Earn an online doctorate in education leadership today

DePaul offers a fully online PhD in Global Education Leadership. Tailored to fit around your busy schedule, our flexible program allows you to choose when you learn. You can decide how quickly you want to earn your degree by enrolling either full- or part-time.

Throughout your program coursework, you’ll gain an effective blend of current theory and real-world experience. Here, you’ll critically examine educational leadership as you become equipped with the tools you’ll need to promote the socially conscious leadership of schools and organizations.

As you pursue your online doctorate in Global Educational leadership, you’ll choose one of three concentrations.

• The General concentration provides a rich knowledge base to analyze administrative practices with a focus on pre-K–12 education, higher education and related fields.
• By choosing the Global Catholic concentration, you’ll become equipped to lead within Catholic organizations across the globe. You’ll learn to understand and apply Catholic social teachings within the context of leadership practices from a global lens.
• The International Baccalaureate concentration provides you with an International Baccalaureate Educator Certificate in Leadership Practices, alongside the PhD degree. You’ll learn to demonstrate the habits of mind and leadership, which are the foundation of an IB school.

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A world-class experience full of connections at your fingertips

Here, you’ll hone your skills, build your knowledge and expand your perspective. By studying exclusively online, you’ll gain access to the experiences of educators around the United States and around the world. You’ll see how instructors, students, theories and resources can connect through a common mission.

Application Deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a continuous basis. Priority deadlines for scholarships are:

• Fall: August 15
• Winter: December 1
• Spring: March 1
• Summer: May 1?

Admission Requirements

Submit an online application, official transcripts, résumé, letters of recommendation, a personal statement and a writing sample.

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Required Courses

You’ll take six core courses, seven research courses, an elective, four concentration courses and two dissertation courses.

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No.4

DePaul’s Educational Leadership doctoral program stands as the 4th largest in the country.

 

96%

of Educational Leadership graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

Alumni Network

As a leader in education, you join a worldwide community of educators in administration, in positions ranging from principals, curriculum directors, superintendents, enrollment managers and more.

Scholarships

Graduate school is an investment in your future. Learn more about the financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to you.

PhD Program Admission Requirements

Admission Eligibility

To be eligible for the Global Educational Leadership doctoral program, students must hold a master's degree from an accredited institution and have a previous GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale. In addition, students should have experience in an educational role and demonstration of leadership or leadership potential.

Application Requirements

A complete application to the PhD program will include the following materials:

• Graduate admission application
• $40 application fee
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which should be from faculty in the applicant's master's program. For applicants for whom current or updated letters are not feasible, due to the number of years since receiving their master's degree, other professional letters of recommendation will be considered.
• A personal statement (approximately three pages) in which the applicant discusses why he or she is interested in furthering their own education as a student and articulates an issue or problem of interest or concern.
• A writing sample, preferably a course paper from the applicant's master's program or applicants can write a short response to questions provided by the Educational Leadership program - Alternative Writing Prompt

Applicants may be invited to attend an interview with PhD program faculty as part of the application process. Interviews are held either at the Lincoln Park campus or by phone, depending on an applicant's availability. The Office of Graduate Admission contacts applicants to schedule the interview if one will be required.

Applicants who have earned a degree outside of the U.S. or who will be considered international students must submit additional materials. Visit our International Students page for more information.

Applicants can upload supplemental application materials, send requests for letters of recommendation, and pay the application fee through our online application system.

Application Deadlines

The PhD program admits new students every fall and winter quarter. It offers rolling admission, but regular deadlines are set for each term to assure students full consideration for admission and financial aid. The program will continue to accept and process applications after the regular deadline if space is available.

Term	Deadline
Fall	August 15
Winter	December 1

*The PhD program admits students all year on a rolling basis; however, most students admitted for the summer term will begin classes the following fall quarter.

Applicants typically receive an admission decision 4-6 weeks after submitting a complete application.

Information Sessions

Learn more about the Global Educational Leadership PhD program and meet with program faculty at an upcoming information session.

Degree Requirements

PhD Degree Requirements

Specific degree requirements are determined according to the concentration chosen by the student. Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) concentrations are available in Standard Concentration, International Baccalaureate, and Global Catholic.

Please review the concentration requirements pages for more information.

Please note: a dissertation of original research is completed for all Global Educational Leadership PhD concentrations in conjunction with faculty advisement. Preparation for the writing of the dissertation includes a Candidacy Paper and Dissertation Proposal. Oral examination for Candidacy, Dissertation Proposal and Dissertation are required. Consult the Doctoral Program Handbook for additional information.

Academic Standards

Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 prior to the completion of 36 credit hours and 3.3 after the completion of 36 credit hours. Students are allowed no more than two grades of “C.” Upon receiving a third grade of “C,” students must retake the class in which the grade was received. Grades of “D” and “F” require that the course be retaken.

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