Educational 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 vast 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 degrees 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, emphasizing integrating disciplinary knowledge with theories and practices leadership. The program is uniquely oriented toward applying theory and knowledge derived from researching practical problems.

Leadership core requirements for the degree total 36 credits across three 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 includes 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 various 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 will be scholarly practitioners and influencers with the ability and competencies to name, frame, and solve problems of practice, using empirical evidence to evaluate impact. Understanding the importance of equity and social justice, graduates will use applied theories and practical research as tools for collaborative change.

In 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.
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 an official combined score of 293 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test or a minimum score of 400 on the Miller’s Analogy Test (MAT) is required. Tests must have been taken within the last five years.
International student declaration of finances forms 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 to 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 the 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.

Representatives of the Educational and Organizational Learning and Leadership department review core written material and transcripts, interview applicants and create a priority list for admission. All material submitted becomes the property of Seattle University and will be maintained according to institutional records management practices.

After submitted applications are reviewed, invited candidates will be asked to submit a video interview. Those selected will receive further information about this process via email.

Residency

Full-time residency is not required; however, 24 credits must be completed in the first four consecutive quarters of the program. In addition, students 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 a cause. Credit applied to the degree may not be more than six 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 six 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 from any other college or university.

Formal Degree Candidacy

Doctoral students must successfully pass a comprehensive examination to advance to degree candidacy.

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 3.00 in graduate course work with no grades below a 2.00 c) satisfactory Annual Student Doctoral Evaluation for the previous academic year.

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. Any student who earns a B- or lower in EOLL 6510, 6520, or 6530 in any given quarter will be put on probation the following quarter and must successfully fulfill probation requirements that same following quarter to remain in the dissertation process.

Programs

Doctor of Education/Educational and Organizational Learning and Leadership