Educational Leadership, Ph.D.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership at Saint Louis University's School of Educationprepares students to be scholars, professors and/or organizational leaders. Students enter the SLU program with a master's in education, leadership or a related field. The curriculum is based on a selection of core coursesin educational leadership, leadership, and courses that complement students’ professional goals.
Curriculum Overview
The degree requires the completion of 30-36 credits of coursework, 12 credits of dissertation research, a written comprehensive examination, an oral examination/proposal defense and a public defense of the dissertation.
Fieldwork and Research Opportunities
The program includes site-based activities aligned with coursework as well as the three-credit-hour internship if superintendent certification is desired.
Careers
Possible career paths forgraduates with advanced degreesin educational leadership/leadership includefaculty positions in colleges and universities, positions in research institutes and organizations, educational leader (superintendent/principal), teacher leader, or leaders within organizations.
Additionally, some doctoral students design a special individualized program to prepare for a leadership role in a nonprofit, medical, Catholic or business organization.
91Ƭ Requirements
- Master's degree from aregionally accreditedԲپٳܳپDz.
- Transcript(s)
- Two letters of recommendation
- éܳé
- Professional goal statement
Requirements for International Students
Along with the general admission requirements above, the following must be provided by prospective international students:
- Demonstration ofEnglish Language Proficiency.
- Proof of financial support that must include:
- A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University.
- A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University.
- Academic records, in English translation, for postsecondary studies outside the United States. These must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
Please note that application deadlines for this program differ for international students.
Review Process
A committee reviews each application holistically.
Application Deadlines
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.
Tuition
Tuition | Cost Per Credit |
---|---|
Graduate Tuition | $1,370 |
Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:
Information on Tuition and Fees
Scholarships and Financial Aid
For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, apply by Feb. 1.
For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.
- Graduates will apply evidence-based literature to leadership practices.
- Graduates will articulate the use of evidence-based leadership practices within organizations, aspects of running an organization, and leadership theories to analyze issues related to executive-level leadership.
- Graduates will apply leadership concepts in their doctoral research and in the production of their dissertation.
- Graduates will present and discuss the philosophy and ethical foundations of their research study in their oral exams and public defense.
Educational leadership 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.
The choice of courses will depend on the student's certification and research goals. Meeting the student's certification goals may require more than the 18 credits of content courses required for the Ph.D. If a student seeks a superintendent certificate upon graduation, specific coursework isrequired. Students design a program plan with their advisor.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select 18 credits of the following: | 18 | |
ٳ5100 | Foundations of Ed Admin | |
ٳ5914 | Internship: Superintendent Internship | |
ٳ6110 | School District Administration | |
ٳ6190 | School, Community, and Politics | |
ٳ6200 | Ethics of Ed Leadership | |
ٳ6300 | Advanced School Law | |
ٳ6390 | Gateway Leadership Institute | |
ٳ6400 | Sem: Human Resources Admin | |
ٳ6450 | Managing the District Level Curriculum | |
ٳ6470 | School Facilities | |
ٳ6690 | School Business Administration | |
ٳ6730 | District Level Professional Development and Teacher Evaluation | |
ٳ6810 | Leading Change in the 21st Century | |
ٳ6830 | Innovative Leadership: Leading for Innovation | |
ٳ6840 | Investigating Managerial Leadership Excellence | |
ٳ6950 | Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams | |
Research Courses | ||
Introductory Research Courses | 3-9 | |
Advanced Research Courses | 6 | |
ٸ6970 | Research Topics in Education | 3 |
Dissertation Research | ||
ٸ6990 | Dissertation Research | 12 |
Total Credits | 42-48 |
IntroductoryResearch Courses
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 |
---|---|---|
ٸ5000 | General Research Methods for Education | 3 |
ٸ5100 | Intro to Inferential Stats: Ed | 3 |
ٸ5400 | Qualitative Research in Education | 3 |
Advanced Research Courses
Students choose six credits of research electives from any of the qualitative or quantitative courses (see lists below).
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Qualitative Research Focus (choose courses from the following:) | ||
ٸ5500 | Evaluation of Education Programs | |
ٸ6400 | Advanced Qual Research for Ed | |
ٸ6700 | Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks in Education Research | |
ٱ5800 | Talking and Learning in Classrooms | |
Quantitative Research Focus (choose courses from the following:) | ||
ٸ6060 | Research Design and Analysis | |
ٸ6100 | Intermediate Applied Statistics for Education | |
ٸ6500 | Multilevel Regression Models | |
ٸ6600 | Designing Mixed Methods Research |
Non-Course Requirements
- Students must pass a comprehensive written examination,
- Students must pass an oral examination/proposal defense, and
- Students mustpass a public presentation and defense of their dissertation.
Continuation Standards
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 enrollmentunless 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.
The choice of courses will depend on the student's certification and research goals. Meeting the student's certification goals may require more than the 18 credits of content courses required for the Ph.D.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
ٳ6110 | School District Administration 1 | 3 |
ٳ6300 | Advanced School Law 1 | 2 |
ٸ5000 | General Research Methods for Education (if not already completed as a prerequisite) | 3 |
Credits | 5-8 | |
Spring | ||
ٳ6190 | School, Community, and Politics 1 | 3 |
ٸ5400 | Qualitative Research in Education 2 | 3 |
ٸ6700 | Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks in Education Research | 3 |
Credits | 9 | |
Summer | ||
ٳ5914 | Internship: Superintendent Internship 1 | 0-1 |
ٸ5100 | Intro to Inferential Stats: Ed (if not already completed as a prerequisite) | 3 |
Credits | 0-4 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
ٳ5914 | Internship: Superintendent Internship 1 | 0-1 |
ٳ6400 | Sem: Human Resources Admin 1 | 3 |
ٳ6450 | Managing the District Level Curriculum 1 | 3 |
Credits | 6-7 | |
Spring | ||
ٳ6730 | District Level Professional Development and Teacher Evaluation 1 | 3 |
ٳ6690 | School Business Administration 1 | 2 |
ٳ5914 | Internship: Superintendent Internship 1 | 0-1 |
Credits | 5-6 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
ٸ6400 or ٸ6100 |
Advanced Qual Research for Ed 2 or Intermediate Applied Statistics for Education |
3 |
ٸ6970 | Advanced Research Topics in Education Research 2 | 1 |
Credits | 4 | |
Spring | ||
ٸ5500 | Evaluation of Education Programs 2 | 3 |
ٸ6970 | Advanced Research Topics in Education Research 2 | 1 |
Credits | 4 | |
Summer | ||
ٳ6950 | Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams | 0 |
ٸ6970 | Advanced Research Topics in Education Research 2 | 1 |
Credits | 1 | |
Year Four | ||
Fall | ||
ٸ6990 | Dissertation Research 3 | 6 |
Credits | 6 | |
Spring | ||
ٸ6990 | Dissertation Research 3 | 6 |
Credits | 6 | |
Total Credits | 46-55 |
- 1
Optional course but necessary for Missouri certification.
- 2
Three 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.
Cyprus
The educational leadership Ph.D. program in Cyprus does not require a TOEFL exam and requires one three-credit pre-requisite research course. Additional research coursework is embedded in the Cyprus roadmap.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
EDF6000 | Foundations of Doctoral Study | 3 |
ٸ5500 | Evaluation of Education Programs | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Spring | ||
ٳ6830 | Innovative Leadership: Leading for Innovation | 3 |
ٳ6450 | Managing the District Level Curriculum | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Summer | ||
ٸ5000 | General Research Methods for Education (if needed as a prerequisite) | 3 |
ٸ5400 | Qualitative Research in Education | 3 |
Credits | 3-6 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
ٳ6810 | Leading Change in the 21st Century | 3 |
ٸ6100 | Intermediate Applied Statistics for Education | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Spring | ||
ٳ6730 | District Level Professional Development and Teacher Evaluation | 3 |
ٳ6840 | Investigating Managerial Leadership Excellence | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Summer | ||
ٳ6950 | Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams | 0 |
ٸ6970 | Advanced Research Topics in Education Research | 3 |
Credits | 3 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
ٸ6990 | Dissertation Research | 6 |
Credits | 6 | |
Spring | ||
ٸ6990 | Dissertation Research | 6 |
Credits | 6 | |
Total Credits | 42-45 |
For additional admission questions, please contact:
Saint Louis University School of Education
314-977-3292
slued@slu.edu