Doctorate in Educational Leadership

The educational leadership doctorate (Doctor of Education, Ed.D.) is a part-time program designed to offer K-12 educational administrators and leaders a unique, research-focused approach to advanced educational leadership studies.

The doctorate program in Educational Leadership is a non-licensure program with in-person and online courses. It combines authentic scholarly inquiry with exposure to site-based best practices. It requires commitment to the pursuit of four ambitious goals: in-depth inquiry and research on issues and topics related to educational administration and leadership, leadership for improvement in teaching and learning, equality and social justice for all students, and the development of schools as democratic communities.

Through classwork and internships provided by the School of Education, doctoral students learn instructional leadership, data-driven decision-making, talent management, school culture. They cultivate various skills for elevating the school experience for students, teachers, parents, and other key employees.

Educational Leadership, Ed.D. Program Distinctions

UNC Greensboro’s School of Education is one of the premiere institutions for raising up educational leaders and administrators. It was named one of the “Top Graduate Schools of Education” by the U.S. News & World Report. More than a dozen superintendents currently leading North Carolina public school districts graduated from UNCG.

The School of Education is home to Principal Preparation for Excellence and Equity in Rural Schools (PPEERS), an award-winning educational leadership preparation program. This partnership with rural districts helps them find, recruit, and retain school principals. PPEERS readies participants with rigorous 10 courses, paid internships, summer institutes, leadership assessments, coaching, and other enrichment exercises.

The Department of Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations (ELC) offers comprehensive training in key leadership domains—instructional, managerial, cultural, and micro-political—each aligned with the North Carolina Standards for School Executives. Students explore critical topics in these areas:

• Community and family engagement
• Culturally responsive leadership
• Student and school achievement
• Conflict resolution

Educational Leadership, Ed.D. Student Experience

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a 54 credit part-time, non-licensure program delivered through a convenient and effective blend of hybrid face-to-face courses at UNCG and online courses. Its blended delivery model allows students to establish vital interpersonal connections, choose graduate courses that suit their interests, experience meaningful learning opportunities, and enjoy significant flexibility to complete their studies while also attending to their personal and professional obligations.

Ed.D. students are admitted each summer in cohorts that complete 2 years of formal coursework followed by students working independently on their dissertations, a timeline that provides students the opportunity to complete the EdD program and earn their doctorate within 3-4 years.

Outside the classroom and internship experience, ELC hosts annual conferences to explore topical issues and generate community-engaged discussions between students, faculty, fellow educators, and other stakeholders.

• Brock’s Critical Conversations Conference: A space for dialogues addressing the current socio-political climate in the United States. A central goal of the conversations is for participants to walk away with a set of pedagogical tools to use in their practice and daily lives.
• Rebecca Carver Institute on Experiential Learning (RCI): An annual event that introduces participants to experiential education with steps to implement it in their own learning environments.

After Graduating with an Educational Leadership, Ed.D.

With their doctorate in Educational Leadership, UNC Greensboro graduates go on to work in K-12 central office administration, school leadership, educational coaching and consulting, and professor.

Additional information

The UNC Greensboro School of Education’s and Graduate School’s formal admission requirements specify the following for doctoral programs:

• A master’s degree from an accredited institution.
• A GPA of 3.0 or higher in the Master’s degree.

The Ed.D. application deadline is March 15. The program starts in the summer semester (mid-May).

The ELC department’s formal admission requirements and documents for admission to the Ed.D. program are the following:

• Master’s degree with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better
• 3 letters of recommendation from people who can speak to the applicant’s leadership potential and academic abilities
• Transcripts from all universities the applicant has attended
• A resumé that provides detailed information regarding the applicant’s previous professional and leadership experiences
• A personal statement of 1500-3000 words that addresses the applicant’s career goals and why they want to pursue a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership in UNCG’s ELC Department. In the statement, the applicant will address how their work and career goals relate to ELC’s Statement of Commitments.

Admissions decisions are based on an applicant’s full set of application materials. All evidence about a prospective student will be considered in making admissions decisions. Faculty members engage in a collaborative review of applicants.