Ed.D. in Educational Leadership K-12
Neil Dugger, Ed.D., Director

Thank you for your interest in the doctoral program for the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership K-12. Our purpose is to produce servant leaders who have the knowledge and skills to integrate faith and learning for the purpose of school improvement.

Designed to prepare educational leaders for K-12 leadership roles, the Ed.D. degree emphasizes a practical approach to leadership development using the servant leadership model. The 60-hour degree program consists of studies in leadership, K-12 educational issues, and research, and culminates in a written treatise. All Ed.D. K-12 students will progress through the core courses and research studies as a cohort during the first three years. The final treatise project will be completed on a self-paced time frame in conjunction with a committee. Although the program is designed for the practitioner, it is academically rigorous.

Please give prayerful consideration to this opportunity, as it will transform your life and career. If I can be of any assistance to you, please contact me at 214.333.5835 or via email at neil@dbu.edu.

Sincerely,

Neil Dugger, Ed.D.
Director, Ed.D. in Educational Leadership K-12

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The application deadline for the Fall 2013 cohort is June 1, 2013. All applicants who meet the entrance requirements will be invited for an interview. Once all the applicants have been interviewed, the names of the selected applicants will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee for final approval. Notification of admission will be made in early July, and the students will receive their course syllabi in August.

 

 

Purpose

The purpose of the Dallas Baptist University Ed.D. in K-12 Educational Leadership program is to provide Christ-centered, quality, research-based doctoral studies in the area of educational leadership to adult practitioner-learners in order to produce servant leaders who have the ability to integrate faith and learning for the purpose of school improvement.

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership K-12 emphasizes a practical approach to leadership development that accentuates the servant leadership model. This degree program is for individuals who intend to put their skills into practice through positions of leadership in educational institutions. DBU's purpose is to provide a transforming, Christ-centered, quality education. Our desire is to produce servant leaders who are trained to develop other leaders through the knowledge and skills gained in this doctoral program.

Design of Program

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership K-12 is a sixty (60) credit hour program consisting of the following:

• 24 hours of core studies in educational leadership,
• 6 hours of research studies,
• 21 hours of cognate studies,
• and a minimum of 9 hours treatise research and writing.

The program offers students the following benefits:

• Rigorous yet practical design.
• Classes each fall, spring, and summer term.
• Coursework completion in approximately three years and graduation upon defense of their treatise for students who enroll and successfully complete six hours during each term.
• An opportunity for students to begin writing their treatise proposal in the third year of study.
• The option for students to take additional time to complete their treatise studies.
• Enrichment from a body of students from other countries, diverse cultures, different higher educational institutions, and various school systems.
• An exciting and stimulating educational experience for everyone involved.

Cohort Structure

• The cohort is structured in a six hour per semester format. Each fall and spring, the classes meet on campus only three weekends a semester (a weekend is defined as all day Friday and all day Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). Projects, papers, and readings are assigned between these class meetings.
• During the summer semester, the format converts to a symposium type format. The students will meet on campus for 7 to 9 days, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. This summer schedule facilitates travel during the first and second years in the program. During the first year, the students travel to Austin, Texas, and in the second year, the students travel to Washington, D.C. No additional costs are incurred for this travel. The student pays the regular tuition for the six hours of instruction, and DBU pays the cost of the student's airfare, hotel, and two meals a day.

Resources

An exceptionally qualified faculty directs the Ed.D. program, including a number of current or former K-12 educational leaders.

Other instructional resources available to students of the Ed.D. program include the Vance Memorial Library, which offers a multitude of services and electronic databases. In addition, an array of instructional technology, featuring the Blackboard courseware management system, is available to students as directed by the instructor of each course.

Student Testimonials

 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  - Jeremiah 29:11

I know the Lord has great and wonderful plans for me in my calling to serve students, teachers, parents, and communities through education.  I am blessed to be working on my Ed.D. at Dallas Baptist University. I applied for the program because I wanted to learn how to lead and guide educators in effective ways to positively influence the education of our students ... tomorrow's leaders.

I have enjoyed each of my courses and have built lasting friendships among my cohort colleagues. The cohort model is ideal, bringing together people with a common passion from various walks of life.  This allows us to share the knowledge and unique experiences we each have, while learning and growing together.  I have also benefited from the low student-to-teacher ratio by being able to get to know my professors. The faculty members are experts in the field and have a wealth of knowledge while being personal and relatable.

I appreciate the integration of faith and learning each of my professors has provided. After being in the classroom and facing difficult situations, I am thankful for the quality, Christ-centered education DBU provided me in my B.S. and M.Ed. programs, and now in the Ed.D. program. I have felt well equipped to handle situations in an ethical manner as a servant leader. Having the daily reminder that God has a plan for my life and that He is ultimately in control helps me keep things in perspective.

     – Elyse Griffin

Why DBU Ed.D.?

DBU offers a rigorous cohort program designed to engage the family-minded, successful professional.  The schedule allows you to compartmentalize life and responsibilities with intense focus at specific times.  Having completed 201 hours in the state school environment, this experience has been unique in terms of access to staff in a supportive environment where "everybody knows your name."

     – Jeremy L. Earnhart