Ed.D. Program: Educational Leadership
- Degrees & Programs
- Prospective students interested in the 60-credit Educational Leadership PK-12 or Higher Education options should download the revised proposed program guide, effective May 2025*.
- Prospective students interested in the 74/75-credit Educational Leadership Plus New Jersey Principal/School Administrator Certification option should download the new program guide, effective May 2025*.
- The current program guide is applicable to all current students.
- Review the Ed.D. FAQ page
- Contact the Ed.D. director, Dr. Tanja Sargent
Program Overview
The Ed.D. concentration in Educational Leadership offers three options: PK-12 Leadership, Higher Education Leadership, and New Jersey Principal/School Administrator Certification. All options help educational leaders develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to act as change agents in their communities, with the ability to use rigorous research to address a wide range of problems related to practice and policy.
The 60-credit PK-12 Educational Leadership option helps educational leaders—including school-level, district-level, and teacher leaders—develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to act as equity-oriented change agents in their schools and communities. Students in this concentration will be challenged to understand and use research effectively to address problems of practice, and to use data to lead and support others in various improvement efforts focused on equitable teaching and learning. Current and aspiring classroom, school, and district PK-12 educators are encouraged to apply for admission into this concentration option.
The 60-credit Higher Education Leadership option offers a focused study of the complexities of colleges and universities, their missions, contexts, challenges, and successes. This option prepares higher education leaders and practitioners who will take their scholarship and knowledge, and apply it to effecting change and development in a range of higher education settings such as universities and colleges, state or federal governing and coordinating boards.
The 74/75-credit Ed.D. Plus New Jersey Principal/School Administrator Certification allows students to combine coursework towards principal/school administrator certification with their Ed.D. degree.
The Rutgers Ed.D. programs in Educational Leadership help educational leaders develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to act as change agents in their communities, with the ability to use rigorous research to address a wide range of problems related to practice and policy. The programs cover issues of organizational and leadership theory common amongst K-12, pre-school, and higher education institutions. Notably, the GSE’s inquiry-oriented curriculum will focus specifically on the individual challenges and issues our students face as educational leaders. Students will read and critique research, analyze and discuss case studies, participate in simulations, practice communication skills, and conduct their own investigations of meaningful issues and problems. Students will be challenged to understand and use research and data effectively in meeting the problems of practice, particularly those related to equity and social justice.
For more information about this program:
*Pending final approval.
Program Details
Application Deadline
Jan 15
Entry Term(s)
Summer
Program Level
Doctoral
Program Type
Degree
Format
Hybrid
Credits
60* / 74-75*
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What You’ll Learn
Students who complete this 60-credit program will exit having developed theoretical frameworks and critical perspectives needed to use research to both address issues, and effectively influence change in the educational communities they serve. The core courses of the Ed.D. program will explore topics including the sociocultural foundations of education, the history of educational reform, and educational leadership as it relates to communities and organizational change, amongst others. Courses required for the Educational Leadership concentration will prompt deeper inquiry into subjects such as organizational theory, leadership and social justice, and assessment, data, and analysis. Through shared exploratory learning and problem-solving exercises, students will gain common knowledge, form a supportive network of scholarly practitioners concerned with similar issues, and develop real-world, research-backed skills to address the challenges of the 21st-century educator.
For more information about the courses in this program, please visit the course catalog and online schedule of classes.
*The number of credits to complete this program has recently been reduced from 72 to 60 and this change is still pending final university level approvals.
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Program Requirements
This program typically takes just over 3 years to complete and requires:
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60 Graduate Course Credits
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6 Credits – Completed in the 1st Summer
- 6 Credits – Completed in the 1st Fall
- 6 Credits – Completed in the 1st Spring
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6 Credits – Completed in the 2nd Summer
- 6 Credits – Completed in the 2nd Fall
- 6 Credits – Completed in the 2nd Spring
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6 Credits – Completed in the 3rd Summer (Dissertation)
- 6 Credits – Completed in the 3rd Fall (Dissertation)
- 6 Credits – Completed in the 3rd Spring (Dissertation)
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6 Credits – Completed in the 4th Summer (Dissertation)
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- Dissertation
- The Ed.D. culminates with a yearlong dissertation experience. The dissertation requires students to identify and investigate a problem of practice systematically using current literature, and inquiry methodology. Students are to write a final report that is presented publicly that may include a conference presentation, journal article or book chapter, or presentation to a local community. Students will have the option of working on their dissertation projects individually or in groups organized around key topics of interest. Students may also choose to pursue more traditional dissertations.
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- Faculty
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Careers and Outcomes
Graduates of the Ed.D. program who pursued the Educational Leadership concentration are prepared to be change agents in the educational communities they serve. Educators working in traditional K-12 school settings who complete the program may go on to pursue roles including school superintendent, school principal, and other leadership roles at the school, district, or state level. The program may also position graduates for advanced roles in higher education, such as professor, provost, dean, or school executive. Other opportunities exist outside traditional school settings, including nonprofit, government, and private consultant or advisory roles.
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Admissions Requirements
- Personal Statement
- Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Academic Writing Sample
- Official Undergraduate Transcripts
- Official Graduate Transcripts
- 1-2 Letters of Recommendation (optional)
Click here for more information on the Ed.D. Program Admissions Requirements.
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How to Apply
- Collect the materials required for admission
- Submit your application online at http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/
- Submit supporting materials online
- Any supporting materials that cannot be submitted electronically should be mailed to Graduate Admissions’ New Brunswick office. Their mailing address can be found here: https://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/about/contact-us
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Tuition & Financial Assistance
Tuition:
For tuition and fees information please visit the tuition landing page.
Financial Aid:
While students are encouraged to apply for federal student aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), there are a number of other merit- and need-based support options, including loans and college work-study programs within and external to Rutgers. For more information, please visit the Office of Financial Aid website.
Scholarships, Fellowships & Assistantships:
Generous GSE alumni, friends, and community members have established and continue to donate to more than one dozen fellowships and scholarships to help deserving students reach their goals. These awards are granted on the basis of academic achievement and or financial need. While these awards are competitive, interested students are encouraged to apply for consideration and submit the required materials. Students must also submit a FAFSA application to be eligible.
To review all current awards and learn more about the donors that established them, please click here.