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Instructional Leadership
The Instructional Leadership specialization will provide you with a strong knowledge-base in the supervision of instruction, curriculum, diversity and analysis of the instructional capacity of K-12 schools. You will learn current theories and practices and how to assess and interpret data. You will also develop the skills to apply what you learn to help others improve student achievement and develop assessment and improvement strategies. As a graduate, you will have advanced leadership capacity in educational reform and improvement, and will be prepared to pursue a variety of positions in instructional leadership, such as an assistant in a school district or state educational board.
General Degree Requirements
The EdD program may be completed in 54 credits. However, up to an additional 12 credit hours will be allowed as needed to complete the dissertation research. An Academic Advisor or Enrollment Specialist evaluates each student individually and works with the student to create an academically sound Learning Plan based on prior academics and their professional goals.
Completion Period for Doctoral Degrees
Northcentral University allows 7 years to complete all doctoral programs of 60 credits or less. Normal time to complete varies depending upon course take rate and credits transferred.
Northcentral University may accept a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in transfer toward the doctoral degree for graduate coursework completed toward a non-conferred doctoral degree at an accredited college or university with a grade of “B” or better. Transfer credit is only awarded for course work that is evaluated to be substantially equivalent in content with the required course work for the EdD program.
Certification and Licensing
The School of Education serves educational leaders by providing online graduate studies in education to reach worldwide populations. The EdD program is designed to reach national and international markets and does not purport to provide licensure or certification in any particular state or country.
Doctor of Education (EdD) Degree Requirements
- Individuals with a previously completed master’s degree will meet the basis of admission to the Doctor of Education Program.
- Students must complete all doctoral courses with a Grade Point Average of 3.00 (B) or higher.
- EdD students must demonstrate competency in specific subject areas prior to enrolling in any of the specialization or elective courses.
Doctoral Dissertation Process
The School of Education has developed a logical step-by-step process that assists in completing an EdD applied research dissertation. Northcentral University provides a detailed EdD Dissertation Handbook that explains the process and Northcentral University's dissertation support structure. The EdD doctoral research courses, the comprehensive exam course and the dissertation courses are specifically designed to guide students through the process.
The dissertation is the capstone academic achievement of the EdD. The EdD dissertation is applied, project based and results in a product designed to produce appreciable improvements in the student's school or organization and must also impact the student's leadership growth. Although applied and project based, the EdD dissertation is a scholarly document. To earn the EdD degree, the student must demonstrate the ability, drive and determination; and Northcentral University will provide the faculty, the academic support and process to assist in the attainment of high academic goals.
The School of Education offers students the opportunity to pursue an area of specialization within a degree program. Students who complete at least 18 semester credit hours in a specific specialization may elect to have the specialization recorded on their transcript and diploma.
Northcentral University recognizes that each student is unique, and therefore evaluates each application based not only on what courses or program of study a student has accomplished previously, but takes into consideration which specialization is being pursued at Northcentral University and their current and future professional goals.
Course Length
Existing EdD students may opt to switch to eight-week courses by contacting their Academic Advisor. Once existing EdD students have opted for eight-week courses, they must receive approval from the Office of the Dean to switch back to a program of 12-week courses. All eight-week courses are indicated by a "-8" (dash eight) at the end of the course code.
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
EDU7002 / EDU7002-8 | Educational Research Methodology | The purpose of this course is to enable students to gain a holistic understanding of the research process and examine the most common research designs used in educational research. In this course, students are prepared to make thoughtful and wise choices about their dissertation research project or capstone project through the exploration of different research design options. |
Specialization Course 1 | ||
EDU7003 / EDU7003-8 | Statistics I | This course provides an introductory exploration of statistics for the graduate student. It includes instruction on the calculation, use, and interpretation of descriptive statistics, and introduces inferential statistical analysis. The emphasis of this course is on providing a working knowledge of basic statistical concepts to help the student understand statistical methodology as used in education, and also more generally, developing a working knowledge of statistical usage in everyday life. |
Specialization Course 2 | ||
Specialization Course 3 | ||
Specialization Course 4 | ||
Specialization Course 5 | ||
EDU7702 / EDU7702-8 | Research Design (Methods Course 1) | In this course, the student acquires the basic skills necessary for the interpretation and application of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research. The student will examine the formal research process carefully, with an emphasis on practical applications and skill development. Critical concepts and principles intrinsic to research paradigms, study designs, and methods of inquiry are presented to empower the student's ability to formulate and respond to research questions. |
Specialization Course 6 | ||
EDU7005 / EDU7005-8 | Qualitative Methods (EdD only) (Methods Course 2) or Quantitative Methods | Qualitative Methods: This course is an examination of qualitative methods for studying human behavior including grounded theory, narrative analysis, ethnography, and case studies. A few months prior to this course, students must consult with their Academic Advisors to consider whether the alternate course on Quantitative Methods (EDU7006) might better suit their plans for a dissertation. Quantitative Methods: The student contacts their Academic Advisor to assist them with selecting the appropriate research methods course based on their proposed research design. The Academic Advisor then updates the students degree program with the selected research methods course. Options are EDU7703 Qualitative Methods or EDU7704 Quantitative Methods. |
EDU7707 / EDU7707-8 | Planning Dissertation Research in Education | Students in this course will begin the process of writing a dissertation for a research or professional doctorate. The course will address the University dissertation procedures and aids students in the process of successfully completing a dissertation, including attending to self-care and time management. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
EDU7101 / EDU7101-8 | Foundations for Graduate Study in Education (This course will be taken as the first course) | This course is an orientation to Northcentral University and to the essential skills needed to pursue a doctoral degree in Education. Doctoral level skills, such as academic integrity, time management, effective use of the Northcentral Library, comprehending complex scholarly texts and research articles, and APA form and style in professional communication are also introduced. Students will complete the course with a better understanding of personal goals, strengths, and challenges, and a roadmap to navigate their way to completion of their educational aspirations. |
EDU7001 / EDU7001-8 | Advanced Scholarly Writing | The purpose of this course is to build advanced skills identifying and obtaining high quality sources through online library searches. In addition, the course addresses advanced writing and APA formatting skills, and it prepares students to be critically reflective consumers of research reports. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
IL7000-8 | The Culture of Learning | Skillful instructional leaders occupy many jobs within educational organizations. These jobs include principals, district administrators, teacher leaders, staff support, community organizers, and parents and students who accept leadership responsibilities. Anyone responsible for creating a culture of learning engages in instructional leadership tasks. Effective instructional leaders must be able to articulate essential links between instructional tasks, student learning, and organizational goals. In this course, doctoral Learners will explore myriad ways to engage these instructional domains. Through course activities, Learners will engage topics including technology integration, philosophically sound curriculum decision-making, visionary leadership traits, and curriculum management. |
IL7001-8 | Leader as Advocate and Decision Maker | Instructional leaders are at the pinnacle of decision-making in any organization. Typically, decisions filter down through the ranks until outcomes reach and impact stakeholders. Decision-making requires careful consideration of the overlapping spheres of influence at work in educational organizations. It is essential that instructional leaders have a deep understanding of promoting vision and mission for the organization to meet its goals. One of the most important facets of this is when the leader acts as an educational advocate. Advocates promote positive leadership and learning and focus on effective core values, beliefs, and purpose of the educational endeavor. In this course, doctoral Learners will engage the complex decision-making concepts and processes while reflecting on staff development and instructional supervision. |
IL7002-8 | Leader as Community Advocate | Instructional leaders must forge relationships with stakeholders in the community to build effective learning organizations. This is an era of heightened accountability and leaders need to be as transparent as possible with operational aspects of the school to allow community members to understand the intricacies of managing education organizations. In this course, doctoral Learners will develop the skills to seamlessly engage stakeholders in partnerships to enhance educational operations at all levels. The Learner will develop knowledge of professional learning communities and ways to stimulate community leadership. |
ED7014-8 | Practices in School Organization | School organizations serve as models of effective teaching and successful student engagement and learning. In this course, the doctoral learner will examine the organizational structure of schools and school systems and their relationships to and effects on school programs, teaching strategies, testing and measurement, and evaluation of programs in schools. The learner will consider the way schools are organized about time, space, and other resources. Organizational dynamics will be explored and there will be an opportunity to engage operational factors that influence the school climate including human resources, organizational outreach, and capacity. Finally, the learner will explore stakeholder participation in organizational practice. |
ED7016-8 | Supervision and Leadership in Schools | The purpose of this doctoral-level course is to explore the theoretical framework and practical applications of supervision and leadership within the economic, social, political, and educational context of schooling. This course is designed so that Learners can develop a conceptual paradigm of practice to sustain reflection, build competence, enact effective supervision, and promote change. This course facilitates an understanding of development theories and collaborative planning models for enhanced professional practice. Topics include administration and supervision, research, strategies that promote growth, and differentiated supervision models. Emphasis is placed upon the Learner gaining a clear understanding of the interrelatedness among supervision and leadership, instruction, and assessment. |
ED7035-8 | Curriculum Supervision | This course is designed to expose doctoral Learners to theories of curriculum and instructional supervision and the design of instructional systems. Emphasis will be on translating theory into practice, particularly for curriculum supervision in public or private schools and/or in industry training. This course provides an overview of theories, principles, practices, and issues in curriculum supervision. It explores the pedagogical and curricular requirements of schools and integrates theory and practice. This course focuses on the design, implementation and evaluation of curricula. Doctoral Learners will develop the skills and knowledge required to design and manage curricula resources and delivery to ensure congruence among the written, taught, and tested curricula. The course also explores issues of equitable instructional programs, materials, and products that support student achievement and institutional goals. |
ED7030-8 | Development of Organizational Leadership | In this course, doctoral students will explore classic and contemporary approaches to organizational development. Students will define authentic leadership and effectiveness; and will explore what it means to work mindfully while applying principles of authenticity, integrity, and purposefulness. Doctoral students will explore preferred communication styles, cultivate relationship, develop strategies, and identify optimal strategies for organization growth and maturity. Students will be introduced to the doctrines of organization development, theory, and techniques. Attention will be given to organizational development in today's fast paced environments. |
ED7036-8 | Innovation for Change | Doctoral students will employ creative skills, manage innovation, and hone techniques to promote imaginative and flexible change strategies. Education is constantly reinventing itself in order to meet the demands of society. Instructional leaders must be ready to interpret and shape the school organization based on the ideals put forth at the time, by a changing world. School leadership requires an ability to conceptualize and realize a vision for the organization. Change involves knowledge, understanding, and commitment from administrators and cannot be construed as an event but rather a process. Further, change involves working with a diverse group of people and striving to motivate others to muscle through change as it is needed. Leaders must work with a community and use change to implement desirable changes. School leaders are constantly making decisions that impact the school organization. This course will prepare doctoral students to negotiate the world of education innovation and change. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
CMP9400E | Doctoral Comprehensive Examination | In their pursuit of a professional doctoral degree (EdD) at Northcentral University, students gain expertise in their academic discipline and in one or more specializations that complement their academic discipline. The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination is intended to assure that students have mastered knowledge of their discipline before candidacy status is achieved and their dissertation work is initiated. The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination is taken following the completion of all foundation, specialization, and methods courses. This course is graded using Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) grading criteria. The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination must be successfully completed with an (S) grade prior to beginning any work in Dissertation courses. This course may only be retaken once. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
DIS9401E | Doctoral Dissertation Research I | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the professional doctorate degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral presentation. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once every 28 calendar days. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9402E | Doctoral Dissertation Research II | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the professional doctorate degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral presentation. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once every 28 calendar days. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9403E | Doctoral Dissertation Research III | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the professional doctorate degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral presentation. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once every 28 calendar days. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9404E | Doctoral Dissertation Research IV | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the professional doctorate degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral presentation. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once every 28 calendar days. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
At Northcentral University, we pride ourselves in being completely transparent when it comes to tuition and fees. We have adopted an all-inclusive tuition model that gives you the cost of your Doctor of Education tuition and fees in one flat program rate*. The only additional cost above your EdD program rate is books. Learn more about the NCU’s EdD costs below:
- Per credit cost: $820
- Per 3 credit course cost: $2,461
- Program cost: $44,298
- Average book cost per course: $150
- Application Fee: $0
- Technology Fee: $0
- Registration Fee: $0
Click here to learn more about payment and financing options.
*Program rates are subject to change and generally increase at the start of each calendar year.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about our students, it’s that they are motivated and ambitious—but they are also busy! At Northcentral University, we’ve designed our education experience to work with you, not against you, so you can achieve your academic goals without sacrificing the quality, flexibility and support you need to be successful.
- Regionally Accredited
- No Physical Residency Requirements
- One-to-One Teaching
- 100% Doctoral Faculty
- Flexibility of Online Learning
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To learn more, request information or call 1-866-776-0331 or start a live chat to speak with an enrollment advisor today. We offer new courses every Monday of the year so you can get started when it’s best for you.
