Ed.D. in Educational Leadership

National Louis Univeristy's Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) is a three-year, advanced practitioner-oriented professional preparation program for school district or system leaders. Though it officially targets certification for the superintendency, the Educational Leadership program prepares leaders for a variety of roles in schools, districts, charter organizations, technical assistance organizations, policy and political organizations, and government.

Consider getting your Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at NLU if you:

• Want to pursue your Illinois Type 75 Superintendent endorsement or other educational leadership credentials as stipulated by state or district requirements in your area
• Are interested in a blended program where you experience online learning along with regular face-to-face meetings
• Possess the desire and determination to complete your degree in three years

Why NLU for and Ed.D. - Educational Leadership

NLU has a long-standing reputation for its education and teacher training programs, and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Since 1886, NLU has trained thousands of educators and continue to graduate the majority of Illinois' Golden Apple Award winners — one of the most prestigious teacher honors in the state.

The three-year doctoral program is offered in a cohort format. Cohorts may meet one weekend per month in a weekend residency with classes held on Friday night, Saturday morning and afternoon. Cohorts are also offered in the more traditional model of meeting every week on a specified weeknight. All cohorts have a strong online presence using our Learning Management System for discussions, retrieval of materials, and submission of assignments. The dissertation is on-going through-out the program and is complete at the end of the third year. In addition, the internship component is completed during the three years with students working closely with a faculty internship advisor and practicing superintendent.

What You Will Learn

Combining structured curriculum through coursework and internship experiences, the program integrates theory, research and practice into a cohesive plan of study for educational leaders. The focus will be on:

• Teaching and Learning
• Change Leadership
• Policy Analysis and Advocacy

Career Outlook

Employment of education administrators is expected to grow by about eight percent through the remainder of the decade. The expected growth is primarily the result of increased enrollments of school-aged children. The number of administrative positions will continue to increase as more administrative responsibilities are placed on individual schools, particularly with regard to monitoring student achievement. Student enrollment in post-secondary schools is projected to grow more rapidly than in elementary and middle schools.¹

Admission Requirements

There are two options for students admitted to the Ed.D. - Educational Leadership program.

• Option One: Students seeking the superintendent's endorsement. Students choosing option one must hold an Illinois Type 75, Wisconsin Type 51, or other state-approved principal's certification upon admission.
• Option Two: Students not seeking the superintendent's endorsement. Students choosing option two may be admitted without a principal certification. However, this option does not lead to certification, either principal or superintendent, upon completion of the program.

In addition to admission requirements set forth by the Foster G. McGaw Graduate School, applicants for doctoral study in Educational Leadership are to document evidence of at least two years of leadership in the educational field. During the admission interview, the applicant is asked to share educational background, experience, career and research interests, and applicability of this program to the applicant's goals.

Candidates may bring in up to 12 semester hours from another doctoral program if approved by faculty and not part of another degree program that has been completed. Candidates who have completed the Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Educational Leadership degree at National Louis may bring in up to 6 semester hours of internship credit toward the doctoral degree upon the approval of the director of the educational leadership doctoral program, or designee.

Refer to the appropriate application checklist available online at www.nl.edu/applyonline.