Educational Leadership, Ed.D. (Administrative Endorsement Concentration)

General Program Information

Virginia Foley, Ed.D., Graduate Coordinator
502 Warf-Pickel Hall
Box 70550
(423) 439-4430
e-mail: foleyv@etsu.edu

Faculty: William Flora; Virginia Foley; Pamela Scott.

The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis has as its primary purpose the graduate preparation of individuals who will serve as educational leaders in K-12 schools and other organizations/agencies that offer educational programs and services. Programs in the department are approved by the Tennessee Department of Education. Student programs are designed to develop educational leaders through the study and practical application of educational foundations, theory, research, and practice.

Program Admission Requirements

​An applicant seeking admission to a doctoral degree program must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree. For doctoral programs that will admit students with only a bachelor’s degree, a minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA (on a 4.0 scale) is required however most doctoral degree programs have higher requirements. International students are subject to additional specific requirements and should refer to the appropriate sections in this document or in the graduate catalog. The following must be submitted before an applicant will be considered for admission:

1. Nonrefundable application fee.
2. A completed application form.
3. One official transcript from each undergraduate or graduate institution attended, except previous coursework taken at ETSU. Applications will not be considered without all transcripts. For applicants seeking a Tennessee Instructional Leader license, the GPA for the applicant will be considered in context of the overall cohort GPA average, which must meet or exceed the accrediting body’s (Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation) minimum of 3.0. ​
4. A personal essay.
5. Four (4) letters of recommendation.
6. All applicants must submit a current resume with their application.

Educational Leadership, Ed.D.

Students admitted to this concentration are members of a cohort with a planned sequence of courses comprised of six credits each fall, spring, and summer semester.

The qualifying exam is scheduled at the end of the student’s coursework and has both written and oral components. An application for candidacy for the doctoral degree is submitted upon successful completion of the qualifying exam.

A doctoral candidate will identify a dissertation topic, conduct research, and write the paper with the guidance of a dissertation committee. The dissertation is a major component of the doctoral degree. Each doctoral candidate must register for a minimum of three credits of ELPA 7960 - Doctoral Dissertation  each semester, including Summer, until completing the required 12 - 24 credits. Students exceeding 24 credits of dissertation will enroll in ELPA 7990 - Readings and Research  each semester, including summer, until the successful dissertation defense.

Educational Leadership, Ed.D. Degree Requirements: 66-78 credits

For qualified students already possessing valid master’s degrees, or the equivalent, and seeking an Ed.D. degree leading toward endorsement as a Beginning Administrator, the requirements are for a program of 66-78 credits. 

Educational Leadership, Ed.D. Core Requirements: 18 credits

• ELPA 6450 - Leadership Studies (3 credits)
• ELPA 6810 - Theories of Administration (3 credits)
• ELPA 7810 - Educational Statistics (3 credits)
• ELPA 7811 - Quantitative Research (3 credits)
• ELPA 7812 - Qualitative Research (3 credits)
• ELPA 7813 - Research in Educational Leadership (3 credits)

Administrative Endorsement Concentration: 36 credits

• ELPA 6100 - Interpersonal Relations (6 credits)
• ELPA 6200 - Emerging Perspectives Influencing the School (6 credits)
• ELPA 6300 - Professional Needs of Individuals and Groups (6 credits)
• ELPA 6400 - Developing Learners Through Instructional Leadership (6 credits)
• ELPA 6500 - Implementation Strategies: Making It Happen (6 credits)
• ELPA 6600 - Shaping the Quality and Character of the Institution (6 credits)

Dissertation: 12-24 credits

• ELPA 7960 - Doctoral Dissertation (1-12 credits)

Students with Ed.S.: 42-54 credits*

* For qualified students already possessing valid Educational Specialist’s degrees, or their equivalent, and seeking an Ed.D. degree leading toward endorsement as a Beginning Administrator, the requirements are for a program of 42-54 credits.

Educational Leadership, Ed.D. Core Requirements: 18 credits*

• ELPA 6450 - Leadership Studies (3 credits)
• ELPA 6810 - Theories of Administration (3 credits)
• ELPA 7810 - Educational Statistics (3 credits)
• ELPA 7811 - Quantitative Research (3 credits)
• ELPA 7812 - Qualitative Research (3 credits)
• ELPA 7813 - Research in Educational Leadership (3 credits)

Administrative Endorsement Concentration: 12 credits*

• ELPA 6100 - Interpersonal Relations (6 credits)
• ELPA 6200 - Emerging Perspectives Influencing the School (6 credits)

Dissertation: 12-24 credits*

• ELPA 7960 - Doctoral Dissertation (1-12 credits)

Note:

In order to meet the coursework requirements for certification, students in this program concentration area would also be required to take ELPA 6300 , ELPA 6400 , ELPA 6500 , and ELPA 6600 .