Ed.D. in Educational
Leadership
TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY
Purpose and Focus of the Ed.D.
The Ed.D. program is designed to expand the
knowledge of the students while adding
knowledge to the profession through high
quality research and applied scholarship. The
focus of the program is on educational leaders
in the PK-16 setting.
Why Tarleton?
AVAILABLE
APPROACHABLE
AFFORDABLE
Available
 Convenient locations
 Hybrid (online & face-to-face) instruction on weeknights
and weekends
 Course schedules tailored to working professionals
Approachable
 Student-centered, relevant courses
 Engaged faculty
 Collaborative learning environment
 Doctoral cohort model
Affordable
Resident
Tuition & Fees
(6 SCH)
$1,993.60
Rates are based on the 2014 fall semester classes, are estimates, and are
subject to change. Course-specific and optional fees are excluded. The
university tuition & fee calculator was used to calculate this figure.
Average Resident Full-Time (9 SCH) Graduate
Tuition & Fees at Texas Public Universities
Institution
(41 total)
Avg. Yearly Tuition
& Fees
1. UT – Dallas
$11,940
2. UT – Austin
$10,918
3. Univ. of Houston
$8,604
4. UT - Arlington
$8,000
Average
$4,789
11. Univ. of North Texas
$5,242
14. Texas A&M – Commerce
$4,960
36. Tarleton
$3,311
Data from IPEDS (nces.ed.gov/ipeds/) 2012-2013
Ed.D. in Educational
Leadership Curriculum
60 SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS (SCH)
PLUS DISSERTATION
Curriculum Overview
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Educational Leadership Core (27 SCH)
Research Tools (12 SCH)
Electives & Specialization (21 SCH)
Qualifying Exam
Dissertation (12 SCH)
Doctoral course work may include participation in structured and unstructured
activities at off-site locations. Students should be prepared for the outside
activities, the time involved, and the related expenses.
Educational Leadership Core (27 SCH)
 Historical & Theoretical Foundations
 Philosophy & Ethics
 Law & Policy
 Data Analysis & Organizational Improvement
 Organizational Leadership
 Politics & Governance
 Critical Issues
Research Tools (12 SCH)
 Foundations of Statistics
 Research Methods
 Inquiry I
 Inquiry II
Possible Specialization & Elective Areas (21 SCH)
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Principal Certification
Superintendent
Certification
Higher Education
Leadership
Diagnostician
Certification

Cognate Areas
Curriculum
 Gifted/Talented
 Reading
 Educational Technology
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Others
Other Experiences
 Diversity Institute
 Washington, DC Institute
 Presentations/publications with faculty
 Others (e.g., Professional Meetings)
Qualifying Exam
 Based on program objectives
 Students take exam after completing the leadership
core and prior to dissertation proposal
Dissertation (12 SCH)
A thorough study of a problem in educational leadership
investigated in a scientific manner with the assistance of a
three-member dissertation committee selected by the
student.
How to Apply
APPLICATION PACKET
SELECTION PROCESS
Application Guidelines
 For updates & reminders
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 Application Deadlines

November 1 - Early
application deadline

 Submit materials to College
of Graduate Studies
 Regularly check application
status (particularly
references)
 Must meet deadlines

Admitted students may
begin taking electives in
Spring
April 1 - General application
deadline

Admitted students begin
core coursework with cohort
in Summer
Application Packet
Doctoral Application
Application Fee
Official Transcripts
Letters of Reference
GRE Scores
Electronic Portfolio
• Online application
• Apply at www.tarleton.edu/edlps/doctoralapplication.html
• $30 to College of Graduate Studies (within online
application)
• Master’s degree from accredited institution
• Min. of 18 hrs. coursework in admin., management, or
leadership (or equivalent)
• Minimum of 4 (using Letter of Reference Template)
• At least 2 from individuals that hold doctoral degrees
• Scores from last 5 years
• Single pdf file with 3 components (details on next slide)
Electronic Portfolio
 Electronic portfolio components (in single pdf file)
 Letter of introduction (1 page maximum)
 Resume or curriculum vita
Should be detailed & comprehensive
 Include all roles and accomplishments (e.g., honors, leadership roles,
professional memberships)
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Statement of purpose in pursuing this doctoral degree. Describe
how your previous experiences and future aspirations factor into
your purpose (in 600 words or fewer)
Three Stage Selection Process
Screening
Admissions committee reviews application packets.
Evaluation
Selected applicants are invited for an interview
(15-30 min.) with the admissions committee.
If necessary, applicant will be asked to respond
to a writing prompt.
Selection
Applicants most likely of demonstrating future success in a rigorous doctoral program, as
determined by scores on the admissions rubric, will be selected for admittance to the program .
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can certification
course work be applied
toward the Ed.D.?
Yes, under two conditions:
1. The coursework must not
apply toward another
degree.
2. The coursework cannot
be older than 10 years.
Certification coursework
would apply toward the
Specialization Area
credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer hours
from another
university?
A student may transfer a
maximum of 12 SCH as long
as it is graduate-level course
work that supports the
student’s course of study as
determined by the advisor.
Transferred coursework may
not replace any of the
leadership core.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I am able, may I take
more courses than
recommended in the
typical curriculum?
Yes, the doctoral-only
coursework is sequenced, but
electives are not.
Experienced students will tell
you that electives should be
taken as soon as possible in
the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the qualifying
examination a written
exam or an oral exam?
Both. The written component
is a 2-day exam that covers
the course content as
identified in the course &
program objectives. The oral
follow-up exam is
approximately 1 hour in
length.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the
doctoral-only courses
be offered?
Coursework will be offered
on Wednesday evenings and
weekends to accommodate
working professionals. In the
summer, courses will be
offered on Wednesday
evenings and selected Fridays
and Saturdays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are any of the courses
delivered off-site or via
distance education?
Doctoral-only courses will be
delivered in Fort Worth,
Stephenville, or Waco,
contingent upon adequate
enrollment. Although many
of the courses are delivered
in a hybrid format (mixture of
online & face-to-face), we
currently do not offer any of
our leadership core
coursework entirely online.
Questions?
 Contact Dr. Lesley Leach, Doctoral Program Coordinator
 leach@tarleton.edu
 254-968-1938
 For Reminders & Updates
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