Doctor of Education

Earn Your Ed.D in Educational Leadership

Mississippi College’s doctoral degree in Education Leadership provides our Ed.D candidates with the knowledge, skills and strategies to be effective educators and leaders in K-12 settings.

At Mississippi College, the Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in Educational Leadership degree is designed to accommodate the active lives of professional educators who wish to continue the study of educational management in K-12 and school district settings. The Department of Teacher Education and Leadership at Mississippi College has an exemplary reputation for its preparation of professional educators who are knowledgeable, reflective and prepared to positively impact the lives of all students.

Reflected in the Ed.D. program vision, our mission is "to produce the best prepared educational leaders in the history of Mississippi." It is with this vision in mind that our dedicated faculty strive to prepare doctoral candidates who exemplify high levels of knowledge, skills, ethical behavior and commitment to leadership.

To earn their Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, the typical student must take 60 semester hours beyond a master’s degree in addition to 12 dissertation hours. Students who enter with a specialist degree are required to complete a minimum of 45 semester hours, inclusive of the dissertation. If the student has a specialist degree upon enrollment, the doctoral coursework can be completed within one year. This Ed.D. program does not lead to initial Administrator (K-12) licensure in Mississippi (MS); instead, candidates may add the AAAA level to their existing MS Educator License in Administration (K-12).

According to 2019 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mississippi and Louisiana were in the top five states for the highest concentration of jobs in K-12 administration, demonstrating the opportunity in this rewarding field for those who earn a doctorate in education.

The MC Experience

If you’re a working adult with multiple responsibilities, Mississippi College can help make education more accessible for you. We understand that children, jobs, school activities and more can become overwhelming. Leadership programs offer educators the ability to utilize day courses during the summer and evening courses during the fall and spring semesters. The Ed.D. program enrolls students during the Spring semester of each year.

Admission Credential Requirements

A completed application for admission to the Graduate Office with all required information
A non-refundable $35.00 application fee
A copy of all the official transcript(s) from previous collegiate work (associate, bachelor’s, master’s and/or doctorate) and any transferable graduate credit with a minimum GPA of 3.25 on master's or specialist's degree work from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning
Evidence of successful completion of an administrator preparation program for Educational Leadership
All applicants who have earned an education specialist degree in educational leadership and are seeking the Class AAAA Standard Educator License must provide a photocopy of their Class AAA Standard Educator License issued from the Mississippi Department of Education. All applicants who have earned a master’s degree in education and are seeking the Class AAAA license must provide a photocopy of their Class AAA license. Applications will not be processed without this documentation.
A minimum of five (5) years of documented educational experience.
A minimum of two (2) years of documented experience in a leadership role.
A letter of interest of not more than 750 words that clearly communicates (1) how the applicant will apply the doctoral degree to improve education, and (2) the applicant’s career objectives and how the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership will assist in attaining these goals.
Three (3) letters of recommendation from professionals who can evaluate the candidate’s potential for success as an educational leader.
Portfolio of candidate’s work as a professional educator.
Curriculum vitae/resumé.

By September 15th, submit the Admission credentials to:

The Office of Graduate and Professional Studies
P.O. Box 4067
Clinton, MS 39058-4029

Ed.D. Application Deadline: Postmarked by September 15

Admission to the Ed.D. program is limited to the discretion of the Educational Leadership Screening and Selection Committee. Consult the Program Coordinator or the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education and Leadership for additional information concerning the cohort group selection process and specific program requirements. Only applicants who have completed all components of the application process will be considered.

Course Requirements for Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (K-12)

The Educational Leadership courses provide a comprehensive study of K-12 education and administration to prepare our Ed.D. candidates for their research and dissertation work.

The required coursework for the doctorate in education at Mississippi College should be 60 semester hours beyond a master’s degree plus a minimum of 12 dissertation hours.

Educational Administration Core (39 hrs)

These courses must be taken by all Ed.D students.

Code	Course	Sem. Hrs.
EDU 6505	Engaged Learning	3
EDU 6520	Basics of Effective Leadership	3
EDU 6521	Organizational School and Community Effectiveness	3
EDU 7530	Issues and Concepts of Personnel Management	3
EDU 7531	Seminar in Current Educational Leadership Dilemmas	3
EDU 7540	Basics of School Finance and Fiscal Control of Schools	3
EDU 7541	Legal Structures & Legal Issues Pertaining to School Operations	3
EDU 7561	Data-Driven Decision-Making	3
EDU 7601	Comparative Philosophies of Education	3
EDU 8120	Faith, Ethics, and Social Issues in Educational Leadership	3
EDU 8125	Multiculturalism and Diversity	3
EDU 813	Instructional Supervision	3 3
EDU 8135	Curriculum Planning and School Improvement	3

Research and Statistics (12 Hrs)

Code	Course	Sem. Hrs.
PSY 6505	Intermediate Statistics	3
EDU 7501	Advanced Educational Research Applications	3
EDU 7606	Advanced Statistics	3
EDU 7710	Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs in Education	3

Cognates (9 hrs.)

Dissertation (Minimum of 12 hrs.)

Code	Course	Sem. Hrs.
EDU 8880	Dissertation	--