Degrees and Programs Offered

Professional Certifications

Professional Certification in Administration (Principal Certification)

Superintendent Certification

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) provides master’s level prepared educators with advanced studies leading to a doctoral degree. The program consists of 24 credit hours of core courses, 18 credit hours in one of two concentration areas (curriculum and instruction or educational leadership), 9 hours of coursework in related fields or electives, and 9 hours of dissertation study. The program is designed for students to successfully complete the 60 credit hour program on a part-time basis in four years, with a time limit of ten years.

Two areas of concentration are offered in the program, 1) curriculum and instruction, and 2) educational leadership.

Curriculum and Instruction

The graduate will gain the required skills, knowledge, and dispositions to understand and apply educational theory and practice in the design of curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of diverse learning communities.

Graduates will be able to:

• Be knowledgeable about current trends and issues impacting curriculum and instruction; 
• Construct appropriate curriculum to meet the needs of diverse students; 
• Identify and provide appropriate staff development to meet the professional needs of faculty; 
• Identify appropriate resources to support curriculum and to facilitate effective instruction; 
• Analyze and evaluate effectiveness of staff development; 
• Use student data to ensure appropriate changes to curriculum and instruction; 
• Interpret and implement standards/changes impacting curriculum and instruction; 
• Effectively and clearly articulate curriculum design, format, instructional strategies, etc. to diverse audiences;
• Examine strategies to promote higher-level thinking using technology as a tool; 
• Identify effective approaches to integrate the use of computer technology into curricular areas; 
• Examine the process of evaluating educational software programs; 
• Develop resources that assist in implementing technology-based instruction.

Educational Leadership

The graduate will gain the required skills, knowledge, and dispositions to understand and apply researched based practices to effectively lead educational agencies and promote the success of all students.

Graduates will be able to: 

• Develop the capacity to forecast, plan for, and manage organizational change based upon data driven decisions and the creation of an inclusive, collaborative culture; 
• Facilitate the development, articulation and implementation of shared vision of learning that is supported by the community; 
• Manage the resources of the community to provide a safe, efficient and effective learning environment; Collaborate with all community stakeholders by responding to diverse community interests and needs; 
• Act with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner; 
• Understand and respond appropriately to the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural landscapes; Nurture and sustain a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth; 
• Explore the use of the Internet in the educational setting;
• Examine the process of evaluating educational software programs; 
• Develop resources that assist in implementing technology-based instruction; 
• Examine the use of technology as a management tool; 
• Construct a plan to manage various technologies in an educational setting; 
• Describe and maintain current information involving facilities planning issues related to hardware, software, networking, and support.