The Ed.D. concentration in K–12 Leadership follows a 54-credit hour curriculum designed to support the schedules of working professionals. Most students complete the program part-time over three years, typically enrolling in two courses per semester. Evening classes are held during the fall and spring semesters, with many students attending back-to-back sessions one night per week. During the two summer terms, students generally take two courses each.
The curriculum is composed of:
- 12 hours of core and foundational courses;
- 21 hours of leadership, skills and dispositions courses;
- 18 hours of research and methods courses, including the dissertation course;
- at least 3 hours of elective courses.
Learn More About the Program
Field Experiences
Students in the Ed.D. concentration in K–12 Leadership participate in a yearlong, part-time internship under the mentorship of experienced educational leaders. This hands-on experience provides opportunities to engage with real-world leadership challenges, apply learned concepts, and develop practical skills in diverse educational settings. The mentorship received supports our students in reflecting on their practice, navigating complex leadership issues, and building necessary skills as they prepare for advanced roles in K–12 education.
Dissertation-in-Practice
The Ed.D. concentration in K–12 Leadership culminates in a dissertation in practice (DiP) — a capstone experience that demonstrates each student’s ability to apply theoretical knowledge, empirical research, and innovative thinking to a complex, real-world challenge in K–12 education. Through a three-semester course sequence, students identify a problem of practice — often a persistent issue within the educational setting — and explore research-based solutions grounded in the principles of learning and leadership.
This extensive project aligns with the concentration’s 18 credit hours of research and methods coursework, which builds essential skills in data analysis, research design, and inquiry. Courses such as EDUC 710: Statistical Analysis of Educational Data I and EDUC 830: Field Techniques in Educational Research prepare students to conduct meaningful, applied research that reflects their professional goals.
Guided by faculty mentors, students engage deeply with their topic of interest, contributing practical, evidence-informed strategies that support improvement in school systems — and furthering their own educational leadership development in the process.
Accreditation
Accreditation is quality assurance through external peer review to ensure a program meets the standards set by its academic community, professionals, and stakeholders. The Ed.D. concentration in K–12 Leadership is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI).
Courses
- EDUC 831: School Law, 3 hrs
- EDUC 832: Educational Politics and Policy, 3 hrs
- EDUC 834: Organizational Behavior and Theory in Education, 3 hrs
- EDUC 866: Policy to Practice, 3 hrs
- EDUC 833: Development and Systems Leadership, 3 hrs
- EDUC 840: Advanced Leadership Theories, 3 hrs
- EDUC 844: Advanced Seminar and Supervised Internship in Educational Administration, 6 hrs
- EDUC 835: Instructional Leadership for Supervision, Curriculum and Technology, 3 hrs
- EDUC 836: School Finance and Economic Equity, 3 hrs
- EDUC 837: Cultural Aspects of Leadership and Instruction in School Reform, 3 hrs
- EDUC 710: Statistical Analysis of Educational Data I, 3 hrs
- EDUC 841: Development of a Research Proposal, 3 hrs
- EDUC 830: Field Techniques in Educational Research, 3 hrs
- EDUC 994: Doctoral Dissertation, 6 hrs
- Advanced Research Elective
Choose one
- EDUC 713: Tests and Measurements, 3 hrs
- EDUC 829: Applied Measurement Theory for Education, 3 hrs
- EDUC 784: Statistical Analysis of Educational Data II, 3 hrs
- EDUC 785: Program Evaluation in Education, 3 hrs
- EDUC 871: Seminar in Education, 3 hrs
- EDUC 868: Advanced Qualitative Analysis and Interpretation, 3 hrs