Educational Leadership, Doctor of Education
The Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership (EDLS) at Gardner-Webb University is a 63-credit-hour program designed for potential and practicing educational leaders who wish to develop and refine their leadership skills in complex organizations. Schools are dynamic institutions whose practice is shaped by powerful and influential interests. As a result, the economic, political, social, and technological environment of schools is always changing. The EDLS program is designed to equip candidates with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, and beliefs that will enable them to function effectively in leadership roles in this fluctuating environment. The purpose of the EDLS is to develop educational leaders at the central-office level through courses, research, seminars, and other experiences conducted in an environment based on Christian principles and values.
Mission Statement
The EDLS program will strive to produce leaders for schools and school systems that are better prepared to create school districts as organizations that can learn and change quickly if they are to improve performance. This will be accomplished through innovative, collaborative leadership by applying principles of continuous improvement to maximize human, social, and spiritual potential.
Admission Requirements
Program-specific admission requirements for full acceptance into the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership are the following:
1. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all post-baccalaureate work completed;
2. Minimum of three years of successful administrative/teacher leadership experience, administration preferred;
3. Current entry-level license in school administration;
4. Three professional recommendations from persons, at least one of whom must be at the central-office or school board level, who know the applicant’s work as an educator or graduate student;
5. Personal essay explaining the applicant’s purpose in wanting to earn a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership; and
6. Cohort Form.
Program specific admission requirements for full acceptance into the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership for post-masters Executive Leadership (MELS) degree:
Students earning their second master’s degree in school administration who have successfully completed MELS 601 and MELS 603 can satisfy the final course (MELS 605) by enrolling in and successfully completing EDLS 730. Along with successful completion of EDLS 730, the candidate must successfully complete the evidence aligned with MELS 698 (typically taken concurrently with MELS 605) in order to satisfy master’s degree and licensure requirements. Fulfilling admission requirements for the EDLS program is required in order to make this transition. Students who begin their add-on program with MELS 601 in the spring would be able to enroll concurrently in EDLS 730 and MELS 698 in the fall of their third semester of enrollment. Students who begin their add-on program with MELS 601 in the fall would take MELS 698 in the summer during their third semester of enrollment and begin EDLS 730 in the following fall. With this transition to EDLS, candidates will be fully enrolled in the EDLS program and will earn their master’s degree and licensure in School Administration with the successful completion of EDLS 730 and MELS 698.
For students who enrolled prior to Fall 2022, please refer to the 2021-2022 catalog. Students may complete requirements for the 2021-2022 catalog and receive add-on licensure or may apply to switch to the 2022-2023 catalog and receive both master’s degree and licensure in School Administration. The form for switching catalogs can be found in WebbConnect. If no action is taken, the continuously enrolled student will remain under the requirements of the catalog under which they enrolled.
Program Goals
- The EDLS program in the College of Education will prepare and improve abilities of doctoral candidates in the area of Strategic Leadership leading to Superintendent’s licensure;
- The EDLS program in the College of Education will prepare and improve abilities of doctoral candidates in the area of Instructional Leadership leading to Superintendent’s licensure;
- The EDLS program in the College of Education will prepare and improve abilities of doctoral candidates in the area of Cultural Leadership leading to Superintendent’s licensure;
- The EDLS program in the College of Education will prepare and improve abilities of doctoral candidates in the area of Human Resource Leadership leading to Superintendent’s licensure;
- The EDLS program in the College of Education will prepare and improve abilities of doctoral candidates in the area of Managerial Leadership leading to Superintendent’s licensure;
- The EDLS program in the College of Education will prepare and improve abilities of doctoral candidates in the area of External Development Leadership leading to Superintendent’s licensure;
- The EDLS program in the College of Education will prepare and improve abilities of doctoral candidates in the area of Micro-political Leadership leading to Superintendent’s licensure; and
- The EDLS program in the College of Education will prepare and improve abilities of doctoral candidates in the areas of research and data-driven decision-making by completing a dissertation study of choice and approval.
Student Learning Outcomes
As a result of participating in the EDLS program students will be able to demonstrate:
1. cultural competence;
2. expert content knowledge;
3. evidence-based decision-making;
4. skills of reflective and effective practitioners;
5. innovative integration of technology; and
6. ethical and collaborative leadership skills with all stakeholders.
Course Requirements for Candidates Beginning Prior to Fall 2019 (63 hours)
As-needed Continuing Hours
In order to continue to receive University assistance and consultation throughout the dissertation process, the candidate will register for EDLS 714 each semester until the dissertation is successfully defended or until the candidate chooses to graduate with the EdS or withdraw from the program.
At the dissertation stage, doctoral candidates must maintain continuous enrollment through the semester of their successful defense or until the candidate withdraws from the program. In rare and extenuating circumstances, a candidate may request a leave of absence which must be approved by the candidate’s dissertation chair, program coordinator, the Dean of the College of Education, and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Candidates who are approved for a leave of absence may return to the program with the approval of the program coordinator, the Dean of the College of Education, and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Candidates who break continuous enrollment without a leave of absence will be suspended from the program. If a suspended candidate requests readmission, the program graduate faculty makes the decision on whether to readmit and, if readmitted, the stipulations that will apply. A Dissertation Enrollment Fee equal to the tuition of the missed semesters of continuous enrollment will be applied to the suspended candidate’s account upon return to the program. Candidates approved for a leave of absence will not be subject to the Continuous Enrollment Fee. The time limit of seven calendar years to complete the program from the beginning of the term in which candidates complete their first graduate course toward the degree continues to apply to candidates who are granted a leave of absence or who are suspended.
Course Requirements for Candidates Beginning Fall 2019 or After (63 hours)
| EDLS 730 | Strategic Leadership and School Reform | 6 |
| EDLS 732 | Instructional Leadership: Curriculum and Instruction for Sustaining Academic Acheivement | 9 |
| EDLS 734 | Human Resource Leadership: Organizational Development and Leading Adult Learning | 9 |
| EDDS 736 | Research Methods and Program Evaluation | 12 |
| EDLS 738 | Cultural and Ethical Leadership | 6 |
| EDLS 740 | Managerial Leadership | 6 |
| EDDS 731 | Dissertation Coaching/Clinical Experience Seminar | 1 |
| EDDS 733 | Dissertation Coaching/Clinical Experience Seminar | 1 |
| EDDS 735 | Dissertation Chairing/Clinical Experience Seminar | 1 |
| EDDS 737 | Dissertation Chairing/Clinical Experience Seminar | 1 |
| EDDS 739 | Dissertation Chairing/Clinical Experience Seminar | 1 |
| EDDS 741 | Dissertation Chairing/Clinical Experience Seminar | 1 |
| EDDS 742 | Dissertation Module I | 6 |
| EDDS 743 | Dissertation Module II | 3 |
As-needed Continuing Hours
In order to continue to receive University assistance and consultation throughout the dissertation process, the candidate will register for EDUC 744 each semester until the dissertation is successfully defended or until the candidate chooses to graduate with the EdS or withdraw from the program.
At the dissertation stage, doctoral candidates must maintain continuous enrollment through the semester of their successful defense or until the candidate withdraws from the program. In rare and extenuating circumstances, a candidate may request a leave of absence which must be approved by the candidate’s dissertation chair, program coordinator, the Dean of the School of Education, and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Candidates who are approved for a leave of absence may return to the program with the approval of the program coordinator, the Dean of the School of Education, and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Candidates who break continuous enrollment without a leave of absence will be suspended from the program. If a suspended candidate requests readmission, the program graduate faculty makes the decision on whether to readmit and, if readmitted, the stipulations that will apply. A Dissertation Enrollment Fee equal to the tuition of the missed semesters of continuous enrollment will be applied to the suspended candidate’s account upon return to the program. Candidates approved for a leave of absence will not be subject to the Continuous Enrollment Fee. The time limit of seven calendar years to complete the program from the beginning of the term in which candidates complete their first graduate course toward the degree continues to apply to candidates who are granted a leave of absence or who are suspended.
Total Credit Hours: 63