Education Administration and Leadership specializations

Overview

Application Deadline: May 15

The Ed.S in Educational Administration is now accepting applications for 2025. This 30 credit hour and cohort based post master’s degree prepares aspiring school leaders to the helm of 21st century schools by providing in-depth contemporary education issues coupled with a Clinical Leadership model. This format will allow students to utilize hands-on skills to address challenges in K-12 education like never before. 

Learn more about our program!

Program Highlights: 

• Lower cost and bundled tuition and fees - all textbooks and materials included! 
• Hybrid delivery model 
• Embedded clinical field work 
• Leads to certification in Principalship and Supervisor of Instruction 
• Rank I Eligible 

Opportunities for Graduates 

Graduates of the program find employment in various human service and counseling agencies including mental health agencies, residential treatment centers, drug/alcohol treatment facilities, family resource and youth service centers, hospitals, employee assistance programs, and career placement centers. 

Graduates work with a variety of client populations across all age groups performing a variety of job tasks including individual, group, and family counseling; intake assessments; psychoeducational groups; program development; and consultation. 

Careers

Kentucky Educator Placement Service 

P-12 School and District Administration in the following certification areas: 

• Principal 
• Supervisor of Instruction 

Curriculum

View UofL Catalog for Degree Requirements 

Specialist in Education in Educational Administration  
Academic Plan Code(s): EDADEDSPRN, EDADEDSSPV 

Program Information 

The EdS (Education Specialist) degree in Educational Administration is a 30 credit hour, post-master's degree program. It can lead to certification in principalship and supervisor of instruction. 

The EdS program is designed to prepare school leaders to engage staff, improve the instructional capacity of schools, and deal effectively with the educational challenges of the 21st century. The goal of the EdS program is to provide field experience, clinical practice, and conceptual and theoretical knowledge necessary for roles in instructional leadership. The Department of Educational Leadership, Evaluation, and Organizational Development maintains a strong collaboration with school districts in preparing exemplary P-12 school administrators. 

The candidate's admission packet must demonstrate his/her skills and understanding of the following: ability to improve student achievement, leadership, and advanced knowledge of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Candidates applying for admission are jointly screened by both the University of Louisville faculty and local school district personnel. 

Contact

Contact Debbie Powers,Ed.D debbie.powers@louisville.edu or 502-852-6428. 

Overview

Application Deadline: May 15 of each year

The College of Education and Human Development offers a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) with an emphasis in P-12 Administration. The programmatic mission is to develop and support a community of ethical, reflective and scholarly leaders who will improve the success of K-12 students. Graduates from this program understand, apply and commission research related to elementary and secondary schools. Doctoral students and their faculty tackle tough issues related to educational leadership at the school- and district-levels, improving organizational outcomes, and addressing the needs of persistently low-performing schools. As a student in this program, your knowledge, skills and abilities will be strategically strengthened to better prepare you to meet these challenges. 

Why Choose UofL Ed.D Program

Why Choose U of L's Ed.D. program? 

• Highly ranked research institution in education. 
• Work alongside research faculty and practitioners that address pressing social justice issues and problems of practice in schools and districts. 
• Cohort-based programs. 
• Opportunities to participate in international learning programs. 
• Proud member of: 
• University Council for Educational Administration, a consortium of higher education institutions committed to advancing the preparation and practice of educational leaders for the benefit of schools and children. U of L is one of only two Kentucky institutions to have this designation. 
• Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate, a consortium of colleges and universities working together to undertake a critical examination of the doctorate in education (Ed.D.) through dialog, experimentation, critical feedback, and evaluation. 

Careers

Are you considering the next step in your career? If so, consider the Doctorate of Education at UofL! 

The EdD in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development (ELOD) develops and supports a community of ethical, reflective, and scholarly activists who will improve the success of K-12 students. Graduates are educational leaders at the school, district, state, and national levels. They may also work in related organizations (education cooperatives or education associations) as well as in higher education. 

Curriculum

View the UofL Course Catalog for Degree Requirements

Credit Hour and Residency Requirements 

EdD students complete 6 credit hours together per semester (planned format). Limited substitutions or modifications may be permitted based upon previous coursework, career goals, or individual schedule needs. Note: Students need to contact the Program Coordinator to discuss. 

Students must be enrolled at UofL for a minimum of 18 hours within a 12-month period to meet the residency requirement. These hours are built into the planned format but must be considered when making program modifications. 

Time Limits for Completion of Degree 

• Cohorts begin in fall of each year. 
• The Ed.D. program will take 3 years at minimum for completion. 
• Students must complete all coursework and pass the comprehensive exams within five years. 
• Students must complete all other requirements for the degree within four years after passing the comprehensive exams and being admitted to candidacy. 

A doctoral student must have been admitted to candidacy no later than the end of the month prior to awarding of the degree; that is: 

• August graduation: November 30 of preceding year 
• December graduation: March 31 of the same year 
• May graduation: August 31 of preceding year 

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development 
Academic Plan Code(s): ELODEDD 

Program Information 

The doctoral degree is granted in recognition of scholarly proficiency and distinctive achievement in a specific field/discipline. All candidates for a doctoral degree in the College of Education and Human Development must successfully complete qualifying exams and a dissertation/professional portfolio that clearly indicates the candidate has mastered and can exhibit/articulate the content knowledge, skills and dispositions specific to their discipline, and can utilize appropriate research methodologies to contribute to the body of knowledge in their field. 

Distinctive Characteristics of Doctoral Programs in the College of Education and Human Development 

1. Social Justice and Equity 
   Doctoral students in our program build experience and expertise in the issues of social justice and equity which aligns with our metropolitan mission and focus on student achievement. 
2. Leadership 
   Our doctoral students gain expertise in supervising and leading others to achieve organizational goals and missions, managing complex systems, addressing administrative issues and procedures, conducting research to enhance leadership and teaching others about the art of organizational leadership. 
3. Practical Experience 
   The doctoral program contains practicums, internships, or embedded field experience that aligns with program and career goals. These mentored experiences may include teaching, research, administration or other appropriate areas. 
4. Scholarship/Research 
   An emphasis on scholarship includes experience and mentorship in ethics, publications, presentation, grantsmanship, and other forms of creative activity. The research component is characterized by the development of vertical research teams: senior faculty, junior faculty, doctoral students, master's students, and in some programs, undergraduate students, working together on research projects and research areas. These may be bolstered by partnerships with local school districts, businesses, or community agencies. 

This program is designed for those who have or do not need administrative certification. Pre-requisite: master's degree and three years teaching experience. The program allows up to 12 hours of transfer credit from a regionally accredited university that offers advanced degrees. 

Credit Hour and Residency Requirements 

EdD students complete 6 credit hours together per semester (planned format). Limited substitutions or modifications may be permitted based upon previous coursework, career goals, or individual schedule needs. Note: Students need to contact the Program Coordinator to discuss. 

Students must be enrolled at UofL for a minimum of 18 hours within a 12-month period to meet the residency requirement. These hours are built into the planned format but must be considered when making program modifications. 

Time Limits for Completion of Degree 

• Cohorts begin in fall of each year. 
• The Ed.D. program will take 3 years at minimum for completion. 
• Students must complete all coursework and pass the comprehensive exams within five years. 
• Students must complete all other requirements for the degree within four years after passing the comprehensive exams and being admitted to candidacy. 

A doctoral student must have been admitted to candidacy no later than the end of the month prior to awarding of the degree; that is: 

• August graduation: November 30 of preceding year 
• December graduation: March 31 of the same year 
• May graduation: August 31 of preceding year