Educational Leadership

Doctoral Degree Program

Graduate opportunities

Effective instruction, curriculum development and assessment are the pillars of the Educational Leadership program at the University of North Texas. A strong understanding of these concepts helps you establish a career or further your career in higher education or school administration. The development of conceptual thinking and problem-based learning are emphasized throughout the program.

Our program offers a Doctor of Education or Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Leadership. We also offer a superintendent certificate and a certification scholarship program.

While pursuing your doctoral degree, you will study and evaluate current theory and research to reflect on and apply decision-making skills concerning effective practices. You will also participate in applied research to improve practice through the generation and application of new knowledge.

Courses are available at several locations throughout the North Texas region. In addition to providing courses on campus, we offer courses at the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth, the Universities Center of Dallas and the Collin Higher Education Center in McKinney. Courses are also provided online and via videoconferencing. No matter the location, students have full access to the UNT library and research resources.

Strong support

Our courses are structured to create a supportive network of colleagues during and after you complete the program. This network ensures successful goal achievement in the program and throughout your educational leadership career. We emphasize a positive culture for learning, and faculty advisors will work closely with you to ensure your success in completing the program, publishing and presenting research, and participating in scholarly work and school district leadership roles.

The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (2010 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20036-1023; telephone 202-466- 7496). This distinction means we meet or exceed strict academic standards for excellence in education. The college is also one of the top producers of teachers, administrators, counselors and other school professionals in Texas.

Outstanding resources

Our faculty members have many years of formal training and school leadership experience as principals, assistant superintendents and superintendents. Their scholarly accomplishments include:

• Writing books, articles and book chapters
• Presenting research at state, national and international conferences
• Serving in leadership roles for state, national and international organizations
• Receiving and implementing numerous grants
• Delivering keynote speeches at state, national and international conferences

Students and professors collaborate on presenting at conferences and publishing works. Our professors conduct research, publish and perform presentations on:

• Data analysis for improved student performance
• Education law
• Leadership and reform initiatives
• Online instructional strategies
• Policy implementation
• Professional development
• Professional learning communities
• School finance

Special programs and research centers

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Analysis assists with the conception, design, methods, analysis and interpretation of research related to research projects, proposal writing, evaluations, theses and dissertations.

The Center for the Study of Education Reform conducts policy research on selected school reform issues and disseminates research findings to policy makers and educators. Faculty and student research has concentrated on educational policy and curricular and instructional innovations intended to promote academic success of traditionally marginalized student populations, particularly Spanish-speaking immigrants.

The Southwest Securities Superintendent Certification Scholarship Program aims to produce school leaders who can provide new opportunities for all children while solving critical problems in education. Our superintendent certification program provides a high quality, research-based preparation for top school leaders.

Attending UNT

Admission requirements

Applying to the doctoral program is a two-step process, requiring you to apply to the Toulouse Graduate School and the program. Graduate school admission requirements include applying at www.applytexas.org submitting official copies of all transcripts and taking the GRE.

You will also submit an application portfolio with the following documentation to our educational leadership department:

• Completed program application form, which is available at www.coe.unt.edu/teacher-education-and- administration/educational-administration
• Essay focusing on your two most important professional achievements and career goals and explaining how securing a doctoral degree relates to those goals
• Essay on the two or three most important books you have read related to education
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Three reference letters (One letter needs to be from a college or university professor. The letters should provide assessments of your work as an academic professional and your ability to do doctoral work.)
• Writing sample of a published article, book chapter, research term paper, or district or agency report (This demonstrates your ability to write at an advanced conceptual level.)

Additional requirements include:

• Completion of 24 semester hours in education at the master’s level or 15 hours of leveling courses in educational leadership
• Master’s degree
• Teaching certificate
• Two years teaching experience at a private or public school

If your master’s degree is not in educational leadership, you can take master’s level educational leadership leveling courses prior to the doctoral work. You will work with an advisor to determine the master’s courses needed.

Application deadlines are March 15 for the fall semester and Oct. 15 for the spring semester.

Degree requirements

You must complete 60 to 63 semester hours for an Ed.D. or Ph.D. degree. The course work for the Ed.D. includes:

• Educational leadership core courses
• Educational research and statistics courses
• Educational leadership elective courses
• Minor subject or concentration area courses
• Dissertation

Ph.D. requirements are similar, but the program has a greater emphasis on educational research. Consult with an advisor to discuss Ph.D. requirements. Both programs have a residency requirement. For the Ph.D., you will need to take 9 hours for two consecutive semesters. For the Ed.D., you will need to take 6 hours for three consecutive semesters.

Your progression is based on a degree plan developed in consultation with your major professor.

A maximum of 24 semester hours beyond the master’s degree may be transferred from other institutions that offer the doctoral degree. Transfer credit must be approved by your major professor or advisory committee and the dean of the graduate school.

Superintendent certification

You must meet the admission requirements for the Toulouse Graduate School. In addition, a Superintendent Certification Program Application and a nomination form from your school district must be submitted to the program. The nomination form is available at www.coe.unt.edu/teacher-education-and- administration/educational-administration.

This certification program consists of 15 semester hours of course work including an internship. Twelve hours are doctoral-level work and may be applied toward the doctorate if you are accepted to the program. The internship cannot be applied to a doctoral degree.

In addition, for certification, you will need to pass the Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES) Superintendent test.

Financial assistance

The College of Education offers scholarships to graduate students including the College of Education Scholarship and Education: The Key to Success for North Texans Scholarship. The Southwest Securities Superintendent Certification Scholarship Program is open to superintendent certification students. More information about this scholarship program is at www.coe.unt.edu/teacher-education-and-administration/educational-administration. For more information on other scholarships, visit . Information about other financial assistance programs is available at financialaid.unt.edu.