Interdisciplinary Leadership, Ed.D.

The College of Education  doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership is an online program based on a practitioner-scholar model with an emphasis on a core set of leadership principles and three concentrations. This program adopts a primarily applied action research-oriented model with a specific emphasis on addressing real-world problems and issues. The purpose of an interdisciplinary doctoral degree is to produce advanced leaders for the field of education in the area of K-12 school district superintendent or as a higher education administrator, and as not-for-profit leaders. A significant strength of the program is its experiential component, through which all graduates will have opportunities to integrate theory and practice. There is also a direct focus on sustainability of innovative practices and global competencies. The doctoral program requires passing of the doctoral written and oral comprehensive examinations, and completion of a capstone/dissertation project.

Admission Requirements

Applicants will meet with an admissions committee comprised of at least three faculty representing different program concentrations prior to acceptance into the program. Applicants will be ranked for admission on the basis of their academic potential and the admission criteria. Applicants seeking to enroll in the Superintendent concentration of this Ed.D. program, must have completed a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in Educational Administration or Principalship.

In addition to meeting university admission criteria, applicants must:

1. submit a statement describing personal and professional goals for seeking an Ed.D. in Interdisciplinary Leadership along with a vita or resume summarizing prior education and employment history and pertinent professional activities;
2. a master’s degree from an accredited institution and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0;
3. the following minimum scores on the Graduate Record Exam taken within the past five years of intended admission: a combined GRE verbal and quantitative score of 1000 points or its equivalent on the revised Graduate Record Examination and a 4.0 on the analytical writing section;
4. three letters of recommendation by professionals (Two must be from faculty members who have worked extensively with the applicant. The third letter may be from another faculty member or other professional); and
5. an interview with a faculty admissions committee.

Academic Advisor and Faculty Advisor

Upon admission to the Ed.D. program in Interdisciplinary Leadership, each student will be assigned two advisors. All doctoral students will be assigned an academic advisor and a faculty advisor. The academic advisor will assist with the coordination of the student’s plan of study and necessary paperwork that is to be filed with the appropriate GSU office for dealing with admission, candidacy, and graduation matters. The faculty advisor is in charge of mentoring the doctoral student in his or her area of concentration, and through the qualifying exam, oral defense, internship, and capstone project process. As the student’s specialized interest(s) develop, the faculty advisor may change according to the procedures outlined in the Program Handbook.

Program Requirements

Continuous Enrollment - Students must register for a minimum of nine graduate credits per semester.
Time Limit - Students must complete all coursework and capstone project within seven years after admission.
Credits - Minimum 60 graduate credit hours. Additional hours may be required for specialization or prerequisite.
Qualifying Exam and Oral Defense - Students must successfully complete written and oral Qualifying Examinations before granted candidacy.
Candidacy - Candidacy is conferred upon completion of required coursework, passage of written Qualifying Exam and Oral Defense, and prior to capstone project.
Capstone Project - Consists of quantitative or qualitative inquiry into a topic of interest related to student’s primary area of study. Continually reviewed by a doctoral committee composed of four tenured/ tenure track faculty members (two from concentration area and two members from outside of area). Student works with his/her chair in an advisory manner to select topic of inquiry and complete the project.