Doctor of Education in Leadership


AVAILABLE: Online | In-class
REQUIRED CREDITS: 90
LOCATIONS and START DATES: Bellevue, WA: Summer residences | Online: Organizational Leadership and Higher Education Emphases - Spring; Ed. Leadership Emphasis - Summer


City University of Seattle's Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership program offers working professionals the opportunity to develop advanced skills in strategic thinking, critical analysis, change management, adult learning, international education, and organizational development.

In this multidisciplinary program, you'll receive high-quality and relevant learning experiences through a flexible format that meets your career schedule. All classes will be conducted online with the exception of in-person residencies, which will be offered over three summer quarters.

You'll learn from our practitioner faculty - experts who bring a strong history of research achievement in education and organizational practice - who will prepare you to become a leader of the 21st century. Your lessons will include global and diverse perspectives in various educational and organizational settings as well as instruction on how to identify, coach and develop tomorrow's leaders.

As a doctoral student, you'll choose from one of three concentration areas that fit your educational goal. They are:

  • Educational Leadership (P-12)
  • Higher Education
  • Organizational Leadership
These concentrations were developed by combining the educational strengths, leadership and management skills of CityU of Seattle's Albright School of Education and School of Management.

Finally, as a CityU Ed.D. student, you'll learn to implement data-driven solutions to today's leadership challenges, to teach current and future leaders a systematic approach to developing sustainable businesses and to master skills to be able to work with stakeholders at all levels. Upon graduation, you'll have all the necessary tools to assume a senior leadership position in an organization, university, or public school system.

Tuition and Financial Aid

City University of Seattle's financial aid programs provide an opportunity for post secondary education by removing financial barriers for students who do not have adequate funds to attend City University of Seattle. Based on federal regulations, the Financial Aid Office determines your eligibility for aid. For more information about financial aid, click here.

For current tuition rates click here.

Accreditation

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) accredits City University of Seattle to offer associate, bachelor and master degrees. CityU of Seattle recently was granted permission to offer a doctoral degree, however the university remains in candidacy status at the doctoral level. (Candidacy status does not ensure eventual accreditation.)

According to NWCCU policy, CityU's doctorate program must produce its first set of graduates in order to receive accreditation. This allows the NWCCU an opportunity to review the program's overall process and quality, including student work samples from each phase in the program. All schools in the NWCCU system must abide by this policy when expanding portfolios to a new degree level.

If CityU successfully completes the accreditation process, all students who have completed the program are covered under this decision and their degrees will be from an accredited doctoral-level institution.

Leadership Core Courses (18)
LDRD 605
LDRD 607
LDRD 609
LDRD 611
LDRD 613
LDRD 615
Research Core Courses (15)
LDRD 617
LDRD 619
LDRD 621
LDRD 623
LDRD 625
Comprehensive Exams (6)
LDRD 680
LDRD 681
Dissertation (18)
LDRD 690
LDRD 694A
LDRD 694B
LDRD 694C
LDRD 694D
LDRD 99
Residencies (3)
LDRD 601
LDRD 602
LDRD 603

Concentration Area (30)

Organizational Leadership Concentration (30)
The Organizational Leadership concentration prepares current and future leaders to meet the challenges facing their organizations in a complex globalized workplace. Areas within the concentration teach leaders the skills they will need to generate trust, empower others, and implement innovative and strategic solutions. Through scholarly research, students will apply theoretical leadership models with collaborative decision-making to promote ethical and sustainable organizations. A broad knowledge of systems-thinking will prepare students to lead diverse organizational change that uses internal and external resources through stakeholder collaboration.
LDRD 630
LDRD 632
LDRD 634
LDRD 636
LDRD 638
LDRD 640
LDRD 642
LDRD 644
LDRD 646
LDRD 648
Higher Education Concentration (30)
The Higher Education concentration prepares graduates for leadership roles within colleges and universities, in particular in student development, academic support, academic leadership, and administration. Students will expand leadership skills to direct higher education programs, institutions, and agencies through analysis, self-reflection, and best practical application in the workplace. This concentration also provides broad knowledge of social, political, and economic forces at work in society as they relate to higher education institutions. Students become informed leaders through the utilization of scholarly research and theoretical models applied to experiential situations.
LDRD 648
LDRD 650
LDRD 652
LDRD 654
LDRD 656
LDRD 658
LDRD 660
LDRD 662
LDRD 664
LDRD 668
Educational Leadership Concentration - Superintendent Certification (30)

The Educational Leadership - Superintendent Certification concentration provides students with an individualized approach to learning. This specialty is designed for practicing district and school administrators and education leaders. The concentration is a natural fit for those on an executive leadership track in P-12 public and private schools, school systems, and other related organizations. In addition to a doctoral degree, students may simultaneously work toward Washington state certification as a superintendent.

EDLD 649
EDLD 652
EDLD 654
EDLD 656
EDLD 659
EDLD 681
EDLD 682
EDLD 683
Choose one of the following:
EDLD 641
EDLD 671
Choose one of the following:
EDLD 642
EDLD 672
Choose one of the following:
EDLD 643
EDLD 673
Choose one of the following:
EDLD 670
EDLD 680
Choose one of the following:
EDLD 674
EDLD 684
Educational Leadership Concentration - Principal or Program Administrator (30)
The Educational Leadership - Principal or Program Administrator concentration provides students with an individualized approach to learning. This specialty is designed for practicing education leaders and classroom teachers. The concentration is a natural fit for those on a leadership track in P-12 public and private schools, school systems, and other related organizations. In addition to a doctoral degree, students may simultaneously work toward Washington state certification as a principal or program administrator.
EEA 520
EEA 521
EEA 524
EEA 525
EEA 527
EEA 533
EEA 605
EEA 606
EEA 607
EEA 620
EEA 621
EEA 622

Doctoral Program Orientation

All students admitted to the doctoral program will attend a two-day Doctoral Program Orientation over a weekend to be conducted in Seattle at the start of the fall quarter.

During this orientation, students will learn more about the program, including course delivery, writing and research requirements needed for program completion. Students also will hear presentations from faculty, receive hands-on experience with the program's first course, and interact with faculty and fellow classmates at networking events and meals.

Times, activities, fees and travel details (for those visiting from outside of the area) will be provided as a part of the admissions materials.

Program Delivery

The Ed.D. program is offered almost entirely online with the exception of three mandatory week-long residencies offered during the summer quarters.

Upon enrollment, all students become part of a cohort designed to foster "Communities of Practice" in order to learn to work in teams for the purposes of professional networking, group mentoring, and peer support. At the start of the first quarter (summer term), a short orientation will take place, followed by the first online class, which will run until the end of the term.

Program Sections

The Ed.D. program is offered in three sections to be taken in the following order:
  • Section one - Students enroll in mandatory research and leadership core courses that build a foundation for further doctoral study. The core consists of 11 courses - six covering core leadership and five addressing necessary research skills. These classes will be the starting point of the program. Once the last core class is finished, students should complete the first comprehensive exam.
  • Section two - Students select one of three program concentrations: Educational Leadership P-12 (with Superintendent or Principal/School Administrator certification), Higher Education, or Organizational Leadership. They must complete a series of courses related to the concentration and will complete a set of comprehensive exams at the end of the concentration.
  • Section three - While completing the concentration courses, students may start working on their dissertations. The dissertation is a significant research project that will be completed in three parts: prospectus, proposal and final dissertation.
    • In the prospectus, students will present their intended research topic and describe their proposed methods for investigating their chosen problem.
    • In the proposal, students will have the opportunity to take a much closer look at their research problem and the relevant literature. They will propose a clear methodology for conducting their research.
    • In the final dissertation, students will report on the significance of their research and will prepare their findings for publication.

Residencies

Throughout the year, students will continue to work through their coursework as well as attend a week-long residency each summer in July. These three residencies will focus on providing writing and research skills needed for success on the comprehensive exams and dissertation.

The first residency will focus on the skills needed to complete the core comprehensive examination. Focus will also be placed on the steps involved in the first proposal course and students will complete and deliver sections of their prospectus.

The second residency will focus on the skills needed to succeed on the concentration comprehensive exam.Students will complete a sample comprehensive paper and will continue working on their prospectus or their proposals, a draft of which will be required at the end of the residency.

During the third residency, students will complete the proposal and will begin working on approvals, data gathering, and analysis. Emphasis will be placed on developing the presentation, defense and writing skills needed for dissertation completion and dissemination.

Program Entry Requirements

Students must have and/or complete the following entrance requirements to join the Ed.D. program:
  1. Master's degree from an accredited institution.
  2. English language proficiency confirming current university standards for graduate admission.
  3. City University of Seattle application with $50 application fee.
  4. Official transcripts demonstrating proof of degree(s) submitted by the institution(s) which granted the degree(s).
  5. A current resume or C.V. demonstrating three or more years of management/leadership experience.
  6. Three recommendations or references who can attest to the applicant's ability to be successful at doctoral level work. At least one reference should be a professional or academic reference.
  7. A three-to-five page writing sample in which the student must state his or her goals for completing the program.
  8. An interview with the program faculty. Interviews will not be conducted until the student has submitted his or her goals statement, resume, and all three letters of recommendation.

Admission Procedures

The application for admission can be completed online and the applicant will then need to obtain official transcripts from previous institutions which should be sent directly to the admissions office at City University of Seattle.

Each applicant will then need to obtain his/her three letters of recommendation and submit them along with a writing sample and resume/CV.

Only when all of these items have been received will the interview with the program faculty be scheduled. Once the materials have been reviewed and the interview has been conducted, the program faculty will make a decision regarding program admission and notify the prospective student.

Application Deadline

Applications are accepted throughout the year, and fully qualified applicants are admitted year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. All applications for fall quarter start must be received by August 24. Candidates will be interviewed and admissions decisions will be made as applications are received. All admissions decisions will be completed by September 14. Late applications are taken into consideration and handled on a space-available basis.