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Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD)
K12 Administration & Higher Education Administration
The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD) degree is designed to prepare you for senior level
leadership positions in the K-12 and Higher Education environments. This advanced level of preparation fosters
your development of knowledge, skills and abilities to resolve complex educational issues and problems.
Program studies include leadership theory, human resource development, organizational theory, policy
analysis, planning studies, curriculum and instructional leadership, and political systems analysis.
A minimum of 60-semester hours beyond the master’s degree and the successful completion of a dissertation
is required to earn the degree. This unique degree program enables you to complete the program, including
the dissertation requirement, in three years. The program follows a cohort structure and students are required
to follow the prescribed curriculum to remain within the cohort structure.
The EdD program includes two concentrations, K12 Administration and Higher Education Administration, that
will allow you to be engaged in coursework and activities relevant to your identified spectrum of educational
leadership. The dissertation requirement is based upon ECU’s Department of Educational Leadership’s
membership in the Carnegie Project on the Educational Doctor (CPED) using the Dissertation in Practice
Framework.
Upon completion of the program, K12 school leaders who hold a North Carolina administrative and/or
supervision license(s), are eligible to upgrade those license(s). Note: Individuals seeking the North Carolina
Superintendent license (011) will be required to meet the North Carolina Standards for the Superintendent via
student artifacts generated with the oversight of a local superintendent and LEED faculty members.
Candidates for the EdD program must have a minimum of:
• A master’s degree in an education-related area
• 3-5 years of proven educational leadership and/or supervisor experience.
The next cohort will begin during 2
nd
Summer, 2023 (end of June). The application for the 2023 cohort will be
available in summer 2022. The application deadline is March 15, 2023.
Following the initial review of the completed applications and required materials, faculty identify applicants
they wish to bring to campus for face-to-face interview.
Department of Educational Leadership
210 Ragsdale Building | Mail Stop 515 | East Carolina University | Greenville, NC 27858-4353
252-328-6135 office | 252-328-4062 fax | https://education.ecu.edu/leed
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Additional EdD Program Details:
Start of program: once per year – during the 2nd summer term (last week in June)
Length of time required: three years/60 credit hours
Delivery method: hybrid model with coursework delivered approximately 80% online and 20% face-to-face.
Students are required to attend all course meetings, both face-to-face and online. We do not offer a
completely online program option.
Location of face-to-face meetings: off campus partner locations (schools, community colleges, etc.), which
vary each year based on the location of most of the students – past cohorts have been in Nash, Edgecombe,
Johnston, Wilson, Wayne, Greene, and Lenoir counties.
Number of students admitted: the EdD is a very competitive program and receives more applications than
seats available for each cohort. LEED evaluates the number of current EdD students to determine the number
of available seats for each incoming cohort. Cohorts for each concentration are typically between 12 and 15
students.
Tuition: approximately $17,400. Courses are classified as Distance Education at approximately $290 per credit
hour (about 1/3 the cost of on-campus courses). All courses are 3 semester hours, which equates to
approximately $870 per course.
Schedule: students take 2 courses per semester in the evenings, typically 5:30-8:30pm. The courses are
approximately 40% face-to-face and 60% online, which equates to approximately 4-6 face-to-face meetings
per class per semester. Courses for each cohort are always held on the same night of the week throughout the
program.
Dissertation work: Students begin dissertation work immediately within the first course, so admitted students
are encouraged to be prepared with a problem of practice relative to their current sphere of influence that
they would like to study. Students are matched with faculty dissertation chairs during the first fall semester.
This allows students the opportunity to work with and collect feedback from their course instructors, as well as
dissertation chairs, throughout the entirety of the program.
Tuition and Fees
Graduate Student Rate Per Semester Hour – Off Campus (Distance Education)
NC Resident: $ 289.11
Tuition and fees are subject to change based on legislative and university action. Out-of-State residents should
refer to the ECU Cashier website for more details and out-of-state rates.
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EdD Application and Admission Information
All application materials must be submitted through the ECU Graduate School online application process. The
application will be available in summer 2022 at https://gradschool.ecu.edu/apply.
Application deadline: March 15, 2023
EdD Application Requirements:
• Online application -- Complete the online application for Educational Leadership – EdD Summer II
2023 found on the Graduate School application website (available late summer 2022).
• Application fee – Submit the non-refundable $75 application fee (if applicable).
• Transcripts – You are required to submit official transcripts from all institutions attended within the
last 5 years and anywhere you earned a degree. Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted. All
documents must be submitted directly to ECU from your institution.
Electronic transcripts from your institution can be sent to the Graduate School via the following email
address: [email protected] or mailing address:
ECU Graduate School
Ragsdale 131, Mail Stop 570
Greenville, NC 27858.
• Current Teaching/Administration License -- K-12 Administration concentration candidates must
upload their current North Carolina teaching and school administration license.
• Current Resume -- Upload your current resume highlighting school/school system or higher education
leadership experiences.
• Statement of Purpose -- The statement of purpose should describe your motivation for pursuing the
EdD and how it will help you achieve your long-term professional goals.
• Three References – As indicated in the online application, submit the names and email addresses of 3
professional references (one should be from current supervisor).
• Writing Sample – Academic writing is a major component of the EdD program. We are seeking to
verify your ability to compose an analytical document supported by appropriate sources and utilizing
accurate APA style for citations. Upload an analytical essay, where you make a claim about an issue of
educational equity affecting your local context (500-1000 words). Use at least three peer-reviewed
resources to support your claim and cite the sources utilizing APA style.
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EdD Sample Course Schedule*
K12 Administration
SS 2
Fall 1
Spring 1
Fall 2
Spring 2
SS 1
Fall 3
Spring 3
LEED
8035
LEED
7429**
LEED
7470**
LEED
8015**
LEED
7408**
LEED
8025
LEED
8992**
LEED
8010
LEED
8410
LEED
8045
LEED
8420
LEED
8440
LEED
8020***
LEED
8991**
LEED
9000
LEED
9000
Higher Education Administration
SS 2
Fall 1
Spring 1
Fall 2
Spring 2
SS 1
Fall 3
Spring 3
LEED
8035
LDHE
8070
LEED
8010
LEED
8025
LEED
8020***
LDHE
8080
LEED
8027
LEED
7520
LEED
8410
LEED
8045
LEED
8420
LEED
8440
LEED
8015
LEED
7520
LEED
9000
LEED
9000
*Sample Course Schedule – subject to change as necessary
**Superintendent Licensure Courses
***International Study Abroad Experience
EdD Course Descriptions
Core Courses (21 s.h.)
LEED 8010. Organizational Theory and Culture. Application of organizational theory in educational
administration to social systems in education.
LEED 8020. Politics and Power in Education (International Experience option*). Formal process for developing
educational policy through federal, state, and local governments. Involvement and power of elected officials
and political parties. Impact of social issues, economics and other forces on educational policy development.
LEED 8025. Doctoral Seminar in Political and Social Issues in Educational Leadership. Process through which
political and social issues affect education. Analysis of some contemporary issues that affect NC.
LEED 8030. Educational Planning. Concepts, strategies, and practices of educational planning utilized for
school and school district leadership.
LEED 8035. Doctoral Seminar in Educational Leadership. Advanced study of theory, research, and exemplary
practice in changing nature of educational leadership.
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LEED 8050. Ethics in Educational Leadership. Applied ethics.
LEED 8060. Program Evaluation. Theory and research on program evaluation. Techniques used in designing,
implementing, and reporting program evaluations.
Research Courses (15 s.h.)
LEED 8045. Cases and Concepts in Educational Leadership. Key concepts of educational leadership examined
primarily through case study analysis.
LEED 8410. Advanced Research in Educational Leadership. Evaluation and use of quantitative and
qualitative research in the practice of educational leadership.
LEED 8420. Quantitative Research in Educational Leadership. Descriptive and inferential quantitative
methods used in educational research.
LEED 8430. Qualitative Research in Educational Leadership. Philosophy and methodology of various
forms of qualitative research used in educational leadership.
LEED 8440. Applied Research Design in Educational Leadership. Knowledge and skills needed to plan
and implement a major independent research project in educational leadership.
Dissertation Courses (6 s.h.)
LEED 9000. Dissertation.
LEED 9000. Dissertation.
Concentration Courses (18 s.h.)
Higher Education Administration
LEED 8027. Seminar in Higher Education Law & Public Policy. Legal system and how constitutional and case
law impact higher education practices. Analysis of educational policy development at federal, state, and
institutional levels.
LEED 8047. Student Development in Higher Education. Historical and philosophical foundations of student
development theory. Application of theory to best practices.
LDHE 8070. History and Philosophy of Higher Education. History and philosophy of the development /
sustainment of higher education systems
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LDHE 8080. Finance in Higher Education. How higher education is funded, issues, and challenges related to
funding
LEED 7520. Special Topics Seminar in Educational Leadership. Advanced topics in educational leadership
depending on student interest and current educational priorities.
LEED 7520. Special Topics Seminar in Educational Leadership. Advanced topics in educational leadership
depending on student interest and current educational priorities.
K12 Administration
LEED 7408. Public School Administration. Advanced course based on administrative principles and techniques
encountered by superintendents in NC schools. This is one of the courses designed to meet the NC
Superintendent’s License requirement.
LEED 7429. Problems in Educational Supervision. Advanced research of selected problem in supervision and
presentation of results for critical analysis and discussion. This is one the courses designed to meet the NC
Superintendent’s License requirement.
LEED 7470. School Business Management. Background necessary for efficient school system operations to
facilitate instruction. This is one of the courses designed to meet the NC Superintendent’s License requirement.
LEED 8015. Doctoral Seminar in Human Resource Development. Advanced study of theory, research, and
exemplary practice in developing human resources in educational organizations. This is one of the courses
designed to meet the NC Superintendent’s License requirement.
LEED 8991. Doctoral Internship: Leadership Practicum. Advanced internship. Participation in series of
structured and supervised field experiences at local, regional, and state levels. This is one of the courses
designed to meet the NC Superintendent’s License requirement.
LEED 8992. Doctoral Internship: Research Practicum. Advanced internship. In depth practical experience in
educational organization. Completion of field study at site. This is one of the courses designed to meet the NC
Superintendent’s License requirement.
Additional EdD Program and Application Information:
Heidi Puckett, Ed.D. | Teaching Assistant Professor
Director of Outreach & Leadership Development!
202 Ragsdale | Greenville, NC | 27858
[email protected] | edd@ecu.edu | www.ecu.edu/edleadership