General Program Information
Ginger Christian, Ed.D., Graduate Coordinator
504 Warf-Pickel Hall
Box 70550
(423) 439-7623
e-mail: christiang@etsu.edu
Faculty: Ginger Christian; 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.
Educational Leadership, Ed.S.
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 dissertation 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.
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. In addition to the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies applicants must also submit the following:
1. A one-page letter (essay) stating interest in the Ed.D. School Leadership Concentration;
2. A vita or resume with a list of four professional references including contact information
Ed.S./ Ed.D.
Students who are accepted into the Ed.D. School Leadership Concentration or Administrative Endorsement Concentration will earn the Ed.S. in School System Leadership or Administrative Endorsement enroute to the Ed.D. This articulation is only for students who apply directly to the Ed.D. Students who do not complete the Ed.D. will be awarded an Ed.S. providing all requirements are met for the Ed.S. degree. Students seeking a terminal Ed.S. degree only must apply to the Ed.S program.
Return to: