Educational Leadership, EdD

Program Coordinator: Travis Lewis (222 Ragsdale Hall; 252-328-5485; edd@ecu.edu)

The Educational Leadership, EdD is designed to develop skills and abilities for individuals to resolve educational issues and problems. Program studies include leadership theory, human resource development, organizational theory, policy analysis, planning studies, curriculum and instructional leadership, and political systems analysis. The degree prepares senior level administrators for leadership positions in K-12 schools or in higher education. Degree requirements include successfully designing, conducting, and defending an action research-based dissertation under the direction of an appropriate faculty member and a dissertation committee. The program offers two concentrations. Students select either the K-12 administration concentration or the higher education concentration. 

A minimum of 60 semester hours beyond a master’s degree is required. Students that earned the Educational Administration and Supervision, EdS from ECU may double-count 27 s.h. toward the 60 s.h. required in the EdD program.

Candidates seeking the EdD with a focus on public school administration must hold Level I licensure in administration or supervision. Upon completion of the program, individuals are eligible to upgrade previously held licenses. Individuals holding administration license (012, class M or class AP) and/or (011, class AS) are eligible for (012, class DP) and superintendent license (011, class DS). Individuals holding supervision license (113, class S) are eligible for curriculum-instructional specialist (113, class D). Candidates seeking the EdD with a concentration in higher education administration are not required to hold a previous license and are not eligible for North Carolina license in administration or supervision upon completion of the program.

In addition, it is required for all EdD program candidates to have a minimum of three years of successful leadership experience.

The degree requires a minimum of 60 s.h. as follows: