The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program at Mississippi Christian University offers a doctoral degree to K-12 school leaders interested in educational management.
Lead with Purpose. Transform Schools. Impact the Future.
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership at Mississippi Christian University prepares experienced educators to become visionary, ethical, and transformative leaders who make lasting differences in schools, districts, and higher education.
Designed specifically for practicing professionals, our 57-hour doctoral program combines rigorous academic study with meaningful applied research, allowing candidates to immediately apply what they learn to real educational challenges. Whether your goal is to lead at the district level, strengthen instructional leadership, influence educational policy, or prepare future educators, the Ed.D. provides the knowledge, leadership skills, and research expertise to help you make a greater impact.
Grounded in the Christian mission of Mississippi Christian University, the program develops servant leaders who lead with integrity, wisdom, compassion, and excellence.
Our faculty understand the realities of educational leadership because they have served as teachers, principals, superintendents, district leaders, and higher education professionals. Throughout the program, candidates receive personalized support from experienced faculty committed to helping each student succeed academically and professionally.
The Ed.D. is intentionally structured to accommodate the demanding schedules of practicing educators while maintaining the rigor expected of a doctoral degree.
Candidates complete the program through a carefully sequenced curriculum that integrates leadership theory, organizational improvement, educational research, ethics, finance, personnel, instructional leadership, law, curriculum, and data-driven decision making.
Rather than completing a traditional dissertation, candidates engage in an Applied Research Capstone that addresses a significant problem of practice within their own educational setting. This practical approach allows graduates to create meaningful improvements while demonstrating advanced leadership and research competencies.
Our graduates leave prepared not only to lead organizations but to improve them through ethical decision making, collaborative leadership, and evidence-based practice.
At Mississippi Christian University, leadership is about service. Our mission is to prepare educational leaders who inspire excellence, strengthen schools, and positively impact students, educators, and communities.
If you are ready to expand your influence and lead educational transformation with purpose, the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership is your next step.
Applicants should demonstrate successful educational leadership experience and academic achievement.
Admission requirements include:
Admission to the Ed.D. program is limited to the discretion of the Doctoral Program Review 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.
The program consists of four integrated areas of study:
| Requirement | Class Name | Hours |
| EDU 6520 | Basics of Effective Leadership | 3 |
| EDU 6521 | Organizational School and Community Effectiveness | 3 |
| EDU 7527 | Leadership Models and Applications | 3 |
| EDU 7530 | Issues and Concepts of Personnel Management | 3 |
| EDU 7531 | Leadership Dilemmas and Diversity | 3 |
| EDU 7540 | Basics of School Finance and Fiscal Control of Schools | 3 |
| EDU 7541 | Legal Structures and Special Services Law | 3 |
| EDU 7561 | Data-Driven Decision-Making | 3 |
| EDU 7550 | Central Office Structures, Roles & Responsibilities & Functions of the Superintendency | 3 |
| Educational Leadership Elective Courses | 6 |
| Requirement | Class Name | Hours |
| PSY 6505 | Intermediate Statistics | 3 |
| EDU 7710 | Qualitative & Quantitative Research Designs in Education | 3 |
| Requirement | Class Name | Hours |
| EDU 8100 | Introduction to Education Doctorate in Educational Leadership | 1 |
| EDU 8200 | Applied Curriculum and Instructional Design | 3 |
| EDU 8300 | Principles of Organizational Leadership | 3 |
| EDU 7601 | Comparative Philosophies of Education | 3 |
| Requirement | Class Name | Hours |
| EDU 8881 | Applied Research I | 2 |
| EDU 8882 | Applied Research II | 2 |
| EDU 8883 | Applied Research III | 2 |
| EDU 8884 | Applied Research IV | 2 |
