ISU Education Doctorate

Systems Level Leadership Program (SLLP) P-12 Track

Iowa Superintendent and AEA Chief Certification

Systems Level Leadership Emphasis P-12 Track
Iowa Superintendent and AEA Chief Certification

Iowa State University’s Ed.D. program is a member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED). The 54-hour curriculum culminates in a dissertation in practice that is focused on “a persistent, contextualized, and specific issue embedded in the work of a professional practitioner, the addressing of which has the potential to result in improved understanding, experience, and outcomes” (CPED, 2020).

Application Deadline and Degree Completion

New cohorts begin every two years in odd-numbered summers.
This degree is designed to be completed in three years.
Candidates may be eligible to apply for Iowa Superintendent/AEA Chief licensure after two years.

Transfer credits may be accepted based on decisions by the Program of Studies Committee and the Graduate College.

HANDBOOK STATEMENT: Link to the Graduate College Handbook

Doctoral students may use any number of credits up to ten years old and up to 36 credits that are 11 years old or more at the discretion of their POS committee and the DOGE(Director of Graduate Education), so long as no more than 12 of those credits are more than 16 years old.

Transfer credits approval are subject to the final determination of the faculty program of study committee (POSC) and the Graduate College. The Graduate College has the FINAL determination of transfer credits.

Distance Delivery Format

To meet the needs of working professionals/administrators, Systems Level Leadership courses are delivered online. We use synchronous and asynchronous formats delivered via Zoom or WebEx.

Estimated Cost of Attendance (2024-25)

Most Ed.D. Candidates will enroll in 6 credits per semester.

Tuition: $3,528.00
Fees: $117.75
Total estimated cost for one semester of 6 credits: $3,645.75

The School of Education and Division of Teaching, Learning, Leadership and Policy offers the following online programs:

Program AreaDegreeDelivery ModeCandidate Requirements
Educational Leadership
Organizations & Policy		MED: Transformative School Leadership Principal CertificationCohort Model www via ZoomHold a teaching license (IA or other State)
Educational Leadership
Organizations & Policy		Ed.D. Education Doctorate Superintendent/AEA Chief CertificationCohort Model www via ZoomHold a principal/administrator license (IA or other State)

Curriculum

The program begins with two years of cohort-based coursework and culminates with a dissertation in practice (DIP) in which each candidate demonstrates the use of critical inquiry to address a complex problem of practice.

This program is designed to prepare transformational, equity-focused district-level leaders. Candidates who complete the program are prepared to work as leaders in school districts, AEAs, departments of education, and a variety of other educational agencies.

In addition to Education Administration focused coursework, candidates complete a core curriculum to develop understanding of the scope, substance, and inter-relationship of the P-20 schooling continuum. The program’s cohort model aims to stimulate a shared learning experience among candidates, foster the development of professional networks, and encourage dialogue among emerging leaders across the educational system.

P-12 Systems Level Leadership Core (Years 1 & 2)

  • EDADM 6250: Social Justice Leadership in Organizations (3 credits)
  • EDADM 6270: Transformative Instructional Leadership (3 credits) 
  • EDADM 6260: Equitable School Finance (3 credits)
  • EDADM 6360: Culturally Responsive Leadership (3 credits)
  • EDADM 6350: Ethical Governance & Policy (3 credits)
  • EDADM 6150F: Seminar: Leadership #1 in P-12 (3 credits)
  • EDADM 6150B: Seminar: Research #2 in P-12 (3 credits) 
  • EDADM 6370: Human Resources Management Practices (3 credits)

NOTE: All EDADM courses above provide clinical fieldwork hours toward Iowa Superintendent & AEA Chief Certification. In addition, ELPS Course courses (***) below complete the additional hours required to meet the 400-hour certification requirement.

Ed.D. Core (Years-1,2,3)

  • ELPS 6510: Social Foundations of Education (3 credits) ***
  • ELPS 6520: Organizational Theory in P-20 Systems (3 credits)
  • ELPS 6530: Contemporary Issues of Equity and Diversity (3 credits)
  • ELPS 6540: Scholar-Practitioner Inquiry (3 credits) ***
  • ELPS 6550: Qualitative Inquiry in P-20 Education (3 credits)
  • ELPS 6560: Statistics for P-20 Education (3 credits)

***Upon completion of 30 credit hours of required coursework which includes the 400 hours of clinical fieldwork by the summer of year two, candidates would be eligible to apply for Iowa Superintendent/AEA Chief licensure.

Dissertation (Year 3)

  • ELPS 6570: Dissertation in Practice Seminar (3 credits with Major Advisor)
  • ELPS 6990: Dissertation Research (9 credits, independent with Major advisor)

Total Credits = 54

BEGIN YOUR GRADUATE PROGRAM APPLICATION HERE
Graduate Programs
Program Information

Curriculum Map: P-12 Systems Level Leadership Program TRACK

Summer one (6 credits)

  • ELPS 6550 Qualitative Inquiry In P-20 Education (3 hrs)
  • ELPS 6510 Social Foundations of Education (3 hrs)

Fall one (6 credits)

  • ELPS 6540 Scholar- Practitioner Inquiry (3 hrs)
  • EDADM 6250X Social Justice Leadership in Organizations (3 hrs)

Spring one (6 credits)

  • ELPS 6560 Statistics for P-20 Education (3 hrs)
  • EDADM 6260X Equitable School Finance (3 hrs)

Summer two (6 credits)

  • EDADM 6350X Ethical Governance and Policy (3 hrs)
  • EDAM 6270X Transformative Instructional Leadership (3 hrs)

Fall two (6 credits)

  • EDADM 6150F: Seminar: Leadership # I in P-12 (3 hrs)
  • EDADM 6150B: Seminar: Research #2 in P-12 (3 hrs

Spring two (6 credits)

  • EDADM 6370X HR & Management Practices (3 hrs)
  • EDADM 6360X Culturally Responsive Leadership (3 hrs)

Summer three (6 credits)

  • ELPS 6520 Organizational Theory in P-20 Systems (3 hrs)
  • ELPS 6570 Dissertation in Practice Seminar (3 hrs)

Fall three (6 credits)

  • ELPS 6530 Contemporary Issues of Equity and Diversity (3 hrs)
  • EDADM 6990 Dissertation Research (with major professors) (3 hrs)

Spring three (9 credits)

EDADM 6990 (6 hrs) Dissertation Research

Total credits = 54

Need More Information?

Contact:

Anita Micich

Associate Professor of Practice

Department: School of Education

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Patrick Determan

Graduate Student Services Specialist II

Department: School of Education

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Systems Level Leadership Faculty

Douglas Wieczorek

Associate Professor

Department: School of Education

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Joanne Marshall

Professor

Department: School of Education

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Anita Micich

Associate Professor of Practice

Department: School of Education

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