Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2018-19 
    
Graduate Catalog 2018-19 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership


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Advisors: D. Eric Archer, Andrea Beach, Louann Bierlein Palmer, Regina Garza Mitchell, Brett Geier, Wanda Hadley, Joe Kretovics, Nancy Mansberger, Sue Poppink, Patricia Reeves, Jianping Shen, Donna Talbot, Rick Zinser/Adam Manley (WFED)
Room 3571 Sangren Hall

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Educational Leadership is targeted toward professionals working in the areas of K-12, Higher Education, Workforce Education and Development, or other environments engaged in education or adult learning. Four concentrations exist: (1) Higher Education Leadership, (2) K-12 Leadership, (3) Organizational Analysis, and (4) Workforce Education and Development, with program requirements specific to each concentration listed below.

Key program goals include preparing individuals to become transformational leaders, ready to help educational or other institutions to address current challenges, including the need to better educate students who have historically not been well served by traditional learning institutions. In addition, graduates will expand their inquiry and research skills, enabling them to add to the knowledge base concerning education, especially as it relates to the growing challenges facing all educational institutions.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership requires that students submit the following information within WMU’s on-line graduate application, and meet the established criteria, including:

  1. A master’s degree from an accredited institution, indicated on an official transcript.
  2. An overall grade point average of at least 3.0 for all graduate work undertaken beyond the bachelor’s degree.
  3. Submission of scores on the GRE General Test.
  4. Official transcripts as required by WMU.
  5. A Career and Professional Goals Written Narrative in which an applicant clearly describes his/her professional goals, and how this doctoral program fits with those goals.
  6. Graduate Reference Forms completed by three different individuals who can address an applicant’s ability to successfully complete doctoral-level work.
  7. A Professional Vitae or Resume.

WMU’s graduate application, along with  more details on the application requirements and processes, can be found on the Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology’s website.

The total number of students accepted in any given year will depend upon the quality of individual applicants, as well as available resources to support the program.

Program Requirements


Programs of study for each Ph.D. in Educational Leadership must include at least 60 credit hours as noted for each concentration.

Higher Education Leadership Concentration (60 credit hours minimum)


I. Leadership Core (6 credit hours)


  • (EDLD 6020 or equivalent is a required prerequisite for this leadership core)

II. Professional Inquiry, Research, and Dissertation Core (30 credit hours total)


A) Professional Inquiry Component (18 credit hours)


B) Research Methods Component (12 credit hours)


III. Higher Education (HE) Core (24 credit hours total)


K-12 Leadership Concentration (60-68 credit hours minimum)


I. Leadership Core (6 credit hours)


  • (EDLD 6020 or equivalent is a required prerequisite for this leadership core)

II. Professional Inquiry, Research, and Dissertation Core (30 credit hours total)


A) Professional Inquiry Component (18 credit hours)


B) Research Methods Component (12 credit hours)


III. K-12 Education Core (24-32 credit hours total)


A) K-12 Core Required Courses (6 credit hours)


B) K-12 Cognate Course Options (must choose one option as approved by advisor; 18-26 credit hours)


1. K-12 School Administrator Certificate: Central Office Endorsement Option (18 credit hours)

  • 6 credit hours of electives
3. Teacher/Other Leadership Option (18 credit hours to be determined with advisor)

Organizational Analysis Concentration (60 credit hours minimum)


I. Leadership Core (6 credit hours)


  • (EDLD 6020 or equivalent is a required prerequisite for this leadership core)

II. Professional Inquiry, Research, and Dissertation Core (30 credit hours total)


A) Professional Inquiry Component (18 credit hours)


B) Research Methods Component (12 credit hours)


III. Organizational Analysis Core (24 credit hours total)


Workforce Education and Development Concentration (60 credit hours minimum)


I. Leadership Core (6 credit hours)


  • (EDLD 6020 or equivalent is a required prerequisite for this leadership core)

II. Professional Inquiry, Research, and Dissertation Core (30 credit hours total)


A) Professional Inquiry Component (18 credit hours)


B) Research Methods Component (12 credit hours)


III. Workforce Education and Development (WFED) Core (24 credit hours total)


A) WFED Core Courses (6 credit hours)


B) WFED Cognate Course Option (must choose one option as approved by advisor; 18 credit hours)


2. K-12 School Administrator Certificate: Central Office Endorsement Option

3. Curriculum and Instruction Option

  • 12 credit hours selected with advisor approval which focus on further technical knowledge in a particular WFED discipline, (e.g., Business or Marketing Education, Family and Consumer Sciences, Industrial Technology, Information Technology).
  • 6 credit hours of WFED courses from WFED option #1
4. Total Quality Management in Education Option

  • *ECTE 6500 - Implementing TQM in Education  Credits: 3 hours
  • *ECTE 6550 - Quality Improvement Practices  Credits: 3 hours
  • *ECTE 6600 - Quality Management in Education  Credits: 3 hours
  • *ECTE 6650 - Quality Metrics and Data Management  Credits: 3 hours
  • 6 credit hours of WFED courses from WFED option #1

*courses offered by Ferris State University (FSU) and leads to a certificate in TQM awarded by FSU.

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