Overview

The doctoral program in Educational Leadership with specializations in both PreK-12 Education and Postsecondary Education is designed to prepare educators to lead reform efforts in California’s Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade schools, community colleges and postsecondary institutions. The degree program is designed specifically for working professionals in the field of education.

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership has three emphases: Educational System Redesign; Urban Teaching and Learning; and Students’ Special Needs, Supports and Services.

Admission to the Program

For admission to the program, applicants must have:
1. An earned baccalaureate degree and master’s degree from accredited institution of higher education with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in upper division courses and 3.25 or above in graduate study. Official transcripts are required.
2. A professional resume.
3. Demonstrated excellence in writing as demonstrated by samples of academic and professional documents.
4. Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores on the three sections of the General Test; GRE scores from the previous five (5) years are acceptable as valid for this purpose.
5. Three confidential letters of recommendation attesting to the leadership and scholarship potential of the applicant. One letter should be from a university faculty member who is familiar with the applicant’s work. One letter should be from a person who has supervised the applicant in an employment setting and the final letter should address the applicant’s fit for the selected emphasis area.
6. A written statement of professional purpose that reflects an understanding of the future challenges facing educational organizations and the community they serve.

Requirements for the Degree

A total of 60 semester units is required, with at least 30 in 6000-level courses and including 12 dissertation units; however, the Ed.D. program at Cal State LA is designed to be completed exclusively with 6000-level courses and labs. Students must pass a qualifying examination and complete a dissertation. Only students who have been admitted to the doctoral program may enroll in doctoral courses, unless prior approval of the Doctoral Program Director is obtained.

 Learning Outcomes