Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog [NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. FOR THE CURRENT CATALOG, GO TO CATALOG.NIU.EDU]

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies


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The Ed.D. program in educational leadership and policy studies is intended to prepare individuals for administrative service and leadership positions in schools, institutions of higher education, or other agencies. The doctoral program provides instructional experiences designed for satisfactory development of conceptual, human, and technical skills and understandings required for successful leadership in various administrative roles with emphasis on educational research, the role of the leader in the social order, community power structure, and organizational theory.

The student learning outcomes for this degree are located at http://www.niu.edu/assessment/clearinghouse/outcomes/index.shtml.

Admission


Students wishing to obtain the Illinois Superintendent Endorsement as part of the Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies must first complete the 30 credit hour Ed.S. program in Educational Administration w/ Superintendent Endorsement. Upon admission into the Ed.D. program, 30 hours of Ed.S. course work credit can transfer into the doctoral program to fulfill the concentration course work requirement. 

An applicant for admission to the Ed.D. program in educational leadership and policy studies must submit

  • all official transcripts from institutions of higher education;
  • scores on the GRE;
  • three letters of recommendation from professors and/or practicing school administrators who hold state licensure.

The faculty in the educational leadership and policy studies program area select the most qualified applicants. Preference is given to experienced administrators who hold a master’s degree from an accredited university, with a minimum graduate GPA of 3.50. Faculty decisions are based on the total profile of each applicant. Any applicant who is denied admission may submit an appeal to be reviewed by the admissions committee and the faculty. Appeals must be in writing, explain the basis for the appeal, and include information not previously submitted.

Requirements


The doctoral program in educational leadership and policy studies requires a minimum of 63 semester hours of graduate work beyond the master’s degree. Students may choose between two distinct specializations: Educational Leadership or Educational Policy Studies. The Educational Leadership specialization is designed for individuals who have completed their Ed.S. and hold an Illinois Superintendent Endorsement. The Educational Policy Studies specialization is designed for individuals who do not hold or wish to pursue an Ed.S. degree but are interested in doctoral-level analysis of educational issues, policies and practices. Please note: neither specialization leads to Superintendent Endorsement.

Specialization in Educational Leadership


If the applicant holds an Ed.S. degree, the doctoral program requires a minimum of 33 semester hours as follows:

Course work in research understandings and skills, learning and development theories, and sociocultural analyses of education (18)

Successful completion of a candidacy examination

Specialization in Educational Policy Studies


For students without an Ed.S. degree, the doctoral program requires a minimum of 63 semester hours as follows:

Course work constituting common requirements in research understandings and skills, learning and development theories, and sociocultural analyses of education (18)

Concentration course work in educational policy studies (30)

Successful completion of a candidacy examination

Candidacy examination


This examination encompasses the common requirements and the area of professional knowledge in educational leadership and policy studies. The exam process ensures a common standard is used in evaluating students for candidacy and to ensure all program candidates are able to demonstrate a broad body of educational leadership and policy studies content knowledge. The requirements and content matter covered on the exam are reinforced throughout course work, and special exam review sessions and practice exam opportunities are made available during students’ final semester of course work. A student must be in good academic standing, both overall and in the Ed.D. program to be eligible to take this examination. See program Student Handbook for further information. A student who fails this examination may, with the permission of the major department, repeat it no sooner than the following academic term. A student who fails this examination a second time, or is not granted approval for a second attempt, shall not be permitted to continue work toward the Ed.D. degree, and admission to that program shall be terminated.

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