Ed.D. in Education

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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 (2022-23)

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:

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 625: Social Justice Leadership in Organizations (3 credits)
• EDADM 627: Transformative Instructional Leadership (3 credits) 
• EDADM 626: Equitable School Finance (3 credits)
• EDADM 636: Culturally Responsive Leadership (3 credits)
• EDADM 635: Ethical Governance & Policy (3 credits)
• EDADM 615F: Seminar: Leadership #1 in P-12 (3 credits)
• EDADM 615B: Seminar: Research #2 in P-12 (3 credits) 
• EDADM 637: 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 651: Social Foundations of Education (3 credits) ***
• ELPS 652: Organizational Theory in P-20 Systems (3 credits)
• ELPS 653: Contemporary Issues of Equity and Diversity (3 credits)
• ELPS 654: Scholar-Practitioner Inquiry (3 credits) ***
• ELPS 655: Qualitative Inquiry in P-20 Education (3 credits)
• ELPS 656: 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 657: Dissertation in Practice Seminar (3 credits with Major Advisor)
• ELPS 699: Dissertation Research (9 credits, independent with Major advisor)

Total Credits = 54

BEGIN YOUR GRADUATE PROGRAM APPLICATION HERE
Graduate Programs
Program Information

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Systems Level Leadership Faculty

Curriculum Map: P-12 Systems Level Leadership Program TRACK

Summer one (6 credits)

• ELPS 655 Qualitative Inquiry In P-20 Education (3 hrs)
• ELPS 651 Social Foundations of Education (3 hrs)

Fall one (6 credits)

• ELPS 654 Scholar- Practitioner Inquiry (3 hrs)
• EDADM 625X Social Justice Leadership in Organizations (3 hrs)

Spring one (6 credits)

• ELPS 656 Statistics for P-20 Education (3 hrs)
• EDADM 626X Equitable School Finance (3 hrs)

Summer two (6 credits)

• EDADM 635X Ethical Governance and Policy (3 hrs)
• EDAM 627X Transformative Instructional Leadership (3 hrs)

Fall two (6 credits)

• EDADM 615F: Seminar: Leadership # I in P-12 (3 hrs)
• EDADM 615B: Seminar: Research #2 in P-12 (3 hrs

Spring two (6 credits)

• EDADM 637X HR & Management Practices (3 hrs)
• EDADM 636X Culturally Responsive Leadership (3 hrs)

Summer three (6 credits)

• ELPS 652 Organizational Theory in P-20 Systems (3 hrs)
• ELPS 657 Dissertation in Practice Seminar (3 hrs)

Fall three (6 credits)

• ELPS 653 Contemporary Issues of Equity and Diversity (3 hrs)
• EDADM 699 Dissertation Research (with major professors) (3 hrs)

Spring three (9 credits)

• EDADM 699 (6 hrs) Dissertation Research

Total credits = 54