Grow your career with a doctorate in Educational Leadership

The Educational Leadership doctoral program examines the human, organizational, political, social and technical systems of educational institutions. With a doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdD) you’ll be committed to socially-just leadership and the transformation of education at the local, regional and national levels.

All in-person classes meet in the evenings on the Lincoln Park Campus. The program can be completed in just over three years.

In our doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdD) program, you’ll have the option to pursue one of three concentrations:

• General Concentration
  The General Concentration provides a rich knowledge base to analyze administrative practices with a focus on PK-12 education. You can attend full-time or part-time.

• Global Catholic Educational Leadership (GCEL)
  The GCEL concentration will prepare you to be a transformational leader at any level in Catholic educational institutions. The program focuses on issues specific to Catholic education. You’ll be challenged to expand your perspective and take action as an ally and activist for Catholic educational reform and social justice. This program is offered entirely online.

• Higher Education
  The Higher Education concentration focuses on the specific needs of higher education institutions. You’ll be prepared for a leadership, administrative, policy or management position at a college or university.

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Real opportunities to learn and lead

The Archdiocese of Chicago is the country’s largest private school system, and Chicago Public Schools is the nation’s fourth-largest public school district. DePaul’s proximity gives you access to professional relationships as well as research and job opportunities.

Application Deadlines

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

• 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, five research courses, an elective, five concentration courses and complete two dissertation courses. An internship is required for superintendent licensure.

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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.

Expert instruction in school leadership

Associate Professor and award-winning author Andrea Kayne brings her background in both education and law to the practice of educational leadership. You’ll learn from her experiences in classes like School Law, Politics of Schooling, and Community and Consensus Building for School Improvement.

“My understanding of social justice and otherness affects virtually everything I do, and we're better for it. It gives others confidence that their leader has command of theory and practice. Be ready to evolve, learn, grow and change. DePaul is amazing at this. If you're ready to improve, you will.”

Jeff (EdD ’11)

Superintendent, Community Consolidated School District 146

Alumni Network

As a Doctor of Education, you join a community of educators in building-level administration as principals, district-level administration as curriculum directors and superintendents, and at the university level as directors of enrollment systems. Educational Leadership EdD’s are currently leaders at City Colleges of Chicago, Dominican University, Harvard CUSD #50, Steger School District 194, District 97 and Chicago Public Library Foundation.

Scholarships

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

EdD Program Admission Requirements

Admission Eligibility

To be eligible for the 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 EdD 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 EdD 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.

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to program and admission requirements for the educational doctorate program, students choosing to apply to one of the additional endorsement options are required to fulfill the following requirements.

Teacher Leader Endorsement

• A copy of a valid Illinois teaching license
• Proof of at least two years of full-time teaching experience
• Two letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors
• Statement of purpose indicating professional development goals and related experience (750 words)

Principal Endorsement

• A copy of a valid Illinois teaching license
• Proof of at least two years of full-time teaching experience within the last five
• One letter from district office recommending entrance into the principal preparation program
• Two letters of recommendation (one from your supervisor and one from a colleague) - These take the place of the three letters of recommendation required for admission to the PhD program
• Statement of purpose indicating why you want to be a principal
• Upon initial review, the process will include a required interview. Candidates will be expected to complete on on-site writing sample during the interview and submit a teaching portfolio.

Superintendent Endorsement

• Students must already have the general administrative (K-12) or principal (preK-12) endorsement added to their professional educator license
• Proof of at least two years of full-time administrative experience on a valid administrative license with the general administrative endorsement

Application Deadlines

The EdD program admits new students every quarter: fall, winter, spring and summer. 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
Spring	March 1
Summer*	May 1

*The EdD 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 Educational Leadership EdD program and meet with program faculty at an upcoming information session.

Degree Requirements

Specific degree requirements are determined according to the concentration chosen by the student. Doctorate of Education (EdD.) concentrations are available in General Concentration, Higher Education, and Global Catholic Educational.

Please review the concentration requirements pages for more information.

Please note: a dissertation of original research is completed for all Educational Leadership EdD 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 EdD Program Handbook for additional information. 

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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