Doctorate (Ed.D.) in
Educational Leadership

Program Components • Program Delivery • Admissions

The Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership (702*/13.0401) is designed for potential and practicing educational leaders in public schools and community colleges who wish to develop and refine their leadership capabilities in educational organizations. The goals of the program include: 1) to introduce students to the methodologies of critical analysis or educational theory and practices; 2) to engage students in disciplined inquiry in the field of education; 3) to prepare students for making a contribution to educational theory and practice; and, 4) to prepare students to become leaders in the diverse world in which educational institutions exist.

The Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University is accredited by The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and The North Carolina Department of Public Education. The Cratis William Graduate School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In cooperation with the Office of Extension and Distance Education, the Reich College of Education delivers the doctorate in educational Leadership degree to selected sites in western NC. (see Proposed New Programs.)

Major Program Components:

Students in this off-campus cohort will begin by attending classes one day per week at the Hickory Metro Higher Education Center. Two classes will be offered each semester at 3 pm and 6 pm. The program is designed to allow students to complete the coursework in 2 1/2 years (prior to beginning work on the qualifying exam, prospectus and dissertation). After completing up to 36 semester hours the student must complete a qualifying exam. This exam allows the student to continue the process leading to a dissertation. At that point, students will meet with faculty in Boone. Students work closely with a faculty committee composed of three to five faculty members throughout the dissertation. One or more of the committee members will represent the student's area of concentration and the other faculty members will be selected from other areas of leadership and research designs.

A General Knowledge Core in educational administration (36 credit hours)

A Concentration comprised of courses related to the students' area of interest (12 credit hours) The Doctoral Program accepts students into the program for North Carolina licensure as district level school leaders, and educational leadership opportunities in community colleges and other educational organizations.

A Qualifying Examination and a dissertation proposal completed prior to starting formal work on the dissertation

A Dissertation that addresses a significant problem in, or related to, education (6 credit hours minimum)

During the first two years of the program, students are expected to take six to seven consecutive credit hours each semester. To qualify as a full-time graduate student by the Graduate School , a student must be enrolled for nine credit hours.

Off-Campus Program Delivery:

The courses required for the EdD degree in Educational Leadership will be delivered to the designated off-campus site. Appalachian State University faculty will teach each course; and, a combination of instructional strategies and course delivery systems may be employed. The modes of delivery may include: the instructor's being present at the site; web-based instruction; and/or live interactive two-way, audio-video sessions. Generally, two courses will be provided each term. Face-to-face courses will be conducted primarily during the late afternoons and evenings (e.g., 3:00 and 6:00 pm one evening a week for 15 weeks). The program will be cohort-based, meaning the group of identified students who enter this program will begin together and continue together through the specified sequence of required courses leading to the degree. The courses in each cohort will be offered only once, so a student must be prepared to take the courses as they are made available.

Requirements for Admission:

To be considered for admission to this off campus Ed.D cohort, a prospective student must possess a specialist degree (Ed.S.) from either the School Administration or Higher Education programs at Appalachian State University which may be exempted from 30 credit hours in the doctoral program. Up to nine Ed.S. credit hours from other universities may be credited toward exemption. Candidates whose previous graduate preparation lies outside the domains of educational leadership/administration or whose background in research is limited may be required to take additional prerequisite courses.

In addition to the application form and $45 fee, applicants must present the following :

Scores from the Graduate Record Exam ( GRE ) no older than 5 (five) years— unless the GRE score appears on a validated transcript or in ASU system . Applicants must have a GRE score of 400 on the Verbal, 400 on the Quantitative, and a score of 4.0 or better on the Analytical Writing sections.

Four letters of recommendation (including one from a chief administrative officer in your place of work and three from professional sources qualified to speak to your leadership ability or potential).

A current curriculum vita.

Official transcripts of a baccalaureate and master's degrees, and all other college work.

Evidence of a minimum of three years appropriate work experience.

A letter of intent about why you want to enroll in this doctoral program (this could serve as a writing sample).

An interview with the Director of the Doctoral Program should be scheduled prior to the closing date for completed applications on April 1st.

The Admissions Committee may require an applicant to submit a writing sample prior to a final decision being made on an applicant. For additional admissions information Click Here

For departmental information Click Here

To make a request of the Office of Extension and Distance Education Click Here