Top of Page
Skip main navigation

Educational Leadership

Apply Now

Request Info

The Doctor of Education with a concentration in Educational Leadership is designed specifically for practicing district and school administrators, education leaders, and classroom teachers on an administrative track in prekindergarten through 12th grade public and nonpublic schools and school systems. This concentration fosters the development of leadership skills through self-reflection, analysis, and best practices used to solve real problems in the workplace through practical application. The planning and implementation of projects based on these problems are the cornerstones of the program. The doctoral program with a concentration in educational leadership focuses on providing broad knowledge of social, political, and economic forces at work in society, as well as a narrow concentration on mechanical or logistical issues that tend to perpetuate parochialism and traditionalism.

The primary goal of the concentration in Educational Leadership (EDL) is to improve our K-12 schools by preparing candidates for leadership and lifelong learning in the fields of K-12 educational administration. The doctoral program fosters an in-depth application of knowledge and skills, inquiry and research, problem-solving, collaboration and communication, professional development, ethical behavior, and higher order thinking skills.

The graduates of the EDL concentration will be leaders in improving schools and other learning environments; expanding their administrative competence and modeling visionary leadership; advocating and implementing educational improvement using informed action research, effective application of change theory, collaborative decision-making and strategic planning, risk and creativity, and appropriate evaluation; and identifying and addressing contemporary and future educational issues in a changing world.

Who Should Apply

  • Practicing superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, assistant principals, and lead teachers in public and nonpublic K–12 education; OR
  • Individuals with master’s degrees or above in education who are on an administrative track who wish to obtain a doctoral degree and increase their knowledge and skills in education administration and leadership; OR
  • Individuals considering a Ph.D. in educational leadership who would instead like to explore the benefits of an Ed.D. in educational leadership program.

The following are specific admission requirements for entry into the Doctor of Education programs. Please refer to the admissions application or catalog for specific program admission requirements and information for international students.

  • Completed online application for admission, including ($50) nonrefundable application fee
  • An official transcript from a regionally accredited institution indicating a conferred master’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 3.0, and official final transcripts from all institutions of higher education (community colleges, bachelor’s programs, post-graduate programs)
  • Professional letters of recommendation from two (2) individuals who can attest to the applicant’s ability to succeed in a doctoral program
  • A test score report* from one of the following exams showing that the applicant received
    • Miller Analogies Test (MAT): Raw score of 37 (scaled score 391–396) on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)

OR

    • Graduate Record Examination (GRE): For tests taken prior to August 1, 2011, a combined score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative sections; for tests taken on or after August 1, 2011 a combined score of 300 on the verbal and quantitative sections.

*The test must have been taken within the past five years.

  • Completed Personal Statement of Goals
  • Completed Transfer of Credits form if applicable

FOR NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate English proficiency by providing proof of a minimum score of 213 on the computer-based or 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam or 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP COURSE OF STUDY

(54 CREDITS MINIMUM)

ORIENTATION (0 CREDITS)

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
DSO 8000 Doctoral Studies Orientation 0

CONCENTRATION AREA COURSES (24 CREDITS)

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
EDD 8200 Leadership, Communication, and Technology 3
EDLR 8410 Leading an Educational Organization: Theory, Practice, and Reflection 3
EDLR 8415 Strategic Planning for Educational Leadership 3
EDLR 8420 Policy, Power, and Politics in Educational Leadership 3
EDLR 8425 School-Based Inquiry and Transformation 3
EDLR 8430 Legal and Ethical Issues in Educational Leadership 3
EDLR 8435 Current Topics in Educational Leadership 3
Select one of the following to align with the level of certification you are seeking:
EDLR 8460 The Principal and School Leadership 3
EDLR 8461 The Superintendent and District Leadership 3

RESEARCH COURSES (12 CREDITS)

Required Courses

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
RES 8100 The Nature of Knowing: Epistemology and Inquiry-Based Learning (Required Course) 3
RES 9300 Methods of Inquiry (Required Course) 3

Please select ONE of the following research tracks based on your dissertation (please consult your RES 9300 professor and your dissertation chair prior to registering):

Quantitative Research Track

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
RES 8911 Quantitative Research Design 3
RES 8921

Quantitative Data Analysis

 3

Qualitative Research Track

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
RES 8916 Qualitative Research Design 3
RES 8926

Qualitative Data Analysis

 3

APPLIED DISSERTATION (12 CREDITS)

The Applied Dissertation is a detailed, accurate, and cohesive account of a scholarly investigation designed to answer one or more research questions. It is required of all FCE doctoral students and its purpose is to improve practice in education and human services. The dissertation process consists of a total of 12 credits encompassing four major benchmarks.

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
DISR 8966 Applied Dissertation 1: Prospectus 3
DISR 8967 Applied Dissertation 2: Proposal Development 3
DISR 8968 Applied Dissertation 3: Proposal 3
DISR 8969 Applied Dissertation 4: Applied Dissertation 3

ELECTIVES (MINIMUM OF 6 CREDITS)

Students will fulfill this requirement by selecting from a variety of educational leadership courses.

Students seeking certification must take the electives that align with the level of certification they are seeking:

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
BUILDING LEVEL LEADERS
EDLR 8490 Reflection and Vision for School Leaders 3
EDLR 8498 Internship (Building Level) 3
DISTRICT LEVEL LEADERS
EDLR 8495 Reflection and Vision for District Leaders 3
EDLR 8499 Internship (District Level) 3

EDGE @ FISCHLER INSTITUTE (0 CREDITS)

The EDGE @ Fischler Institute is an opportunity for students to meet with Fischler College classmates, professors, and staff on-campus in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Students will be able to schedule individual sessions with their applied dissertation committee chairs to discuss dissertation work and with representatives from various service areas, including distance library services, student financial assistance, and program advising. The conference will also offer applied dissertation workshops enabling students to learn valuable information about the dissertation process, as well as roundtable sessions affording students the opportunity to present their dissertation work to a group of peers and receive immediate feedback. 

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
FSC 8000

EDGE @ Fischler Institute (Residency Requirement)        

Students entering prior to Fall 2019 must attend one EDGE @ Fischler Institute. Students entering Fall 2019 and after must attend two. 

 0

EXTENDED DISSERTATION SERVICES (0 CREDITS)

Beginning the 37th month of the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program, students will enroll in ADS 8091, Applied Dissertation Services, in order to receive dissertation services and support from Dissertation Committee Chairs and/or other NSU faculty and staff. In cases where students are not enrolled in any classes prior to the 37th month and where Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) students require support from Dissertation Chairs and/or other NSU faculty and staff, ADS 8090 may be used to satisfy Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements for continuous matriculation.

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
ADS 8091 Applied Dissertation Services 1

*Note: Students must be registered for ADS 8091 to be eligible for continuing services.

 

ACADEMIC PROGRAM OF STUDY

DOWNLOAD PROGRAM OUTLINE

 

RECOMMENDED 3-YEAR PROGRAM SEQUENCE

DOWNLOAD PLAN

 

Click on the button below to download the Course Equivalencies/Substitutions for the Educational Leadership Concentration

Course Equivalencies/Substitutions

For advising assistance, please send an email to FCEadvise@nova.edu

Coursework for the Doctor of Education is available online, which allows international students and those who don't live near our South Florida campus to receive and submit coursework, and interact with classmates and professors, via the Internet. This distance education option allows busy professionals like you to earn your degree without work disruption or long commutes.

In addition to coursework, all doctoral students are required to participate in The EDGE @ Fischler Institute in Florida.

Faculty members in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction are dedicated to preparing aspiring teachers and those seeking careers as professionals in education-related fields. Hailing from NSU and other major universities and institutions throughout the country and around the world, our faculty are highly respected professional practitioners and recognized scholars who are carefully selected on the basis of their subject area expertise, teaching abilities, and professional involvement. Furthermore, they are united in their desire to not only educate, but to inspire students to use what they learn to motivate others.

Meet the Faculty and Staff of the Department of Curriculum & Instruction

The purpose of the Doctoral Studies Orientation (DSO 8000) is to provide an overview critical to beginning the Ed.D. program. This noncredit course is a requirement for all doctoral students at NSU's Fischler College of Education. Students should register for and complete the online DSO modules in the first term along with the first "credit-bearing" course. For additional information, please visit the DSO Web site.

The EDGE @ Fischler Institute is an intensive conference designed to give doctoral students the tools and support they need to complete their doctoral program. Students entering prior to Fall 2019 must attend one EDGE @ Fischler Institute. Students entering Fall 2019 and after must attend two. 

LEARN MORE

  • Completion of the Doctoral Studies Orientation (DSO 8000)
  • Participation in the EDGE @ Fischler Institute (FSC 8000)
  • Satisfactory completion of all required courses
  • Successful completion of an applied dissertation
  • Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher
  • Completed application for degree and satisfaction of all NSU/FCE financial obligations

Coursework for the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) may not meet state department of education requirements for certification and/or licensure. It is the responsibility of the student to contact his or her state department of education for specific requirements and current information regarding teacher certification/licensure.

Facebook Live Chat: Educational Leadership Programs

Did you miss the chat about our Education Leadership programs?

Click on the image above to learn about our programs in Educational Leadership, the history of their inception, and professional opportunities open to those who complete our programs.

Return to top of page