Educational Leadership, Ed.D.

Program Mission and Guiding Principles:

The mission of the TCU Educational Leadership doctoral program is to develop leaders who make a difference for the common good. The program serves professionals from within the PK-12 educational context who want to develop the breadth of knowledge and skills needed to succeed in advanced leadership roles within the PK-12 context as well as professionals who work externally to PK-12 but in education-related endeavors (business/corporate training, policy organizations, or nongovernmental organizations). The program weaves several emphases throughout coursework. These program elements support the student to:

•     Develop and practice reflective, ethical, and justice-oriented leadership;

•     Collaborate with persons from diverse backgrounds, roles, and perspectives in the service of systemic improvements toward excellence and equity;

•     Communicate effectively via multiple modes (e.g., oral, written, via technology)

•     Analyze, define, and respond to complex problems; and

•     Anticipate and respond to dynamic environments

Application Procedures and Deadlines

An applicant must have a master's degree in education or related field. Applicants must present a strong academic record (GPA of 3.0 in either the last 60 hours of college credit or undergraduate GPA). Applicants to the EDLE EdD must submit transcripts of all prior collegiate work, a statement explaining the applicant's interest in earning the EdD and how the applicant sees the EdD fitting with personal and professional goals, an equity statement, a current resume, and must complete either a video or in-person interview.

Additionally, applicants who wish to seek certification as a public school principal in Texas in conjunction with the EdD must have completed at least two years of full-time teaching at an accredited school and must hold a valid teaching certificate at the time of application to the EdD program. Applicants who wish to pursue principal certification in conjunction with the EdD must also complete two to three courses in addition to the 54-hour EdD program (as certification-only seeking students, or in connection with another program at TCU) prior to beginning coursework with the doctoral cohort. These courses are:

course (Instructional Supervision-Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment)*

course (Instructional Supervision-Supervision, Evaluation, and Coaching)

course (Data Use for Educational Leaders)

*course may be waived as a prerequisite for those seeking principal certification in conjunction with the EdD in the event the applicant holds a Master's degree, earned within 10 years of application to the EdD program, that is in an area of emphasis directly related to PK-12 pedagogy (e.g., curriculum and instruction, assessment, mathematics education, social studies education, science education, literacy education, special education).

Applicants seeking superintendent certification must hold a principal certification at the time the superintendent certificate is sought in addition to meeting coursework and practicum requirements, or must hold a TEA waiver of the principal certification requirement at time of application. To be recommended for the superintendent certificate, persons who complete the certification portion of the program must also have at least three years of managerial experience by the time they seek certification.

Application Deadlines

Students interested in applying to the program should abde by the deadlines stated on the website.

Ed.D. Degree Requirements

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a 54-hour degree aimed at enabling leaders in PK-12 contexts to successfully engage in a range of professional endeavors. The program of study is outlined in the following section. Students are required to take a suitable number and variety of graduate courses and field-based experiences to prepare for the completion of the capstone project or dissertation-in-practice. The Ed.D. encompasses a minimum of 54 hours of core courses, fieldwork and directed capstone or dissertation-in-practice, though additional courses may be needed if prerequisites have not been met or if a student requires more than 15 credit hours to complete the capstone or dissertation-in practice.

Application of Transfer Coursework:

As the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (PK-12) is a cohort-based, highly structured model, no transfer coursework will be accepted toward the 54-hours required of program enrollees.

Texas Principal-as-Instructional Leader or Superintendent Certificates

Students seeking principal or superintendent certification in conjunction with the EdD in Educational Leadership must ensure they successfully complete the certification requirements as noted in the “certification-only” sections of this graduate catalog, and meet any prerequisite requirements associated with certification within the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, in collaboration with their advisor.

Program of Study (PK-12 Contexts)

Students should use the approved program of study to guide course selection, with the assistance of the advisor. Each student will work with an assigned advisor to plan and, where needed, adjust the plan of study to meet both student needs and programmatic requirements.

Course of Study: Core Content (21 hours)

Course of Study: Inquiry (9 hours)

Course of Study: Certification/Practicum/Internship (9 hours)

For non-certification seeking students additional coursework may be elected in lieu of internship hours.

Course of Study: Capstone/Dissertation (15 hours)

While most students will complete the capstone or dissertation-in-practice at the end of year 3, and students who have not completed the Capstone must continue to enroll in 1 hour of course  or course as appropriate with their chair through completion of the degree.

Process for Advancement to Candidacy

Students advance to candidacy upon successful proposal of the capstone or dissertation-in-practice to the committee.

Dissertation (or Capstone) Research

Students complete their proposed (and accepted) plan for research, compose the capstone or dissertation-in-practice, and defend the work in a final oral examination.  A minimum of 15 hours of capstone or dissertation (including course and either course or course) are required.

Details and forms related to the process and requirements are in the Graduate Handbook for Educational Leadership Programs and on the College of Education website.