Educational Leadership Ed.D.

Doctorate program with an emphasis in EC-12 administration in rural areas.

Major in Educational Leadership

(Major Code: 7400)

For information on how to apply for the Ed.D in Educational Leadership and other requirements, go to the Ed.D. program’s Admission to Graduate School - Ed.D. Program.

Additional information about the Ed.D. program can be found at: http://www.wtamu.edu/academics/doctorate-of-educational-leadership.aspx.

Admission Requirements

One cohort will be admitted annually each spring semester. The number of candidates in a cohort will be limited through a competitive selection process. Deadline for application is 5:00 p.m. on October 1.

Applicants for the Ed.D. degree must hold a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from accredited institutions with at least one degree in education or closely related discipline. Candidates seeking the Texas superintendent certificate must hold a principal certificate or provide evidence of current enrollment in a principal preparation program.

PHASE ONE:

WTAMU Graduate School application and application fee is required. Please note we do not require the Texas Common Application.
A letter of intent (500 words) describing two of the applicant’s professional achievements, career goals, and how the doctoral degree will assist the applicant in achieving professional and private goals.
A writing artifact is required. Contact program director for details.
Curriculum vitae/resume that describes the applicant’s education and professional experience.
Official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended by the applicant providing evidence of a master’s degree in education or related field.
A minimum of 3.25 GPA in all attempted graduate courses. (Candidates must maintain a 3.5 GPA to remain in the program with no grade less than a “B.”)
Three letters of recommendation including at least one from a supervisor who can attest to the applicant’s leadership abilities.

All documents should be submitted to the Graduate School.

PHASE TWO:

Applicant completion of the Birkman Signature Suite Behavioral Assessment administered through the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at West Texas A&M University.

NOTES:

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.
Students must be admitted to the program before being eligible for federal financial aid.
Decisions about eligibility for a doctoral scholarship or research assistantship are not made until an applicant is accepted in the program.
Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission in the degree program.
Admission into the program does not guarantee a doctoral scholarship or research assistantship.
Admitted applicants who do not enroll in courses for the spring semester following acceptance into the program must reapply to the University and must receive permission from the program for readmission.
Students should consult with the Coordinator of Graduate Admissions for additional information about the degree program.

Notice to international applicants:

Due to visa regulations regarding online programs, international students in non-immigrant F1 visa status cannot meet visa requirements while residing in the U.S. Applicants in other visa categories not required to maintain visa status through full time enrollment are encouraged to apply.

Other requirements:

Unique to the program are the experiential immersion experiences, which provide practical work application around problems of practice as well as opportunities for innovative design. Immersion experiences are planned for each long semester at the WTAMU Canyon or Amarillo Campus and during the first summer, there will be an optional international experience available in Mexico.

Degree Requirements

Educational Leadership (EDLD) Cognate Courses (21 credit hours)

Rural Specialization (15 credit hours)

Elective in Curriculum Development - 3 credit hours from:

Research Courses (24 credit hours)

EDLD 6000 - Scholarly Delivery 1-12
EDLD 6326 - Action Research 3

Nine credit hours from:

Transfer or Competency-Based Credit

The Ed.D. faculty may accept up to twelve (12) credit hours of transfer and/or competency-based credit toward the Ed.D. program.

Transfer coursework is not guaranteed. The program adviser will review and evaluate coursework students wish to transfer to determine if it is acceptable towards program degree requirements. The candidate must have made an “A” or “B” in the transfer course and have a 3.25 GPA for all attempted graduate courses.

It is probable that candidates will enter the doctoral program with some experience in a leadership position. In recognition of career-acquired experiences, candidates may receive competency-based credit for specific courses based upon their expertise. The confirm evidence of learning, a candidate seeking competency-based credit will provide a portfolio that contains (1) an official work record, (2) documented professional development/training/continuing education and/or other experiences specifically related to the selected competency credit course (3) a narrative delineating how the candidate’s career-based learning specifically correlates with learner outcomes of the selected competency-based credit course and learner outcomes of the Ed.D. The portfolio will be evaluated by a Competency-Credit Faculty Review Committee to determine of competency-based credit will be granted.