualitative Research Focus (choose two courses from the following:) | ||
| Evaluation of Education Programs | ||
| Professional Writing | ||
| Advanced Qual Research for Ed | ||
| Designing Mixed Methods Research | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Quantitative Research Focus (choose two courses from the following:) | ||
| Research Design and Analysis | ||
| Intermediate Applied Statistics for Education | ||
| Single Subject Experimental Research Design | ||
| Multilevel Regression Models | ||
| Designing Mixed Methods Research | ||
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| EDL 6110 | School District Administration 1 | 3 |
| EDR 5400 | Qualitative Research in Education 2 | 3 |
| EDR 5000 | General Research Methods for Education (if not already completed as a prerequisite) | 0-3 |
| Credits | 6-9 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDL 6400 | Sem: Human Resources Admin 1 | 3 |
| EDR 6060 | Research Design and Analysis 2 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| EDL 5914 | Internship: Superintendent Internship (optional course if seeking superintendent certification) | 0 |
| EDR 5100 | Intro to Inferential Stats: Ed (if not already completed as a prerequisite) | 0-3 |
| Credits | 0-3 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDL 6450 | Managing the District Level Curriculum 1 | 3 |
| EDL 5300 | School Law (optional course which may be selected if seeking certification) | 2 |
| EDL 5914 | Internship: Superintendent Internship | 0 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDL 6730 | District Level Professional Development and Teacher Evaluation 1 | 3 |
| EDL 6690 | School Business Administration 1 | 2 |
| EDL 5914 | Internship: Superintendent Internship | 2 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDR 6400 or EDR 6100 |
Advanced Qual Research for Ed 2 or Intermediate Applied Statistics for Education |
3 |
| EDR 6970 | Research Topics in Education 2 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDL 6950 | Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams | 0 |
| EDR 6990 | Dissertation Research 3 | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDR 6990 | Dissertation Research 3 | 4 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDR 6990 | Dissertation Research 3 | 5 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Total Credits | 42-48 | |
| 1 | Optional course but necessary for Missouri certification |
| 2 | 3 of the 12 credits of required research courses |
| 3 | Students may take as many of the 12 credits of dissertation research as desired per semester. Please register in your advisor’s section number. |
For additional admission questions, please contact:
Saint Louis University School of Education
314-977-3292
slued@slu.edu