Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership

Designed with flexibility in mind, the Dissertation Completion Pathway can help you finish your doctorate in 2 to 4 years! 

The program is designed for students to complete in two years, but students can take up to four years to complete. Students who are not able to begin the program in July may work with the program coordinator to design an individualized pathway. An individualized pathway allows the student to begin coursework in August or January but does not provide the student with the cohort experience that is often an essential element of student success. Students are strongly encouraged to begin the program in July as part of a dissertation completion pathway cohort. 

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• A customized and individualized course of study, with a focus on current problems of practice, the dissertation process, and research in educational leadership 
• Coaching toward the completion of a doctoral dissertation 
• Supportive, cohort-based model of teaching and learning 
• A flexible schedule and a career-friendly online class format  
• The ability to transfer up to 39 doctoral credits from an accredited program toward the 59-credit requirement. (Transfer eligibility determined by individual transcript review.) 
• An optimal two-year timeframe to complete the degree  

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This pathway is a cohort-based, online program delivered in hybrid format: Students will receive a combination of synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning.  A new cohort is admitted each Spring to begin coursework in early July.  

 

• Most sessions will be once a week (Mondays) from 7:00 to 8:30 pm to accommodate different time zones
• Zoom (supplemented with TEAMS/ Blackboard Collaborate) is the platform that will be used for synchronous classes
• Students will need access to a computer that has a strong internet connection, and are advised to have a headset to reduce echo from speakers

 

The program is structured as follows: 

Year 1:
Summer Term 1
Residency (July 8-10)
EDAD 8300: Literature Review course (3 credits)
*launches during residency, and extends through end of September, overlapping with fall course

Fall Term 2
EDAD 8183: Research Methods Refresher (3 credits)

Summer Term 4
EDAD 8190: Dissertation Supervision

Fall 2022/Term 5
EDAD 8190: Dissertation Supervision

Winter
EDAD 8181: APA 101 (1-credit) - optional

Spring Term 6
EDAD 8190: Dissertation Supervision and/or
EDAD 8152: Finish Strong Writing Seminar (2 credits)

Final Defense

May Graduation

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You must have advanced to candidacy or reached all-but-dissertation (ABD) status in order to be accepted into the Dissertation Completion Pathway. Exceptions may be made as determined by the Admissions Committee. 

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