Bulletin/Catalog Year 2018-2019
Martha Dickerson Eriksson College of Education
Department of Educational Specialties
Dr. Thomas Buttery
Chair, Department of Educational Specialties
Professor
Location: Claxton Building, Room 304A
Phone: 931-221-7518
Email: butteryt@apsu.edu
Dr. Gary Stewart
Professor
Graduate Coordinator
Phone: (931) 221-6782
Location: Claxton Building, Room 323
Email: stewartg@apsu.edu
The doctoral program in Educational Leadership is offered in a hybrid format, with courses that are conducted face-to-face, online, and a combination of the two. This program is designed for professionals working in school settings. Program faculty are committed to the creation and study of environments that promote lifelong learning for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
The program requires 60 hours of coursework, a comprehensive exam, and a dissertation. Students have the option of a licensure or non-licensure pathway. There are 39 hours of core courses, 9 hours of electives, and 12 hours of dissertation research. Specific graduation reqirements are provided below. The program is designed for working professionals attending school part-time to complete the program within three years. All of the courses are offered either in the evening, online, or on Saturdays to accommodate working professionals.
Completion of the Ed.D. program will require
- a minimum of 60 semester credit hours of coursework beyond the master’s degree;
- a minimum of one-third of semester credit hours of coursework earned at APSU to fulfill graduation requirements to meet the university residency requirement, however the Ed.D. program allows only 9 credit hours in transfer from another university;
- a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required during the first 12 hours of the program with a 3.25 required after completion of 12 credit hours;
- successful completion of the qualifying exam and an oral defense at the conclusion of all coursework other than EDUC 8013 and EDUC 8014;
- a completed dissertation of publishable quality; and
- successful defense of the dissertation.
The doctoral program in Educational Leadership aims to enhance the knowledge and competencies of leaders so they may provide optimal conditions for the education of youth and adult learners. The program is designed to enhance intellectual understanding of leadership theory and policy, deepen leadership capacity, and position students for elevated organizational responsibility. The objectives of the program are to prepare leaders who 1) are inquiring, reflective practitioners; 2) are competent in identifying and solving complex problems; 3) understand the multitude of leadership and organizational theories and techniques related to their professional settings; 4) value, encourage, and facilitate the professional development of self and others in their organization; 5) value, understand, and support diversity in their organizations; 6) make contributions to the profession; and 7) make data-driven decisions.
Admission Requirements
Criteria for admission into the doctoral program in Educational Leadership are as follows:
- Application for admission
- Application Fee: $45 domestic or $55 international
- Verification of lawful presence in the United States (i.e. submit a license or other approved document)
- Evidence of an earned Master’s Degree in any field from an accredited institution;
- Official transcripts of graduate degrees* with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 for Master’s Degree courses and, if applicable, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in all Educational Specialist Degree courses;
- Official scores on the General Test of the GRE;
- Interview with the doctoral admissions committee; and
- An on-demand essay written during the interview process.
- Military documents (if applicable)
*Conferred degrees must be from nationally/regionally accredited institutions.
All students applying for admission to the College of Graduate Studies must request official transcripts sent directly to Graduate Admissions from the degree granting institution(s). Test scores must also be sent directly to Graduate Admissions from the testing agency. Students who are seeking beginning administrator licensure must submit an admission portfolio with the following additional components:
- Three letters of support from current or former employer describing the applicant’s potential as a leader;
- Past job performance evaluations;
- Personal philosophy of education;
- A leadership assessment;
- Valid professional teaching certificate;
- Successful teaching experience for a minimum of three years prior to taking the initial licensure class; and
- An alternative interview (to #4 above) with a team consisting of members of the doctoral faculty and members of the community with knowledge of and/or experience in educational leadership.
The Ed.D. program allows up to 9 credit hours in approved transfer credits from another nationally or regionally accredited institution to apply toward graduation requirements. Transfer courses will be examined to determine the quality and applicability to the doctoral program, including whether the courses satisfy specific learning outcomes in the Ed.D. program.