Educational Leadership, Community College Concentration, Ed.D.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership

(60 UNITS)

The Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) program is one of few programs in the region that offers separate concentrations in P-12 and Community College. It provides academic training in a professional, culturally diverse environment that integrates the application of theory to practice with the use of practice to refine theory. The inquiry-based, problem-solving curriculum helps education professionals learn by fully integrating their experiences in discussion, research and fieldwork.

The program includes two summers and two complete academic years of coursework, followed by a period during which the candidate undertakes the dissertation. Classes are held in the late afternoons and evenings, and on weekends to accommodate the schedules of working professionals.

Distributed over 12 months, the program of study facilitates: integration of graduate studies and practice; periods of intensive study among candidates; and opportunities to work with faculty from CSUF.

Admissions Requirements

Minimum requirements for admission include:

An earned baccalaureate degree and master’s degree from accredited institutions of higher education with a GPA in upper division and graduate study of 3.0 or above
Sufficient preparation and experience pertinent to educational leadership to benefit from the program
Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores on the three GRE tests, taken within the last five years
Demonstrated educational leadership potential and skills, including successful experience in school, postsecondary, community and/or policy leadership
Demonstrated academic excellence, problem-solving ability and an interest in critically assessing and bringing about improvements within current educational policies and practices
Three confidential recommendation forms attesting to the leadership ability and scholarship of the candidate
A written statement of purpose reflecting understanding of the challenges facing the public schools or community colleges/institutions of higher education in California
Professional resume
Examples of professional writing
Response to a writing prompt administered on-campus prior to the interview
Interview with the Admissions Committee

Meeting the minimum requirements qualifies an individual for consideration, but does not guarantee admission to the Program. Admission will be granted on a competitive basis. The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership will not include a foreign language requirement.

Leadership Foundation (12 units)

Research Support Seminars (12 units)

Culminating Experience (12 units)

EDD 698 - Dissertation Research (6) (6)

Community College Concentration (24 units)

The Community College concentration prepares educators to take on roles in areas, such as senior administration, faculty leadership, student affairs, or business and human resource administration in the community college setting. The curriculum develops socially and globally aware community college leaders who can appropriately respond, understand and contribute to the rapidly changing world of community colleges and lead those institutions toward excellence. Courses build leadership skills and knowledge in such areas as the role and scope of community colleges, higher education law and policy, ethical decision making, policy and governance, research methods and resource optimization.