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Ed. D. in Educational Leadership: Higher Education

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Program Overview

The Rowan Experience
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The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) program develops social justice leaders who are change agents, ethical leaders, and scholar-practitioners. By tightly connecting theory and practice in coursework, the program supports students in applying learning immediately in coursework and in the workplace. This program offers students a unique opportunity to engage in applied inquiry throughout the program with the deliberate focus on preparing practitioners to lead initiatives and organizations that redress inequities and promote social justice.

Curriculum
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The Ed. D. in Educational Leadership at Rowan University requires the completion of 60 graduate semester hours (s.h.) made up of 16 courses (48 s.h.) and 12 semester hours of dissertation. The program includes three distinct benchmarks. All cohorts are required to attend a one-day orientation in combination with an online orientation residency.

The following courses make up the Ed. D. in Educational Leadership: Higher Education Track program.

  • 16 Courses / 60 Semester Hours
  • Foundation Courses: No
  • Graduation / Exit / Thesis Requirements: Yes
Course Number Title S.H. (Credits)
Required Courses: 24 S.H.
EDST 27801 Leadership for Social Justice 3
EDST 27802 Inquiry I: Theory to Practice 3
EDST 27803 Reforming Organizations 3
EDST 27804 Inquiry II: Program Evaluation 3
EDST 27805 Public Policy, Ethics, and Contemporary Issues 3
EDST 27806 Inquiry III: Policy Inquiry, Analysis, and Entrepreneurship 3
EDST 27807 Sustainable Institutional Change 3
EDST 27808 Inquiry IV: Inquiry for Improvement 3
Higher Education Track Courses: 12 S.H.
EDST 27840 History and Context of American Higher Education 3
EDST 27841 Higher Education Governance and Leadership 3
EDST 27842 Legal and Administrative Issues in Postsecondary Education 3
EDST 27843 Leadership and Advocacy for Student Success 3
Required Dissertation Research Course: 24 S.H.
EDST 27809 Introduction to Writing a Literature Review 3
EDST 27810 Leader Scholar Community I 3
EDST 27811 Leader Scholar Community II 3
EDST 27812 Leader Scholar Community III 3
EDST 27895 Dissertation Research 12

Note: The courses listed above are not official and are subject to change. For an official list of available courses please visit the Rowan Global section tally.

Admission Requirements
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The following is a list of items required to begin the application process for the program. There may be additional actions or materials required for admission to the program. Upon receipt of the materials below, a representative from the Rowan Global Admissions Processing Office will contact you with confirmation or will indicate any missing items.

  • Completed Application Form
  • $65 (U.S.) non-refundable application fee
  • Master's degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution of higher learning
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended (regardless of number of credits earned)
  • Current professional resume
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Applicants with Master's degrees completed within the past 5 years should include as one of their recommenders an instructor from their Master's program.
  • Recommended GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale): While certification is not required for the program, the Faculty Admissions Committee asks applicants to please submit a copy of any educational certifications held.
  • Three typewritten essays as follows:

    • In 500 words of fewer, describe your reasons for wanting to enroll in the Educational Leadership Doctoral program.
    • In 500 words or fewer, describe the characteristics of an effective leader. In what ways do you demonstrate those characteristics? In what ways can you improve?
    • In 1000 words or fewer, describe a pressing issue facing education today. If it were your responsibility to address the issue on a national level, how would you approach the problem? With whom would you collaborate to develop your plan?
  • Interview with the Faculty Admissions Committee: Those selected to move forward by the Admissions Committee will be contacted directly regarding the interview. The interview can be in person or via telephone.
 
Career Outlook

Higher Education Career Paths and Job Opportunities

As a student in our Ed.D. in Educational Leadership: Higher Education program, you will strengthen your skills and better position yourself to pursue a variety of careers in the field of Higher Education. Check out the projected career outlook for a variety of job opportunities in Higher Education.

We invite you to join us for a

Virtual Information Session or Event

Rowan University hosts a series of on campus and virtual events throughout the year to help you get to know us. From general information sessions, to program specific meetings with advisors, to webinars on timely and thought-provoking topics, these gatherings provide an excellent opportunity to ask questions, network with academics and future students, and learn from some of the most innovative and informed faculty in higher education today.
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Admissions Information

Deadlines, Tuition & Financial Aid

    All of these pieces of the Ed.D. program — multitudes of research, the rigor, the accountability, speaking components — all factor into my job.

    Danielle J. Camden County, NJ

    Danielle sits in a bright pink chair
    I’ve deployed many strategies from the program around the different types of leadership, managing teams, working with colleagues of all levels and statuses.

    Jeff H. Burlington County, NJ

    Jeff standing outside of his home.
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WITH ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES

YOUR FUTURE AWAITS