This program prepares educators for district‐level administrative responsibility. This program is designed to build upon the candidate’s administrative knowledge base of building‐level leadership. The focus is the development of district‐level leadership skills including policy, human resources/bargaining for purposes of union contract negotiations, and district finance. The superintendency and internship courses provide the simulations and hands‐on experience at a district level which are not included in principal licensure preparation.

• *EDL 7100 The Superintendency 3
• EDL 7140 Organizational Change 3
• *EDL 7210 Policy Analysis 3
• *EDL 7220 Human Resource Administration and Bargaining 3
• *EDL 7230 Educational Finance 3
• EDL 7240 Supervisory Theory and Practice 3
• EDL 7250 Legal Issues for School Districts 3
• EDL 7260 School/District Improvement Through Data Analysis 3
• EDL 7300 Ethics for Educational Leaders 3
• *EDL 7891 Internship: Superintendent 3

*Starred courses are required for superintendent licensure

Practice-based Track – Ed.D. (31 Semester Hours)

Foundations/Philosophy/Ethics (12 sem. hours) 

• FPR 7011 Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Leadership (3)
• EDL 7110 Strategies of Educational Leadership (3)
• EDL 7120 Research-Based Decision Making (3)
• EDL 7310 Organization and Community Partnerships (3)

Research (10 sem. hours)

• RES 7605 Quantitative Analysis (3)
• RES 7700 Qualitative Research (3)
• RES 7900 Research Design (4)

Comprehensive Exam and Dissertation (9 sem. hours)

• Comp 7000 Comprehensive Examination (fee)
• Diss 7010 Dissertation (3sh)
• Diss 7020 Dissertation (3sh)
• Diss 7030 Dissertation (3sh)
• Diss 8000 Dissertation Supervision (fee)

Total Credit Hours Practice-based Track (Ed.D.): 61

Research-based Track – Ph.D. (37 Semester Hours)

Foundations/Philosophy/Ethics (12 sem. hours)

• EDL 7110 Strategies of Educational Leadership (3)
• EDL 7120 Research Based Decision Making (3)
• EDL 7310 Organization and Community Partnerships (3)
• FPR 7300 The Philosophy of Scientific Knowledge (3)

Research (16 sem. hours)

• RES 7605 Quantitative Analysis (3)
• RES 7700 Qualitative Research (3)
• RES 7800 Mixed Methods Research (3)
• RES 7620 Advanced Topics in Statistics (3) OR RES 7710 Advanced Topics in Qualitative Analysis (3)
• RES 7900 Research Design (4)

Comprehensive Exam and Dissertation (9 sem. hours)

• Comp 7000 Comprehensive Exam (fee)
• Diss 7010 Dissertation (3sh)
• Diss 7020 Dissertation (3sh)
• Diss 7030 Dissertation (3sh)
• Diss 8000 Dissertation Supervision (fee)

Total Credit Hours Research-based Track (Ph.D.): 67 sh

Please Note:

Courses are subject to administrative review and change at any time. Minimum completion time is four years, but is dependent upon dissertation timeline of completion.

• A doctoral student must have an earned master’s degree of at least 3.00 cumulative
• Two years of successful administrative experience as verified by a school district; three years of administrative experience by the time of application for licensure
• Objective statement essay
• Two letters of recommendation
• Official sealed academic transcripts from institutions where degrees were earned
• Submission of professional resume
• Copy of both the current Ohio teaching license and the administrative (principal or admin. specialist) license