Education, Ed.D.

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Dr. Karim Medico, Chair, Associate Professor of Education, School of Education
Mrs. Pamela Koslosky, Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Marcia Harowicz, Graduate Student Advisor/International Coordinator

Mission

The mission of the Doctor of Education, Education Leadership Program is to empower leaders with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to effect change in educational systems through the synthesis of theory, scholarship, and practice.

Vision

The vision of the Doctor of Education, Education Leadership Program is to develop authentic, ethical, courageous, and innovative leaders who transform educational culture and practice.

Programs

Wilkes University’s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership is a 60-credit post-master’s low residency program offered in a blended online format with annual residencies. The completion of required doctoral-level coursework culminates in the development of a dissertation proposal. The final dissertation and its defense are the capstone requirements for the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. The objectives of the doctoral program in Educational Leadership are to produce knowledgeable, competent, and dedicated educational leaders with the skills and dispositions needed to serve in leadership capacities in their respective fields for the betterment of education for all students and society at large. The outcomes of this program: (1) The knowledge-base to serve as educational leaders in their respective fields. (2) The skills to apply research to identify and study current issues and problems in the field of education and to analyze the resulting data toward the betterment of education. (3) Comprehensive training in the areas of administration or technology, to include skills specific to each field, as well as effective interpersonal and communication skills, analytic decision-making abilities, and effectual leadership strategies.(4) Dispositions that place value on all students and people and that promote understanding, respect, and an appreciation of diverse perspectives and cultures. (5) Opportunities to develop self and others through informed, ethical, and reflective decision-making.

Degree Requirements

All candidates for the Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership must complete a program of at least sixty (60) credits.

Doctoral Core Courses Required of All Ed.D. Students

Leadership: 9 Credits

Research: 12 Credits

Dissertation: 9 Credits

Ed.D. Students Select One 30-credit Hour Area of Study:

K-12 Administration 30 Credits (Leading to Pennsylvania Superintendent Certification)

Required courses: 30 credits

ED 615 - Proseminar in Educational Leadership
ED 625 - Professional Development & Supervision
ED 627 - Advanced Issues in Educational Law
ED 629 - Strategic Planning for Public and Non-Profit Organizations
ED 650 - Curriculum Design and Instructional Models
ED 654 - School Finance and Facilities Administration
ED 659 - Superintendent Internship (90 Hours)
Three 3-credit electives from available doctoral level courses

Educational Leadership 30 credits

Required Courses: 15 Credits

Concentrations: 15 Credits - Students Select One of Three Available Concentrations:

Curriculum and Instruction

Recommended for students who wish to become a faculty member in higher education or work in the area of curriculum design and development.

ED 650 - Curriculum Design and Instructional Models
ED 670 - Curriculum Theory
ED 673 - Controversies in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Two 3-credit electives from available doctoral level courses, which can include: ED 679 - Internship in Curriculum and Instruction (90 hours)

Educational Technology

Recommended for students who wish to become a faculty member in higher education or work in the field of educational technology in public or private institutions.

ED 635 - Integrating Technology for Diverse Learners
ED 645 - Technology Supported Assessment
ED 646 - Adaptive and Assistive Technology in Education
Two 3-credit electives from available doctoral level courses, which can include: ED 639 - Internship in Education Technology Leadership (90 hours)

Educational Leadership Studies

Recommended for students who currently work in or would like to work in higher education or in the field of educational leadership as a faculty member or as a member of the professional or administrative staff.

ED 620 - Educational Institutions and Systems
Four 3-credit electives from available doctoral courses, which can include a 90 hour internship tailored to meet student’s career goals

Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility

Students enroll in the Superintendent Certification-Only Program through the Doctor of Education Program in K-12 Administration. This PDE-approved program consists of 21 credits, which includes: seven 3-credit courses offered in a blended format (with field work totaling 270 hours) and 3-credits of a 90-hour internship at the superintendent’s level.

K-12 Administration Courses for Superintendent Certification (21 Credits)

Pennsylvania Department of Education required field and internship hours are noted after course titles. NOTE: ED 659 must be taken last in the program.

Students may elect to apply for admission to Wilkes University’s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) during or at the conclusion of the program. The successful completion of this 21-credit certificate program plus an additional three 3-credit electives satisfies the K-12 Administrative specialization requirements for the Ed.D. Thirty additional credits, which include research and dissertation coursework, are required to earn the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.

PA certification and endorsement candidates will be recommended for certification upon successful completion of the required certification coursework, fieldwork, and internship. Candidates must self-register and pass the certification test, if required. Some certifications require verification of experience. In those cases, the candidate will need to have input from their school district verifying that they have satisfactory met professional school experience required. Application for certification and Endorsement is made by the candidate through the PDE Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) found on the PDE portal.

Total Credits: 60

Doctoral Program Grading Scale

4.0	A	94-100%	Academic achievement of superior quality
3.5	B+	87-93%	Academic achievement of good quality
3.0	B	80-86%	Academic achievement of acceptable quality in meeting course requirements but below the average required for graduation
2.5	C+	75-79%	Academic achievement of adequate quality but below the average required to meet course and graduation requirements
2.0	C	70-74%	Academic achievement below the average to meet course and graduation requirements
0.0	F	Below 70%	Failure. No credit earned

More specific information about the doctoral programs, their requirements and admission procedures can be found on-line at https://www.wilkes.edu/doctorofeducation.