Educational Leadership

The program offers you the option to specialize in one of two areas:

• PreK-12 School Administration: Designed to prepare educators for the following types of positions: Administrative roles in elementary and secondary education, educational researchers, consultants, professors of school administration. Students pursuing this concentration may take educator preparation programs which lead to a State of Ohio-issued license (principal or superintendent).
• Higher Education Administration: Preparing educators for positions, such as: Administrative and leadership roles in colleges and universities, educational researchers, assessment professionals, institutional researchers, advocates and consultants working with higher education institutions, families, communities, schools and students, faculty roles in education programs.

The program requires 63 semester hours for completion. Both concentrations require a minimum of 21 semester hours of appropriate courses. In addition, all doctoral students must complete a nine-semester hour core program during their first year of Enrollment.

Formal coursework in the program is organized around the concepts of research, foundations and organizational behavior. Course work in an academic field outside of education is required in the 9-hour cognate.

Visit the Catalog to view additional details about educational leadership, including degree requirements, course descriptions and a sample plan of study.

Internship and Practicum

Graduate students studying educational leadership participate in internships and practicums, where they gain real-world experience tailored to their chosen concentration.

Applicants must submit the following information:

• Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities. Must be submitted directly from the colleges or universities to the University of Dayton Office of Graduate Admission Processing.
• Applicants for admission to the doctoral program must have attained a 3.25 GPA in a master's degree program
• Three letters of recommendation from professors or employers.
• Two- to three-page essay stating how your personal goals, including your concentration of interest, are congruent with the objectives of the Ph.D. program, as stated in our mission statement. Please title the essay, “Application Essay.”
• Current resume.

Inquiries for admissions into the PhD for Educational Leadership can be directed to our Student Support and Admissions Administrator, Macy Wolfe, via email at mkeim1@udayton.edu.

Note: Additional requirements apply for international students. Please reach out to the International Student & Scholar Services office at isss@udayton.edu for additional questions.

Residency Requirement

Residency is completed during the first three consecutive terms (fall, spring, summer) following admission to the program. A minimum of six semester hours of coursework must be completed in each of these terms.

Comprehensive Exam

In addition to completing coursework and residency requirements, students must successfully complete a written examination based on the content of their coursework and dissertation research topics.

• Educational Leadership (M.S.E.)
• Education in Leadership for Organizations (Ed.D.)
• Education in Leadership for Organizations (Ed.S.)
• Applied Social Science Research Methods (Graduate Certificate)
• Principal Preparation (Graduate Certificate)
• Superintendent Preparation (Graduate Certificate)

Rooted in our Catholic, Marianist traditions, the University of Dayton is dedicated to being transparent and ensuring student success.

Financial aid may be available for degree-seeking graduate students, file the FAFSA to be considered. Once you have applied and been accepted to a graduate program, we will prepare your applicable aid for the upcoming year.

Scholarship Opportunity

The Dr. Ellis Joseph Scholarship is available to currently enrolled Ph.D. students who have been in the program for at least one academic year. The recipient must commit to write a dissertation in the general area of urban education.

Dr. Joseph was Dean of the University of Dayton School of Education from 1973-95. He and his colleagues initiated the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership program at UD.