Doctoral Course Descriptions
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EDDL 7300      Foundations of Education
The course provides an introduction to educational leadership with an emphasis on leadership practice, development, and implementation. The work and challenges of educational leaders will be examined. The student will study the roles of servant leadership, credibility, vision, empowerment, and strategy for educational leaders.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7301      Developmental Theories
This course explores human development research, focusing on physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and personality development from conception to death within the context of psychological and sociological theories of development with an emphasis on their contributions to the practices of Christian nurture, instruction, and leadership formation.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7302      Learning Theories
This course explores the major theories of, and ongoing research in, learning with application of these theories and research studies to curriculum design and instructional strategies in school districts, colleges and universities, and church settings. Emphasis is given to an analysis of learning styles as well.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7303      Organizational Behavior and Leadership
This course examines organizations from a sociological perspective to gain a comprehensive understanding of both theoretical and practical workings of K-12, post-secondary, and ecumenical organizations. Chaos, complexity theory, and appreciative theory will also be addressed, along with the common and diverse elements of structures, rational, natural, and open systems perspectives including application to school districts, institutions of higher education, churches, and denominational agencies.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7304      Leadership and Management Theories
Leadership is essentially the ability of an individual to influence others and themselves to achieve a purpose, attain a goal, or create a change. Contemporary organizations expect mastery of strategic leadership elements and comprehension of motivational and problem solving approaches from their leaders. This course provides a survey of the key components of leadership and management theory, concepts, and models within the context of a Christian worldview. Students will examine leadership theory, ethics, values, attitudes, character development, and leadership behavior with an emphasis on developing the requisite skills for effective servant leadership. In this seminar, students will build upon self-knowledge related to their leadership style and practices. Students will establish a baseline understanding of the leadership abilities and practices that will be used to establish personal and professional goals.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7305      Strategic Planning
This course explores organizational strategy from a theoretical perspective with an emphasis on the application of strategic models and tools to lead effectively within the K-12, higher education, church, and denominational environments.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7306      Marketing and Public Relations
This course overviews marketing and public relations history, marketing and public relations strategies, environmental forces, consumer behavior, market analysis, channels of distribution, promotional strategy, and advertising strategy. Principles underlying marketing and public relations, development of institutional and community understanding, fostering cooperation through appropriate agents and agencies, and building relationships between institutional personnel with the public are also explored.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7307      Personnel Management
Students will participate in a variety of authentic and research-based activities designed to enhance human resource management and development from a servant leadership perspective.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7310      Leadership and Management Theories
Leadership is essentially the ability of an individual to influence other persons to achieve a purpose, attain a goal, or create a change. Contemporary businesses, educational institutions, and other organizations expect mastery of strategic leadership elements and a comprehension of motivational and problem solving approaches from their leaders. This course provides a survey of the key components of leadership theory, concepts, and models within the context of a Christian worldview. Students will examine leadership theory, ethics, values, attitudes, character development, diversity, and leadership behavior with an emphasis on developing the requisite skills for effective servant leadership.  Summer.
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7315      Budgeting and Finance in Education
Students will participate in a variety of authentic and research – based activities designed to provide the budgeting and finance knowledge and skills necessary to lead school districts. Issues of local, state, and federal laws and policies will be addressed and applied from a servant–leadership perspective.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7330      Principles of Educational Research
Examination of quantitative, qualitative, historical, and other research designs and methods to enhance the evaluation of higher education research and to prepare the students for applications in research design.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7331      Statistics I
Students will learn to analyze and apply descriptive and inferential statistics, elements of probability that support statistical theory, and theoretical distributions. Tests of hypotheses will include z-tests, t-tests, chi-square tests, one-way and two-way analysis of variance, and nonparametric tests. Other topics included will be confidence intervals, correlation, linear regression, and multiple regressions. Students will apply statistics to critical educational issues that require measurement, analysis, and decision making for organizational improvement. They will further design, conduct, and report a study that demonstrates their statistical skills. This course is required for all students who have not earned a grade of B or higher in statistics at the master’s level and must be taken before EDDL 7333, Quantitative and Qualitative Methods and Analysis.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7332      Quantitative Research Methods and Analysis
Students will expand previous knowledge for analysis, interpretation, and decision-making in quantitative research to be used in education leadership and school improvement roles. Students will use statistical software to aid in their research.  
Prereq: Master's level Statistics I prerequisite required.


EDDL 7333      Quantitative and Qualitative Methods and Analysis
This course is an extension of Statistics I. Students will expand previous knowledge for analysis, interpretation, and decision making in quantitative research to be used in education leadership and school improvement roles. Students will use statistical software to aid in their research using both descriptive and inferential statistics.   
Prereq: EDDL 7330 (Principles of Educational Research) and EDDL 7331, (Statistics I) or comparable statistics course.


EDDL 7334      Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis
Students will expand previous knowledge for analysis, interpretation, and decision-making in qualitative research to be used in education leadership and school improvement roles. Students will use qualitative software to aid in their research.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7335      Dissertation Research and Prospectus Design
Under the guidance of their dissertation supervisor, students will participate in the development and implementation of their prospectus to their dissertation committee. All required components of the dissertation outline must be included as described in the Doctoral Handbook including the approval of the Human Subject Protection and Approval Form.  
Prereq: EDDL 7333 (Quantitative and Qualitative Methods and Analysis).


EDDL 7345      Ethics and Leadership Theory
Students will participate in the study of leadership models and application from an ethical perspective. They will be expected to participate in critical thinking and problem solving research, case studies, and authentic organizational applications designed to expand principled focus from a servant leadership perspective.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7350      Leadership and Communication in Education
This course will provide a communication-based perspective of organizational leadership, persuasion, and conflict resolution. Discussion and application of contemporary leadership, communication, and behavioral theories to interpersonal and group communication within the educational environment will include a review of communication roles, formal vs. informal processes, time and stress management, group/team leadership, conflict and negotiation, problem solving, motivation, empowerment, and delegation.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7366      Social and Cultural Contexts of Education (Global)
This course will focus on the historical, philosophical, pedagogical, and administrative similarities and differences present in global education. Students will explore a part of the vast, global education community through an international travel institute experience, comparing public and private education in a specific country to the American system of education. Students will analyze educational problems and issues, critique policies affecting education in society, and make connections between educational practice and learning.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7367      Social and Cultural Contexts of Leadership (Global)
This course will focus on the historical, philosophical, pedagogical, administrative and management similarities and differences in global educational leadership. Through experiential study of an international, or foreign educational system, students will explore the leadership styles as they encounter diverse ideas, people, and experiences. Through interviewing, consistent journaling, and extensive reading, students will analyze diverse leadership styles in both the public and private educational setting from a global perspective. The course focuses on personal interactions and extensive travel to produce both personal and professional growth.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 7388      Dissertation I (Research and Prospectus)
Doctoral students will be guided and assisted in the development of their dissertation proposals, writing dissertation chapters, design, data analysis, preparing articles for publication, developing research proposals for professional conferences, and other professional arenas. Emphasis will be placed on individual student work with their chair and Dissertation Committee members.   
Prereq: Students must have their dissertation proposal approved by the Human Subjects Committee prior to completion of this course. Students must maintain continuous enrollment in this course until this occurs.


EDDL 7389      Dissertation II
Doctoral students will work individually with their Chair and Dissertation Committee members on the completion of their dissertation. To be acceptable, the dissertation must be evidence that the student has pursued a program of research, the results of which reveal superior academic competence and a significant contribution of knowledge to the field of educational leadership in a higher education or K-12 school system setting or the educational ministry setting. Students must maintain continuous enrollment in this course until they have successfully completed and defended their dissertation.  
Prereq: EDDH 7388; Students must have their dissertation proposal approved by the Ed.D. Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects prior to registering for this course.


EDDL 7390      Independent Research
Individual research varied in content and relating to an issue of professional interest and significance in the field of educational leadership. Permission from the Ed.D. Director is required.  
Prereq: None.


EDDL 8300      Cohort Only - Continuous Enrollment for Comprehensive Examination Candidacy I
Independent study leading to retake of the comprehensive examination for the doctoral degree. To retain classified standing in the Ed.D. program, a student must enroll in a Continuous Enrollment for Comprehensive Examination Candidacy course each semester until all sections of the comprehensive examination are passed.   
Prereq: Approval of the Program Director.


EDDL 8301      Cohort Only - Continuous Enrollment for Comprehensive Examination Candidacy II
Independent study leading to retake of the comprehensive examination for the doctoral degree. To retain classified standing in the Ed.D. program, a student must enroll in a Continuous Enrollment for Comprehensive Examination Candidacy course each semester until all sections of the comprehensive examination are passed.   
Prereq: Approval of the Program Director