Department of Educational Leadership
Doctoral Program
Robinson Hall
(856)256-4744
 
 

The doctoral program in Educational Leadership focuses on developing leaders who are capable of reflective decision making, working collaboratively, and  initiating or responding to innovative change, and who have management and administrative skills. Although the doctoral program originally was designed for the educational professional fully employed in a P-12 or higher education setting, it now includes professionals from other areas, such as human services.   By integrating academic instruction with opportunities to apply leadership theory to the resolution of actual workplace problems, the program helps students:

· understand the relationship between theory and practice;
· understand the context in which schools, colleges and other institutions operate;
· apply theory and contextual knowledge to educational problem solving;
· develop analytical and communication skills required for successful leadership;
· foster and sustain excellence.

Preadmission information sessions are scheduled for interested candidates.  The sessions include a program overview, question/answer opportunities with current students and faculty, and a distribution of program applications.  Individuals who are unable to attend a scheduled information session can obtain an application by calling (856) 256-4744.

Program Admission Requirements

1. All University requirements for entrance into graduate study
2. A master’s degree from an accredited college or university
3. A grade of “B” or better in the graduate course,  Educational Organization and Leadership (or its equivalent)
4. A grade of “B” or better in the graduate course, Research Procedures/Design or Statistics (or the equivalent)
5. A minimum 3.5 G.P.A. in prior graduate studies
6. Evidence of sufficient computer skills to operate a word processing program

Additionally, the candidate must submit:

1. Three recommendations
2. Recent scores (within 5 years) from a graduate entrance exam (GRE, MAT, GMAT)
3. Two official transcripts from all institutions attended
4. A leadership portfolio and resume, which will be reviewed for evidence of demonstrated leadership and leadership potential

Program Structure and Sequence

The program is conducted in three phases, the last two of which involve students in a cohort.  The program totals 74 semester hours:  50 s.h. of required courses; 12 s.h. of electives that comprise a focus area; and 12 s.h. for the dissertation. The cohort fosters a spirit of community, provides a peer support network, and helps to maintain focus on completing the program.  Cohort members work closely with program faculty.

 Students begin the doctoral program with “open” courses.  After completing the four core courses in Phase I—Leadership Theory, Organizations as Culture: Theory and Applications, Changing Organizations, and Research I—and after their preliminary review, they enter a cohort during the summer session.  Students are not mandated to take all required courses as a cohort.  The program provides the flexibility for required courses and electives to be taken as they fit into life and work schedules.  Students have the opportunity in Phase I to decide how many courses they want to carry.  In Phases II and III when the cohort is established, students must take the courses designated for the cohort.  Other courses may be taken at times convenient for the student.

Phase One contains eighteen credit hours, including the four core courses of the program: (1) Leadership Theory, (2) Organizations as Cultures: Theory and Applications, (3) Changing Organizations, and (4) Research Literature Analysis and Writing in Educational Leadership.  This phase also allows students to take two elective courses which they may take along with, or in place of, a required course during either or both of those semesters.  During this time, students may elect to enroll either on a part-time or full-time basis and may take up to 3 courses (9 credit hours) as non-matriculated students.

Phase Two, containing eighteen credit hours, is the beginning of the cohort.  Before entering Phase Two, students must complete the four core courses in Phase One.  Once in Phase Two, all cohort students will take three courses together (including Leadership Seminar I, Conducting and Analyzing Survey Research in Educational Leadership, and
Conducting and Analyzing Qualitative Research in Educational Leadership). The other required doctoral courses in this phase (including Diversity in Educational Leadership, The Policy Environment) will be open courses, that is, they will be open to non-matriculated students.  This phase allows students also to take one elective course if needed.

Phase Three, containing thirty-eight credit hours, is the beginning of the dissertation phase.  Cohort students will enroll together for twenty credit hours: the Leadership Applications, Fieldwork, and Seminar 2-semester sequence, 18 s.h.; and Advanced Leadership, 2 s.h..  An additional six semester hours, Applied Ethics in Educational Leadership, a required but open course, and an elective will be offered.   The dissertation comprises the remaining twelve semester hours.
 
 
 

Semester 1 (Fall)                                                                     Credits
Leadership Theory                                                                        3
Organizations as Cultures:Theory and Applications                         3
**Elective                                                                                     3

Semester 2 (Spring)                                                                Credits
Changing Organizations                                                                  3
Research Literature Analysis and Writing
in Educational Leadership                                                               3
**Elective                                                                                      3
 
PRELIMINARY REVIEW PRIOR TO ENTRANCE INTO PHASE II, BEGINNING OF DOCTORAL COHORT

 
PHASE II

Semester 3 (Summer)                                                            Credits
*Leadership Seminar                                                                    3
*Conducting and Analyzing Survey Research for
Educational Leadership                                                                3
Diversity for Educational Leadership                                             3
**Elective                                                                                    3

Semester 4 (Fall)
The Policy Environment                                                                3
*Conducting and Analyzing Qualitative Research for
Educational Leadership                                                                 3
**Elective                                                                                     3
 

 
PHASE III

Semester 5 (Spring)
*Leadership App., Field &                                                           9
Seminar I
**Elective                                                                                    3
 
Semester 6 (Summer))                                                             Credits
*Leadership App., Field &                                                          9
    Seminar II
Applied Ethics in Educational Leadership                                     3
**Elective                                                                                   3

 
Begin work on proposals—format & structure

 
        ------------------------

DISSERTATION PROPOSAL

Semester 7 (Fall)
*Advanced Leadership                                                                2
Dissertation (on-going)                                                               12
**Elective                                                                                    3
 
 

*Courses closed to cohort
**Electives taken where needed; 4 electives are necessary to complete the program.