Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

This course provides the student with the necessary skills to effectively analyze theories associated with administration and leadership and develop original theoretical and conceptual frameworks appropriately aimed at administration within educational and social science venues. Emphasis is placed on interpreting existing organizational, administration, and leadership theories within original research studies, writing narrative sections devoted to theoretical frameworks for dissertations, and manuscripts for publication.

This course is designed to examine a disciplined approach to educational innovation. Improvement science focuses on creating a collaborative space for teachers, leaders, and researchers to solve specific problems of practice. The course examines current research on reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making and introduces students to the fundamental techniques of using data to make informed education-related decisions. Additionally, the course focuses on ways of modeling or thinking about problems of practice to enhance decision-making skills. The course further examines the rationales for different innovations by integrating multiple perspectives.

This course prepares doctoral students for designing scholarly research in general and their dissertation in particular. This course will guide students in constructing a qualitative design methodology section and developing the necessary skills to evaluate published research in their area of expertise critically. In addition, this course will provide insight into conducting ethical research. Guide students in identifying and designing a study using a qualitative methods approach. The course focuses on designing and implementing qualitative data collection and analysis research.

This introductory course is designed for beginners to learn the fundamental concepts and techniques of conducting quantitative research and applying statistical analysis in education. The course covers the basics of research design, data collection, and statistical methods such as descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression. Students will gain hands-on experience using statistical software to analyze data and interpret results, enabling them to understand and apply quantitative research findings in educational contexts. This course provides a solid foundation for those new to research and statistics, equipping them with the skills to explore and address educational questions through data-driven approaches.

This course is designed to prepare doctoral students for designing scholarly research in general and dissertations in particular. This course will guide students in developing the necessary skills required to evaluate published research in their area of expertise critically. In addition, this course will provide insight into conducting ethical research. This course will also assist students in constructing a mixed-design methodology section. Additionally, the course will guide students in identifying and designing a study using a mixed-methods approach. More specifically, the course focuses on designing and implementing research that combines qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.

This course is a rigorous course that builds on foundational statistical methods in education. It focuses on advanced techniques such as multivariate analysis, hierarchical linear modeling, and structural equation modeling. Emphasizing practical application, students learn to design and implement sophisticated quantitative research studies to address complex educational issues. Topics include data interpretation, model testing, and the integration of statistical findings into educational policy and practice.

This course prepares doctoral students for designing scholarly research in general and their dissertation in particular. This course will guide students in constructing a qualitative design methodology section and developing the necessary skills to evaluate published research in their area of expertise critically. In addition, this course will provide insight into conducting ethical research. Guide students in identifying and designing a study using a qualitative methods approach. The course focuses on designing and implementing qualitative data collection and analysis research.

This is the first course in a series of four-sequenced doctoral seminar courses for students in their doctoral journey. This third doctoral seminar serves as the doctoral students’ pre-proposal phase. Additionally, this doctoral seminar course will introduce students to the process of formulating ideas in ways directly related to critical aspects of their proposal. This seminar will also guide doctoral students in addressing issues relating to the dissertation proposal’s introduction, literature review, and methodology chapters. Students shall complete an assignment designed to be a guiding document for chairs and students to provide committee members with a sufficient roadmap about what the student intends to do and, simultaneously, allow students to respond to ethical issues related to the study. Students shall defend the written assignment to the Doctoral Dissertation Committee.

The Doctoral Literature Review course is designed to equip doctoral candidates with the skills and methodologies to conduct comprehensive and critical literature reviews within their respective fields of study. This course emphasizes the importance of a well-constructed literature review as the foundation for scholarly research, providing the intellectual framework and context for their dissertation work.

This is the second course of the series of four-sequenced doctoral seminar courses for students in their doctoral journey. This second dissertation seminar serves as the doctoral students’ dissertation proposal phase. This semester-long (16-week seminar) will focus on student readiness and competence for pursuing research objectives outlined in the Doctoral Student Toolbox Structural Guidelines. Additionally, this seminar guides students in demonstrating their ability to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills developed through formal coursework by designing and writing an original research proposal on a researchable topic or phenomenon following the Structural Guidelines for Proposals and Dissertations. Students should successfully defend their proposals orally to their Doctoral Dissertation Committee. Obtaining two unsatisfactory grades at this level may result in the student’s removal from the doctoral program.

This is the third course of the sequenced doctoral seminar courses for students in their doctoral journey. This third doctoral seminar serves as the data reporting and analysis phase. This semester-long (16-week seminar) will focus on student readiness and competence for pursuing research objectives outlined in the Doctoral Student Toolbox Structural Guidelines. Additionally, this seminar guides students in demonstrating their ability to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills developed through formal coursework by writing and analyzing the results of data collected after fieldwork following the Structural Guidelines for writing Chapter Four of the dissertation.

This is the fourth course of the sequenced doctoral seminar courses for students in their doctoral journey. This fifth doctoral seminar serves as the data reporting and analysis phase. This semester-long (16-week seminar) will focus on student readiness and competence for pursuing research objectives outlined in the Doctoral Student Toolbox Structural Guidelines. Additionally, this seminar guides students in demonstrating their ability to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills developed through formal coursework by writing and analyzing the results of data collected after fieldwork following the Structural Guidelines for writing Chapter Five of the dissertation.

This course equips students with the skills to identify, analyze, and resolve essential contemporary educational issues while anticipating future challenges. It focuses on critical aspects such as educational organization, pedagogy, curriculum, policies, philosophies, and institutional missions. Additionally, students will investigate and critically evaluate their proposed problems of practice, applying theoretical knowledge to practical situations and preparing them to contribute effectively to educational improvement and innovation.

This course provides an in-depth examination of educational reform from two pivotal perspectives: first, identifying the essential elements and strategies that define successful education reform processes, and second, exploring the critical knowledge, skills, and competencies that future schools, educators, and students must possess to achieve success and sustainability throughout the 21st century and beyond.

This course offers an in-depth exploration of the legal, ethical, and political issues affecting PK-12 education, covering topics such as district and school liability, the rights of students and teachers, and employment and technology-related concerns. Emphasis is placed on understanding federal and state statutes and case law, particularly regarding due process, liability, equal protection, and the rights of educators and students. Through this course, students will gain insights into the risks associated with these areas and develop strategies to mitigate them. Additionally, the course examines the ethical and political contexts of decision-making and policy formation at both the classroom and school levels.

In this course, students will create innovative curriculum processes tailored to the technological age, enabling educators to adopt a forward-looking approach to teaching and learning. Recognizing the dynamic nature of the world, students will design curriculum strategies that help educators stay ahead of educational trends and effectively reinvent essential curriculum models.

In this course, students will explore the foundations of higher education by critically analyzing contemporary issues in the field and identifying, analyzing, and solving these issues through practical applications. Using real-world problems of practice as a context, students will evaluate the potential implications of policy recommendations and administrative decisions on key areas such as affordability, access, student needs, and student success. This comprehensive approach will enable students to develop a nuanced understanding of the complexities of higher education and prepare them to address current and future challenges effectively.

In this course, students will delve into how demographic, social, legal, financial, and geographic factors collectively influence the educational capabilities of higher education institutions. Emphasis will be placed on strategically leveraging institutional resources and planning to improve the educational experience for college and university students. Topics covered include enrollment management, external affairs, campus planning, and institutional research, equipping students with the skills to utilize assessment and data effectively in planning and implementing transformative changes within educational settings.

This course aims to acquaint students with statutory and case law relevant to cultivating ethical higher education administrators who possess a deep understanding of policies affecting various areas, including employment practices like affirmative action, literacy standards, dismissal protocols, contractual obligations, tenure considerations, civil rights protections, due process requirements, and the rights of students within educational settings.

This course delves into the philosophical, historical, sociological, and organizational factors influencing American higher education academic programs, curriculum development, and co-curricular initiatives. It explores ongoing tensions that prompt curriculum reforms and innovative pedagogical approaches to enhance student learning outcomes.