Southeastern Louisiana University

1. To enhance the knowledge and competencies of leaders so they provide optimal leadership for the education of all learners, both youth and adult.
   
2. To prepare leaders who are inquiring, reflective practitioners.
   
3. To prepare leaders who are competent in identifying and solving complex problems in education.
   
4. To prepare leaders who understand the multitude of leadership and management theories and practices techniques related to their professional settings.
   
5. To prepare leaders who value, encourage, and facilitate the professional development of self and others in their organization.
   
6. To prepare leaders who demonstrate effective communication skills in both school and non-school settings.
   
7. To prepare leaders who value, understand and support diversity in their school organizations.
   
8. To prepare leaders who make contributions to the profession. 
   

The doctoral program is NOT designed to lead towards initial Administrative Certification for the State of Louisiana.

Applicants who have submitted completed applications, including all documents listed below, by the application deadline will be given priority for admission consideration.   Applications received after the deadline and incomplete applications completed after the deadline will be given consideration on a space available basis.  The deadlines are:

            March 15         Fall Semester

            October 15      Spring Semester  

1.  Completed application form (no application fees at this time);
2.  Official transcripts from all colleges attended;
3.  Appropriate score on the Graduate Record Examination;
4.  Master’s Degree from an accredited university;
5.  GPA of at least 3.0 on the last 60 undergraduate hours;
6.  GPA of 3.25 on all graduate-level course work;
7.  Professional Resume;
8.  A formal letter of application that will serve as an indication of writing ability and must address the following questions:
   a.  What is your purpose for joining the doctoral program?
   b.   What are your career goals both short and long term?
   c.   How do you believe that the doctoral program will help you in the performance of  your professional duties and responsibilities?
   d.   What specific qualities and characteristics do you bring to the doctoral program?
   e.   How would your personal and professional environments be supportive in your quest for the doctoral degree?
9. Names, addresses (office and e-mail) and telephone numbers of three individuals, and one (1) letter of recommendation from a University professor who can attest to the candidate’s ability to successfully complete a doctoral program;
10. For applicants whose native language is not English, a score on the English proficiency examination (TOEFL) of at least 24 on each of the components (Writing, Reading, Speaking, and Listening).
11. Verification of at least three (3) years of appropriate professional experience;
12. Have satisfactory standing in the last institution attended.

Upon receipt of your letter of official acceptance into the program, the student must complete the following steps to complete enrollment into the doctoral program: 

1. Submit additional documents required by the enrolling university, which may include,
   but are not restricted to, Proof of Immunization and an Application to the University
   and/or Graduate School, whichever is applicable.
2. Fees that may be required to accompany the application(s).
3. Enroll in the initial courses for the program.
4. Attend the required orientation session.

Tenured Consortium University faculty members above the rank of instructor may not be admitted into the doctoral program.

Students who do not have a master’s degree in school administration or the equivalent, may be required to complete three to nine hours of course work in educational administration, either before or during the doctoral program. Students who have not completed courses in graduate statistics and research methods must include these courses in their program of study.

Preliminary Review
At or near the beginning of the student’s work in the doctoral degree program, the department may conduct a preliminary review to determine the student’s potential for success in a program of study leading to the doctoral degree and to assess the student’s advising needs in planning the student’s program of study.

Upon successful completion of the Preliminary Review, the campus Consortium Coordinator will notify the Southeastern Office of Research and Graduate Studies or the University of Louisiana at Graduate School, whichever is appropriate.

Degree Program Policies

Statistics Requirement:                                                         
Candidates must have taken a graduate course in Statistics as a prerequisite for the coursework. If the course has not been taken, it may be taken concurrently with EDF 800.

Transfer of Credits:                                                        
Appropriate graduate course work may be transferred with prior approval by the candidate’s advisory committee and the campus Doctoral Program Coordinator.

Academic Expectations:
Candidates must maintain a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.25 in all doctoral course work. No more than one course in which a grade of C has been earned may be applied toward the fulfillment of degree requirements.

Continuous Enrollment:
The continuous enrollment requirement necessitates that candidates are enrolled each semester including fall, spring and summer semesters, until completion of all degree program requirements.

Residency Requirement:
The residency requirement in graduate programs is intended to ensure that candidates become integrally involved in the academic life of their program and of the university. During the course of study for the Ed.D. degree offered by the Consortium, candidates are required to have an enrollment period of two consecutive semesters with a minimum of nine (9) credit hours per semester.

Admission to Candidacy and Time Limits:
The total duration of study for the doctoral degree may not exceed seven (7) years from admission to candidacy.

Qualifying Paper:
All candidates are required to complete a Qualifying Paper consisting of a comprehensive review of the literature on a selected topic and an Oral Examination.

Dissertation:
Each candidate for the doctoral degree is required to complete a dissertation which represents a significant contribution to the body of knowledge in the discipline. Doctoral candidates who have been admitted to candidacy must present a prospectus for the dissertation project, prepare a proposal, form a dissertation committee, present the proposal to the dissertation committee, defend the dissertation proposal, and defend the final research submission with the dissertation committee. A candidate actively engaged in work on a dissertation must be officially enrolled for dissertation credit, whether the candidate is on or off campus.

Additional Requirements:
Prospective and enrolled graduate students are reminded that the general academic, financial, and student conduct policies and rules of the Consortium Universities as stated in the university catalogs remain in force and effect unless specifically modified by graduate rules and policies included in the graduate section of the catalog.

Doctoral Program Curriculum

The doctoral degree program will consist of 60 credit hours of course work beyond the master’s degree, organized into core course areas and specializations as listed below. The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership has a variety of specializations including: Administration of Special Education, and Educational Technology Administration. Additional specializations will be developed shortly.

Course of Study

Research Core: 12 credit hours (of 12 offered)