Wilkes University s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Leadership Studies is a 60-credit post-master s program comprised of coursework in curriculum and instruction, educational technology, and leadership. The coursework includes 12 credits of research courses and 9 credits of dissertation. Accepted students complete the program as a doctoral cohort to maximize learning in a supportive, interactive learning environment. Highly skilled full-time and adjunct faculty holding terminal degrees and possessing extensive experience as educators and researchers mentor accepted students throughout the program and guide the dissertation research process as dissertation committee chairs. Classes are offered in a convenient low-residency/hybrid format blending virtual face-to-face sessions with online learning so students can interact in real time with faculty and cohort members. In addition, several low residency sessions are held at the Mesa Center for Higher Education during key transition points in the program to ensure students have sufficient knowledge and support in preparation for doctoral studies and dissertation research. Students move through coursework in approximately three years culminating in the design of a dissertation proposal. At that point, students work one-on-one with their faculty dissertation chair to complete the proposal and conduct field-based research. The final dissertation and its defense are the capstone requirements for the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership. Applied Studies and Research Coursework is designed to address the needs and challenges facing education in contemporary society. The program is built around the concept of developing scholarly practitioners with a core of theory and applied research embedded in courses. The learning experiences provide continuous opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to serve as leaders in administrative and teaching positions in pre-k-12 and post secondary institutions to improve education for all students as active members of a global society. Program of Study I.) Leadership Core : 9 credits **ED 610 Ethics for Educational Leaders (Required first course) ED 612 Leadership, Diversity, & Societal Change ED 614 Organizational and Leadership Theory II.) Research: 12 credits ED 681 Introduction to Educational Research ED 682 Quantitative Methods for Educational Research I ED 683 Qualitative Methods in Educational Research I ED 685 or ED 686 Quantitative or Qualitative Methods II III.) Dissertation Research: 9 credits ED 697 Dissertation Proposal Seminar (3 credits Pass/Fail) ED 698 Dissertation Proposal (3 billable credits/3 credits at defense) ED 699 Dissertation (3 billable credits/3 credits at defense) IV.) Educational Leadership-Educational Leadership Studies: 30 total credits Core Educational Leadership Courses (15 credits) ED 615 Professional Seminar in Educational Leadership ED 626 Politics and Policy for Educational Leaders ED 629 Strategic Thinking and Planning ED 632 Cognition and Learning ED 643 Trends and Innovations in Instructional Technology Educational Leadership Studies (15 credits) ED 620 Educational Institutions & Systems ED 623 Educational Technology Leadership ED 640 Instructional Design and Development ED 670 Curriculum Theory ED 672 Curriculum Design and Instructional
TUITION 2015-2016 tuition for doctoral level courses is currently $602 per credit or $1,806 per 3-credit course, plus $25 per credit in fees. Tuition rate locked in if student maintains continuous enrollment in program to successful completion. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Students must hold a master s degree in education or a related field from an accredited institution of higher education. MATERIALS Completed online application found at wilkes.edu/mesa Copies of certifications or licenses, if applicable References using the downloadable PDF forms found online at www.wilkes.edu/mesa Official college transcripts (Unofficial transcripts can be submitted with the application but official transcripts are required to be enrolled.) A current resume or curriculum vitae Scholarly work or project with abstract (submitted in first course) Application fee waived for new applicants! DEPARTMENT REVIEW After all application materials are received, a review and evaluation of the documents will take place. INTERVIEW Applicants meeting the admissions criteria will be interviewed by faculty using web conferencing tools. EXTEMPOROUS WRITING SAMPLE After the interview, applicants will complete an extemporaneous writing sample as part of the admissions process. CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE Applicants will receive notification of conditional acceptance into the program and will be enrolled in the initial course, ED 610: Ethics for Educational Leaders. WRITING ASSESSMENT A scholarly or professional project, product, or paper with an abstract attesting to how this submission reflects the student s potential for leadership and scholarship at the doctoral level will be submitted as part of the course requirements in the initial leadership course. QUALIFYING EXAMINATION After successful completion of 9 core leadership credits and 3 credits of introductory research, students must take and receive a passing score on the Doctoral Qualifying Examination to attain regular acceptance into the program. This examination is based on the leadership knowledge, analytical thinking skills, and scholarly writing developed in the initial 12 credits of the program. TRANSFER CREDITS Students may be permitted to transfer 18 credits acquired post-master s toward the doctoral degree pending a review of transcripts from accredited institutions. Formal transfer credit reviews occur after conditional program acceptance. Credits being considered for transfer must be posted on a graduate transcript after the date of the award of the master s degree from an accredited institution. Transfer credits must match existing credits contained in the scope of the doctoral program at Wilkes. Course descriptions will be reviewed to determine compatibility with existing Wilkes courses. Students may be required to submit course syllabi in cases in which the course descriptions are inconclusive. Wilkes retains the right to decline transfer credit for courses that are integral to doctoral program goals and to the attainment of learning outcomes and student success on benchmark assessments, which occur throughout the program. For information on the academic program, please contact: Dr. Mary Kropiewnicki Chair, Department of Educational Leadership Associate Professor of Education (800) WILKES-U ext. 6171 (570) 408-6171 mary.kropiewnicki@wilkes.edu
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Application Process Q: CAN I APPLY BEFORE I COMPLETE MY MASTER S DEGREE? A: You may apply, however, the master s degree must be in hand before the Ed.D. semester begins. Q: I ALREADY HAD OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS SENT TO WILKES WHEN APPLYING FOR MASTER S STUDIES. DO I HAVE TO REQUEST THEM AGAIN? A: Yes, this is a separate program from the Master of Science programs offered by Wilkes. Transcripts must be official, unopened and sent directly from the applicant to the Wilkes Student Service Center. If you need a Wilkes transcript, you can request transcripts free of charge because they are issued in house. Please e-mail james.chiavacci@wilkes.edu and we will order those for you. Indicate your name, WIN number, years of attendance, and levels: undergraduate or graduate. Q: THE FIRST COURSE REQUIRES A SCHOLARLY WORK OR PROJECT. WHAT SHOULD I SUBMIT? A: You can submit an original scholarly or professional project, product, report, or paper. Your selection should evidence leadership and scholarship in your field. It can be professional or academic work. Your abstract must clearly explain, in two to three paragraphs, how the contents of the submission reflects your potential for leadership in education and scholarship at the doctoral level. The submission and abstract are important components of conditional admission to help faculty evaluate your background in terms of scholarship and leadership to identify areas of strength and areas where you may need additional support. Q: IS THERE FINANCIAL AID TO SUPPORT MY DOCTORAL STUDIES? A: The Wilkes web site includes information about Graduate Financial Aid. Visit www.wilkes.edu/mesa. Q: WHERE CAN I OBTAIN ADMISSION MATERIALS AND HOW DO I APPLY? A: The application can be completed online at www.wilkes.edu/mesa. Recommendation forms are also available in PDF format on the Ed.D. program page at www.wilkes.edu/mesa. Applicants will need to provide the additional documentation required for this program via mail. Please send materials to: Attn: Student Service Center, Wilkes University, 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre Pa. 18766. PROGRAM OPERATIONS Q: DO I NEED TO TAKE TIME OFF WORK FOR MY CLASSES? A: To accomodate working professionals, classes are offered in convenient hybrid format with virtual face-to-face and low residency sessions scheduled over weekends.. We also take into account regional school schedules. Q: HOW FLEXIBLE IS MY SCHEDULE IF I AM ADMITTED TO THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM? A: The doctoral program is prescriptive in terms of course offerings and schedules to maintain the strength of the cohort in the program. Faculty understand that students are adult learners with many professional and personal responsibilities and work with students to offer guidance and support whenever possible.
Q: HOW MANY CREDITS DO I HAVE TO TAKE EACH YEAR? A: The coursework is planned for completion in three years by taking an average of 18 credits of coursework each academic year (excluding any transfer credits). Students then have up to four more years, if needed, to complete their dissertation research. Continuous enrollment is required during fall and spring semesters. Q: HOW DO DISSERTATION CREDITS WORK? FOR MORE INFORMATION James P. Chiavacci, Ph.D. Director of Arizona Education Programs 245 W. Second St. Mesa, AZ 85201 (480) 878-4408 james.chiavacci@wilkes.edu A: After coursework is complete, doctoral students are required to register for dissertation credits to fulfill their individual dissertation research requirements under the advisement of their dissertation committee chair. Students register for three billable credits of ED 698 Dissertation Proposal each semester (fall and spring) until the proposal s defense and approval. Students then register for three billable credits of ED 699 Dissertation each semester (fall and spring) until the dissertation is completed and successfully defended. Students are awarded graduate credit for ED 698 and ED 699 after successful defenses of the proposal and the final dissertation. Q: HOW WILL I KNOW I AM ADMITTED TO THE PROGRAM? A: Students will be notified in writing as to their status for conditional admittance into the program. All accepted students are conditionally admitted until passing the Doctoral Qualifying Examination, which is taken after successful completion of nine credits of leadership core courses and three credits of an introductory research course. Q: HOW WILL I KNOW ALL THE PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM IF I AM ADMITTED? A: Upon initial acceptance, students attend a low residency session as part of their first course. At that session, the Doctoral Student Handbook will be distributed. This handbook contains detailed information on program requirements and procedures. An explanation of academic requirements, the academic integrity policy, remote library resources, and the course management system will be demonstrated. Updated March 2015
BE AN EDUCATIONAL Leader EARN YOUR ED.D. WITH WILKES Wilkes University s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership is designed for professionals seeking to transform the face of education. Through our rigorous and relevant curriculum, which combines theory, applied research and faculty mentoring, graduates leave the program prepared to address the unique challenges faced in K-12 or higher education environments. Completion requires 60 post-master credits, including nine credits of dissertation. Highlights: Just $602 per credit plus applicable fees less than $2,000 per course! Locked-in tuition rate when a student maintains continuous enrollment Conveniently hybrid format blending low residency session with online and virtual face-to-face instruction A cohort model complete the program with the same peer group Classes start August 31, 2015. Deadline for application submission is June 15, 2015. Students must hold a master s degree in education or a related field from an accredited institution of higher education. Interested in attending a live or online information session about this affordable, high-quality program, or have questions about the Ed.D. program? For more information, contact: James P. Chiavacci, Ph.D. Director of Arizona Education Programs 245 West 2nd St., Mesa, AZ 85201 (480) 878-4408 James.Chiavacci@wilkes.edu