Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 General Catalog 
    
2021-2022 General Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Educational Leadership, Ph.D.


The Ph.D. program in educational leadership is designed as a non-traditional program to insure the academic success of qualified individuals who are interested in serving in rural and urban educational environments. The department admits a cohort of candidates in the fall semester (August) of each year. Candidates complete the course work in this full-time program in two years (6 semesters). Candidacy is attained upon passing the comprehensive examination during semester 7. Upon passing the comprehensive examination, candidates may register for dissertation hours. Because of the developmental focus of this program, transfer credits are not accepted.

This Ph.D. program is based upon the cohort model with a transformational leader philosophical foundation. Inter-and intra-personal developments are program foci, and immersion in cultural and diversity phenomena is emphasized. Attention to the development of the exemplary professional and scholar are important as evidenced in the emphasis placed upon theoretical content and research methods.

The Ph.D. program in educational leadership is an intensive learning experience. The curriculum is organized around the premise that effective leadership requires an understanding of multiple human contexts and the ability to use technical competence and administrative skills, combined with personal understanding and commitment.

Graduates of this doctoral program pursue leadership career opportunities in educational settings and organizations; PK-20 institutions and organizations involved with local, state, national and international education agendas. The program provides professionals with theoretical bases and practical understandings that enable them to be transformational leaders, effective change agents and successful program managers, particularly in schools, higher education and agencies that serve the needs of minority and at-risk populations.

 The percentage of graduates of this program substantially exceeds the national average for graduates of doctoral programs in the United States of America. The rigor and design of the program coupled with faculty commitment and candidates’ behavior contribute to this graduation rate.

Admissions


Persons desiring admission to graduate study at the University should access the Graduate School website to begin the admissions process.

Applicants must have completed a master’s degree in an educationally related area from an accredited college or university in order to be considered for admission to the Ph.D. program in Educational Leadership. Admission decisions will be made prior to February 1 of each academic year with notification to accepted applicants.

Submission of a completed application does not guarantee admission. Applications are evaluated based upon a calculated formula. For applicants who wish to apply for fellowships or assistantships, financial aid paperwork must be submitted as soon after admission into the program as possible.

Persons desiring admission to graduate study at the University should access the Graduate School website to begin the admissions process.


  1.  Official copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts as well as transcripts for work completed in post-secondary institutions for which no degrees were awarded,
  2.  Official copy of results of the Graduate Record Examination (must have been taken within the last 5 years),
  3.  Three (3) letters of reference from professionals who can assess the applicant’s ability,
  4.  A statement of not more than 1000 words in which the applicant discusses his or her professional goals,
  5.  Copies of teaching or other professional certificates (A teaching certificate is not required for admission to the program), and
  6.  Samples of published work, if any, and/or other writings.

Curriculum Guide


The curriculum for the doctoral program is organized around the premise that effective leadership requires an understanding of the social context, technical competence, managerial skills, and personal understanding and commitment. The courses that constitute the curriculum are organized into four core areas:

Candidate complete at least 54 semester hours of course work as designated by the Program faculty. Course work is determined for each admitted Cohort.

*** Course requirements are subject to change in accordance with state and federal mandates and other factors.

The total number of semester hours varies according to each candidate’s progression in the program. Candidates are full-time and enroll for 9 hours each semester including summers.

Course of Study


Individuals selected for this Ph.D. program are members of a cohort and enroll in the same courses each semester. The program faculty determines the specific courses for each cohort from an approved course list. In each course, candidates are urged to focus on problem-centered learning experiences, critical thinking, research particularly in their specific areas of interest, and their research and presentation competencies and endeavors. The applicants must clearly demonstrate ethical behavior, mature judgment, and responsibility for themselves, their work ethics, and their assignment completion at a high level of proficiency once admitted to this Ph.D. program.

The program is designed as an intensive learning experience. Students are enrolled full time in three courses (9 semester hours) each semester including summers and complete 54 credit hours of course work. In addition to the course work, students will complete a minimum of 15 hours of dissertation semester hours. The minimum total of 69 semester hours is required for program completion. The areas encompassed by the coursework include inter-and intra-personal development, communication, social foundations, statistics and research methods, organizational theory, management and leadership, and technological applications in research and leadership. Cohort participants enroll in courses as a group. Within each course, students are encouraged to focus the problem-centered learning experiences on their specific area of interest.

 

Graduation Requirements


The requirements for graduation from the Ph.D. program in educational
leadership are:
1. The successful completion of a minimum of 18 courses and a minimum of 15 dissertation credit hours in the leadership, research, professional and specialty cores.
2. A minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average in all course work. No grade of “C” or below will be accepted toward credit in the Ph.D. program and only two classes in which a grade of “C” or below must be repeated.
3. Submission of a TaskStream folio with specific graded artifacts for each course in the doctoral sequence.
4. Evidence of successful integration of program content through the successful completion of the doctoral comprehensive examination and the successful defense of the proposal and dissertation.
5. The submission of the dissertation approved by Ph. D. program coordinator, department chair, dean of the college of education, and dean, graduate studies and research. Copies of the dissertation have to be made on 24-lb acid free dissertation paper and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies and Research with the binding fee and with a statement to the Department of Educational Leadership chair from the dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research that the dissertation and fees have been submitted before a student may participate in graduation. A bound copy must be provided to the dissertation committee chair, the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling, dean of the College of Education, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research, and the FAMU library, and all copies desired by the candidate. No candidate may graduate or participate in graduation activities whose dissertation has not been submitted to the School of Graduate Studies and Research to be uploaded into the Proquest ETD system.

Note: Dissertation credit hours may add to the minimum number of semester hours required for completion of the doctoral degree