University of Connecticut

CPED-Influenced Program

Doctorate in Educational Leadership

School/Department where the Program is Housed

Educational Leadership (houses Adult Learning and Educational Leadership faculty)

Program Description

In the revised format, the program engages students in applied inquiry about a problem inherent in leadership, teaching, or school re- form. Students are encouraged to examine topics that inform equity of educational opportunity.

Each student will complete a capstone project that involves framing their problem of practice, engaging in empirical inquiry on the topic, and developing a set of recommendations that will contribute to the field on the issue.

The primary goal of the program is to provide professional educational leaders (superintendents, asst. superintendents, state department of education administrators, higher education administrators) with the essential habits of mind and sophisticated reasoning skills necessary for leading systemic school improvement. A secondary goal is to develop a cadre of leaders who engage their profession in pursuing socially just schools.

The Neag Ed.D. is a part-time 48-credit program divided into three distinct phases. Takes three to four years to complete.

Philosophy and Mission

“I think this program is on the cutting edge of building and deepening our framing, thinking, and reasoning skills... something that no educational program I have ever been a part of has approached.”

“This program is causing me to wrestle with who I am as a leader and how I go about doing the work of 'leading.' It is causing me to pause, ask myself more questions, and force myself to take part in more inquiry before leaping to conclusions/decisions.”

Participants join together as members of a cohort that collaborates as a professional and academic community of practice. This cohort structure will provide ongoing support within the course work and through the capstone-writing process. Students addressing similar capstone topics will be grouped together where possible.

Admissions Requirements

1. Ordinarily, applicants have a depth and breadth of relevant experiences in the field of educational leadership.
2. Ordinarily, applicants have earned an administrative certificate.
3. All applicants must meet Graduate School requirements for admission into a doctoral program of study.
4. GRE: Should be above 1000 (unofficial standard)
5. Write a personal statement identifying a significant problem of leadership practice faced in your work setting, including an analysis of why this is a problem and how it relates to the improvement of student learning and life outcomes (1500 word maximum).
6. Complete an interview with two faculty members on campus.
7. Send an academic writing sample to the Department of Educational Leadership prior to the interview date. The writing sample is chosen by the applicant as a representation of the applicant’s scholarly writing ability.

Description of each year of the Program — number of courses, credits, time frame; core, specializations, dissertation/capstone

We are actually in the process of changing the order of our courses again. We will know more Fall 2011 Here is an over view:

Year One is designed to engage students in an in-depth analysis of an invested problem of practice through four diverse and powerful academic disciplines (e.g., adult and organizational learning, leadership, policy, sociology).

Year Two is designed to develop students’ competencies as critical consumers of educational research and students’ skills to conduct practitioner-inquiry.

Years Three and Four are designed to support students in their capstone inquiry projects.

Milestones Employed in the Program — comprehensive/qualifying exams, papers, or products necessary for graduation

Because we are part of the graduate school our Ed.D. students have to complete comprehensive/qualifying exams and capstone projects.

Signature Pedagogy

Inquiry based pedagogy, Adult Learning pedagogy, Theoretical Frame Analysis, Root Cause Analysis.

Laboratories of Practice

Students’ research projects are conducted in their own settings in most cases. Units toward LoP are taken throughout the program.

Inquiry Courses

Two courses

Capstone

Under redesign at the moment.

Syllabi

• Research Practicum

Key Contact Person

Anysia Mayer or Casey Cobb, Department Chair

Cost Structure

$11,828 for CT residents per academic year

Program Handbook

See book chapter in Educational Leadership Preparation Innovation and Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Ed.D. and Graduate Education, Gaetane Jean-Marie and Anthony H. Normore

Program Link

http://www.education.uconn.edu/departments/edlr/