Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD)

Graduate Studies >> Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education 

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at the University of Southern Indiana is a cohort program based on a practitioner-scholar, community-based model. The purpose of the program is to transform leaders, organizations, and communities through focused, flexible study addressing real-world problems and issues. A unique characteristic of the program is a curriculum in which each course is community-based, i.e. course content is connected to the graduate student’s community. Academic study is connected to concepts, issues, and content that are familiar, understandable, accessible, and personally relevant to each student. In each course, students will apply learning in practical real-life settings. The program of study includes an 18-hour leadership core, a 12-hour research sequence, the choice of a 15-hour concentration in administrative leadership or pedagogical leadership, and a 15-hour dissertation sequence. Both concentration areas include an internship. The program will be delivered in two formats, 1) a blended option that includes some courses offered totally online and some offered partially online, and, 2) a totally online option. 

The program is designed for P-12 educators. P-12 education is a common theme throughout the program. However, the knowledge, skills, and dispositions addressed in the program are transferrable to education-related positions in other institutions and agencies. Prospective students who do not have previous degrees in education may be conditionally accepted into a cohort. The condition of acceptance is successful completion of the following two courses prior to beginning the doctoral program: EDUC 682 Issues in Educational Leadership and EDUC 685 Curriculum and Learning for Educational Leaders. These two master’s level courses are intended to provide the student with an introductory background to educational issues, theories, and language.