Education and Organizational Learning and Leadership

Colette Taylor, EdD, Program Director

Overview

Designed for professionals who already hold a master’s degree, the EdD in Educational and Organizational Learning and Leadership will help students lead organizations to success through the program’s emphasis on research, collaboration, social justice and applied practice. The program uses a cohort learning model and meets the needs of a very broad spectrum of leaders whose current or future careers include educational, business, organizational, or community leadership. As a member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate, the program is framed around questions of equity, ethics, and social justice to bring about solutions to complex problems of practice.

This 66-credit hour program includes courses in Leadership, Applied Research and Social Justice and is designed to be completed in three years. Class scheduling allows students to complete their degree while at the same time continuing full-time employment.

The curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary for understanding leadership both inside and outside of formal education settings by exploring leadership in multiple contexts and from various perspectives, with an emphasis on integrating disciplinary knowledge with theories and practices of leadership. The program is uniquely oriented toward the application of theory and knowledge derived from researching practical problems..

Leadership core requirements for the degree total 36 credits across 3 years. Each year builds upon previous learning to promote and sustain an integrated approach to leadership development, organizational development, management/administration and social justice. In addition, the leadership core focuses on developing strength in the dimensions of diversity, accountability and learning.

Research requirements for the degree total a minimum of 30 credits and include opportunities for community-based applied research that is a faculty-led team experience organized around common themes of interest. The research strand culminates in a thematic dissertation in leadership practice.

A new cohort begins each year in the summer.

Admission Requirements

Graduates of the doctoral program are leaders whose studies, internships, and research prepare them to live, work, and make a positive leadership difference in an ever-changing world. Students will come from a variety of occupational fields including (but not limited to) education, healthcare, business, theology, public and non-profit administration, and consulting.

The Seattle University doctorate in Educational and Organizational Leadership is designed to prepare graduates who:

Develop and strengthen leadership skills to build effective team-oriented approaches.
Respond to the changing needs of organizations and are effective in working with diverse populations.
Demonstrate professional skills such as strategic thinking, critical problem solving, effective communication, reflective practice, and community building, along with skills for designing, critiquing, and implementing research relevant to effective leadership practice and community change.
Demonstrate scholarly behavior.
Respond to changing environments and issues, solve new problems, and foster the development of adaptive learning organizations.
Demonstrate ethical standards in leadership practices.

IIn keeping with the Seattle University Mission Statement, candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The program does not discriminate against any person because of age, ancestry, color, ability, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The best-qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces available for new students. It is anticipated that a maximum of 30 students will be admitted for each cohort.

Admission to the program will be based on the following:

Application for Graduate Admission with the non-refundable application fee.(Note: fee waived through fall 2022)
Transcripts from all graduate-level colleges and universities attended, sent directly to Seattle University’s Graduate Admissions Office.
An earned master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) in all graduate-level coursework calculated from submitted transcripts.
If the calculated graduate-level grade point average (GPA) is below 3.25 or if prior graduate degree coursework is ungraded, then official scores are required on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogy (MAT) taken within the last 5 years.
International student declaration of finances form, if intending to apply for a student visa.
Two letters of recommendation that can speak to the applicant’s potential for success in a doctoral level leadership program
Minimum of 3 years of mid- or upper-level leadership experience (e.g., directing a program, supervising personnel, coordinating a project, leading a team, spearheading an initiative).
Personal statement (no longer than two pages in length) that describes the applicant’s prior experience as it relates the mission of Seattle University and the goals of the doctoral program, the ability to effectively engage in doctoral-level studies and research, leadership supervisory experience, and involvement with social justice advocacy and organizational or social change.
Academic writing sample demonstrating satisfactory preparation for scholarly research and publication (e.g., graduate-level paper, scholarly publication, excerpt from thesis).
Current résumé.
If English is not applicant’s native language, official English proficiency scores meeting the university’s entrance requirements must be submitted. See policy 2008-01 in Admission Policies for details. Admission through the English Language and Culture Bridge program is not an option.

All applications are carefully reviewed and selected applicants will be invited to participate in a faculty interview process. All materials submitted become the property of Seattle University and will be maintained according to institutional records management practices.

Residency

Full-time residency is not required; however, 24 credits must be completed in the first four consecutive quarters of the program. In addition, student must attend the annual summer institutes, the one-week educational residency held each year of the three years of your doctoral education. As long as a student is active in the program, enrollment every quarter is required. Formal leave may be granted for cause. Credit applied to the degree may not be more than 6 years old when the program is completed.

Credit at Seattle University

No post-graduate level credits beyond the master’s degree may be transferred into the doctoral degree. Up to 24 credits taken at the Master’s level within the past 6 years may be applied to satisfy entry requirements for the EOLL program. All Seattle University credits applied to the doctoral program must be at least at the 5000 level and must be at the post-graduate level if transferred in from any other college or university.

Formal Degree Candidacy

To advance to degree candidacy, doctoral students are required to pass a comprehensive examination.

Comprehensive Examination

The Comprehensive Examination is required of all candidates completing the Ed.D. in Educational and Organizational Learning and Leadership and is designed to allow candidates to demonstrate leadership knowledge, skills, practice, and scholarship as part of the requirements for the Ed.D. degree. The exam should be taken by the end of the second year of study. To be eligible to take the comprehensive exam, students must have: a) Satisfactory completion (no incompletes) of coursework completed during the first 5 quarters of enrollment and b) a grade point average of 3.0 in graduate course work with no grades below a 2.0 (C) in completed core coursework.

Grade and GPA Requirement

Courses completed at Seattle University graded C- or lower will not count towards the EdD. Students must maintain a GPA of B (3.00) or above.

Programs

Doctor of Education/Education and Organizational Learning and Leadership