Why Earn Your Education Degree at Saint Leo University?
This program of study's primary goal is to provide candidates with practitioners' skills as strong organizational leaders in schools and similar organizations. This doctoral program will provide students with knowledge and skills to engage all stakeholders in successful student, school and organizational (district) success. Graduates of this Ed.D. program will be leaders in school and organizational change and improvement; knowledgeable leaders with the ability to use critical thinking skills to analyze and solve problems; create and sustain partnerships; effectively identify and apply components of action research, change theory, strategic planning and collaborative decision making.
Our EdD program graduates can expect to have acquired and refined the skills necessary for becoming organizational leaders, particularly, in the K-12 school setting. We're excited and honored for the privilege of taking part in this critical area of professional development. For this purpose, we are now offering the EdD through our flexible and convenient online format (along with one, on-campus residency held in July).
Learning Experience:
Online
Est. Time to Complete:
3-4 years
Credit Hours:
57 hours
Doctorate in Education Program Details
The online Doctorate in Education program is 57 hours with courses in fall, spring, and summer terms. Depending on each student's availability, our EdD School Leadership concentration can be completed in a three-year period.
Learn More: View Our Information Session
Learn Your Way:
Online
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What are the benefits of earning your education degree online?
Saint Leo University’s online learning experience provides a well-rounded education with the flexibility to tailor your course of study to meet your individual needs. We know our students have lives outside school, and we seek to meet them where they are. Online students can count on receiving excellent academics as well as opportunities for hands-on learning.
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Taking online classes has afforded me the opportunity to learn while maintaining a job. They give me some flexibility to study at times that work more cohesively with my schedule and allow me to utilize resources such as the library 24 hours a day.
Bentley Streat | Hayes, VA
Are education centers near you offering education degree programs?
You may also choose to pursue your degree through one of our education centers, which merge a traditional in-person education with the flexibility to match your lifestyle. Education centers offer eight-week academic terms as well as evening and weekend classes.
Career Outlook
No matter which learning experience you choose, you will receive plenty of professional development opportunities, industry knowledge from expert professors, and support from the Saint Leo community. All this together means that you will be ready for a successful career or continued studies upon graduation.
What skills you will learn?
The online Doctorate in Education - EdD School Leadership concentration courses will prepare graduates to:
- Demonstrate the abilities required to complete applied research strategies
- Improve outcomes for students across all grades
- Lead schools and districts
- Manage change through data-informed decision making
- Facilitate successful teams of stakeholders, resulting in the ability to obtain and sustain school and student success
- Develop research-based school cultures that fully support successful student outcomes
- Identify needs, implement programs to address those needs, and sustain positive change based on data collection, analysis, and research
- Identify key components of human resource, finance, operations, transportation, and grant development for comprehensive support to student, school, and district outcomes
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![Saint Leo University students in Psychology classroom]()
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How will you gain real experience?
This advanced degree prepares graduates for careers in school leadership by enhancing personal development related to:
Licensure Readiness
Students acquire the knowledge needed to pass state licensing exams, per each state’s Department of Education.
Elevating Results
Whether your goal is to engage adult learners, manage systemic change, assess progress through cyclic strategic planning, or all three - this program will provide the education necessary to be successful in all of these areas.
Access to the Most Current Information
The curriculum for our online Doctor of Education - School Leadership concentration adheres to the most recent national standards for educational administrators. Known as the Professional Standards for Education Leaders, or PSEL- the National Policy Board for Educational Administrators (NPBEA) has established these 10 principles to incorporate recent research for creating learning environments that deliver the most effective and consistent results for students.
What can you do with a doctorate in education degree?
Earning an EdD with a concentration in School Leadership qualifies graduates for a number of different career tracks. Some to consider are:
- School Superintendent
- Assistant Superintendent
- Director
- Principal
- Executive Director of an Organization
- Academic-Higher Education
What are the top education degree jobs?
| Career | Growth | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Education Administration | 8% (As fast as average) | $97,500 per year |
| School Executive | 8% (As fast as average) | $107,680 per year |
| Postsecondary Teacher | 12% (Faster than average) | $80,560 per year |
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020.
Accreditation
Saint Leo University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.