Program Overview

100% online
The Doctorate (EdD) in Educational Leadership and Administration is a post-master’s professional degree program for qualified candidates who wish to pursue the terminal degree in Educational Leadership. The program is designed to further develop experienced leaders in the areas of school improvement, strategic planning and institutional development, and other areas of critical need in education. The EdD program is designed to build candidates’ critical understanding and expert use of transformational leadership skills as a means to develop integrated professionals who are prepared to actively and knowledgeably engage within institutional contexts of constant challenge and innovation. Candidates critically review and robustly construct knowledge in educational policy, data analysis, educational planning in conjunction with leadership theories, through discourse-rich coursework and field-centered projects. The knowledge and application of research demonstrated through dissertation work are integral components of the doctoral program experience. Candidates are prepared to lead change and develop organizations to effectively succeed in local and global educational contexts. This degree is not designed to meet the requirements for GaPSC certification. Candidates who have an Ed.S. will be allowed to transfer up to 9 hours into the program upon approval.

Next Enrollment Fall 2025

Thank you for your interest in the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at Kennesaw State University. Please note that we do not plan accept applications for Fall 2024. If you have specific questions, please contact Dr. Sheryl Croft atscroft10@kennesaw.edu. We look forward to your applications in 2023 and 2025.

Courses

Research Core Courses (12 Hours)

  • EDRS 8100 Research: Qualitative (3 credit hours)
  • EDRS 8200 Research: Quantitative (3 credit hours)
  • EDRS 9100 Advanced Qualitative Research (3 credit hours)

OR

  • EDRS 9200 Advanced Quantitative Research (3 credit hours)
  • EDRS 9300 Doctoral Seminar (3 credit hours)
    (EDRS 8100, 8200, and either 9100 or 9200 are prerequisites)

Leadership Required Concentration Courses (15 hours)

  • EDL 9000* Academic Discourse
  • EDL 9345 Legal Issues and Ethics for Educational Leaders (3 credit hours)
  • EDL 9860 Politics, Power, and Practice for Educational Leaders (3 credit hours)
  • EDL 9890 Strategic Planning, Curriculum, and Assessment in Education (3 credit hours)
  • EDL 9600* Dissertation Methods in Leadership Practice (3 credit hours)

*This course should be taken with EDRS 9300 and students should take their comps in this class.

School Leadership Elective Courses (Select 12 hours) * (Any of the concentrations may be taken depending on the number of students interested in the offerings.)

  • EDL 9850* Serving Diverse Populations in Education (3 credit hours)
  • EDL 9520* Advanced Human Resources Management in Education (3 credit hours)
  • EDL 9330 Comparative Education (3 credit hours)
  • EDL 9820 Marketing and Public Relations in Education (3 credit hours)
  • EDL 9310 Educational Facilities (3 credit hours)
  • EDL 9320 Marketing and Public Relations in Education (3 credits)
  • EDL 9350 Doctoral Directed Study (variable)
  • EDL 9370 Critical Issues for Student Learning: Exploring the Literature (3 credit hours)
  • EDL 9380 Economics for Education (3 credit hours)
  • xxxxxxxx Advisor approved elective (3-6 credit hours)

Concentrations *(Any of the concentrations may be taken depending on the number of students interested in the offerings.)

Urban School Leadership Concentrations

  • EDL 7700 Leadership in Urban Schools I
  • EDL 7701 Leadership in Urban Schools II
  • EDL 7800 Practicum

Or

Coaching Concentration

  • EDCO 7010 Introduction to Coaching
  • EDCO 7020 Using Data for Coaching
  • EDCO 7800 Practicum

Or

Leading Independent and Charter Schools

  • EDL 7800 Financial Management and Leadership in Independent and Charter Schools
  • EDL 7801 Institutional Advancement in Independent and Charter Schools
  • EDL 7780 Practicum

Dissertation (Minimum 9 credit hours)

  • EDL 9900 Dissertation (Minimum 9 + credit hours)

Admission Requirements

Must possess the following beyond the general KSU Graduate College Admission Requirements: 

  • Degree – Educational Specialist degree in education or a closely related field.
  • Certificate – Uploaded to graduate application. MUST hold a Level 6 current clear, renewable Georgia Tier II Leadership Certificate, i.e., PRL or SRL, or comparable certificate from another state, PRIOR to admission consideration.  To print a copy of your clear, renewable Georgia Tier II Leadership certificate, you may log into your MyPSC account.
  • Employment – Current full-time employment as a professional educator or administrator with at least five years of teaching and/or administrative experience in P-12 education.
  • Résumé or Professional Vitae – Uploaded to graduate application.
  • Professional Reflections Statement – Uploaded to graduate application. Should be 1-2 pages and address your professional leadership training and interest, educational beliefs, professional goals, and why you seek to pursue your degree at KSU.
  • Interview – An interview may be required. If so, you will be contacted by the program to set up an interview. 

Deadline for Applications

Fall Semester -  July 1

Contact Us

For more information please call (470) 578-6888 or email edldepartment@kennesaw.edu. 

KSU CATALOG APPLY TO START IMPACTING LIVES CHECK MY APPLICATION STATUS Tuition & Fees

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Currently, entrance into the program requires a specialist in Educational Leadership with an L-6 certificate
    • 5 years in teaching and/or 3 or more years in leadership
    • Masters and Educational Specialist transcripts
    • Copy of Tier II certification
    • The GRE is currently not a requirement
    • A Personal Statement or Educational Philosophy
    • 45 + hours (36 hours coursework and 9+ hours dissertation work)
  • The program is delivered in a hybrid format with the professor determining how to deliver the class in the hybrid fashion.
    • The typical program of study consists of twelve courses and takes two years by taking two courses each semester.
    •  The dissertation work begins after students take their comprehensive examinations and must be a minimum of nine hours. The average time to complete a dissertation is ten-eleven hours.
  • For six credit hours, the cost is $1,776.00 + $993.00, totaling $2,769.00 for 5 hours or more.
     
    Cost of Attendance
  • Kennesaw State is an approved Education Preparation Provider. Once the program has been completed, students may apply to the GAPSC for a certificate upgrade to their Tier II certification.
  • Beginning in 2021, we will admit students Fall semester only.