Educational Leadership (Doctoral)

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Doctoral Programs and Requirements

Degree
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
          Educational and Organizational Leadership (Ed.D.)          
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The Department of Educational Leadership offers a doctorate in education (Ed.D.), a program designed for students interested in leadership from a faith-based perspective as applied to educational institutions and other organizations. 

See the Advisement subsection for contact information.

Doctor of Education in Educational and Organizational Leadership (Ed.D.)

The educational doctorate program (Ed.D.) requires 66 semester credits above the master of science degree. Students first complete either 30 graduate level semester hours beyond a master’s degree (in any field) or 30 graduate level semester hours in an educational specialist program and then begin 36 credits of coursework for the Ed.D. degree. The curriculum is organized into three broad areas: 1) Core Leadership courses (18 hours), 2) Research courses (9 hours), and 3) Dissertation Courses (9 hours).

Doctoral Admission Standards for Educational and Organizational Leadership

Admission Requirements

1. Completion of application and payment of application fee.
2. Receipt of one official transcript from all institutions attended.
3. Satisfactory performance on scholarly writing sample.
4. Two letters of reference. One must be from an individual who has knowledge of the applicant’s academic potential as a researcher and scholar.
5. Satisfactory interview with the admissions committee.

The admissions committee will evaluate each candidate on a case-by-case basis and render a decision. Applicants who are not initially admitted may reapply for admission one time. 

Unconditional Admission

1. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.75 in prior graduate degree(s). Coursework completed for non-degree purposes will not be considered in admission decisions.
2. Satisfactory completion of other admission criteria as stated above.

NOTE: There is no option of conditional admission to the doctoral program in educational and organizational leadership.

Transfer Credit

In traditional graduate studies, a student may transfer up to six semester hours of graduate credit from an accredited four-year college or university which has a state-approved graduate program in the major or in teacher education. Exceptions may be granted by the dean of the School of Education. After application to the program is received, transfer credits will be evaluated by the department chair for applicability to the Samford program. Transfer credits more than six years old may not be accepted.

Tuition Scholarships

Tuition scholarships are not available for doctoral students. A limited number of merit-based scholarships are available as students matriculate through the program. See the Advisement section for contact information.

Retention and Completion

Students on the Ed.D. level must maintain a GPA of 3.50. All students must follow a prescribed course of study and must complete the degree within six years. Following completion of the core courses, doctoral students must take and pass a comprehensive examination. At the end of any semester, a student whose cumulative GPA falls below the required minimum (3.50) may not continue in the program. Any grade below a C- shall not be counted for credit and the course must be retaken. While final course grades may be appealed through a formal institutional process, dismissal for GPA is final and cannot be appealed.  

Readmission

Students who discontinue or leave the program with a 3.50 GPA or higher, may petition for readmission within three years of the last full semester of attendance. Readmitted students must meet current curricular expectations and program policies and procedures. Exceptions are granted only by the dean of the School of Education. Students who are dismissed for GPA reasons are not eligible for future graduate studies in Orlean Beeson School of Education. 

Advisement

Frequent meetings with the director of graduate student services, who serves as academic advisor, are required throughout the doctoral program as the advisor will determine a student’s registration and program of study.

Requests for information about or applications to the doctoral program should be addressed to the Graduate Admissions Office, (205) 726-4337, Orlean Beeson School of Education, Room 210.

Programs

• Educational and Organizational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Courses

• EDLD 700 - Foundations of Leadership Studies (3)
• EDLD 731 - Policy Development and Analysis (3)
• EDLD 734 - Leadership Planning (3)
• EDLD 735 - Ethical and Faith-Informed Leadership (3)
• EDLD 737 - Organizational Dynamics and Planning (3)
• EDLD 744 - Trends in Executive Leadership (3)
• EDLD 745 - Negotiation, Conflict, and Crisis Management (3)
• EDLD 780 - Research Design (3)
• EDLD 781 - Foundations of Qualitative Inquiry (3)
• EDLD 782 - Foundations of Quantitative Statistics (3)
• EDLD 794 - Dissertation Seminar I (3)
• EDLD 796 - Dissertation Seminar II (3)
• EDLD 798 - Dissertation Seminar III (3)
• EDLD 799 - Directed Doctoral Study (1-3)

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