phd educational leadership michigan

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Doctoral Degrees

The Combined Program in Education and Psychology doctoral program is supported through a collaboration of the Marsal Family School of Education and the Department of Psychology in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. You will have the opportunity to work with faculty from both schools to research processes in development, learning, and motivation in the context of schools, families, and communities.

The Educational Studies program focuses on the improvement of K-12 education. We do this through research and scholarship on educational practice and through the preparation of knowledgeable, skillful, and thoughtful teachers and education administrators. We offer a number of PhD specializations that will allow you to pursue the specific set of knowledge and skills you need to make your unique contribution to our common goal.

Graduates typically go into these industries

• Educational foundations and policy
• Educational leadership
• Mathematics education
• Science education
• Teaching and teacher education
• Higher education research
• Independent research organizations
• Non-profit organizations and research institutes
• Museums and other informal learning settings
• Curriculum development organizations
• Organizations related to K-12 schooling (such as state departments of education, school district offices)
• Policy communities at the local, state, and national levels
• Reform and innovation communities within and beyond K–12 governance

Graduates often work as

• Education Consultant
• Director of Research
• Policymaker
• Research Design Specialist
• Research Investigator
• Research Specialist
• Expert Practitioners

Recent job titles include

• Associate Director of Education Research
• Chief of Research
• Clinical Professor
• Deputy Director
• Director of Enrollment Research and Data Management
• Director of Mathematics Learning Center
• Instructional Consultant
• Principal Researcher
• Research Scientist

The Joint Program in English and Education (JPEE) is interdisciplinary in nature, offering top-flight resources and a supportive and engaging community of scholars. You have the flexibility to craft a program centered on your individual interests, whether that’s rhetoric, composition, literacy studies, or English education.

To date, we have an outstanding placement record for graduates who have chosen to pursue tenure-track faculty positions in education and English departments in colleges and universities; graduates also assume a broad range of careers in K-12 administration, educational nonprofits, and government-sponsored agencies.

The Higher Education Academic Affairs and Student Development Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education program focuses on the teaching and learning missions of colleges and universities, and on the communities in which these central functions occur. Graduates may consider an academic or research career, so there are opportunities to develop research skills, studying students, faculty, diversity, teaching and learning, curriculum, history, philosophy, international and comparative higher education, and institutional policy.

The Organizational Behavior and Management Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education program explores the topics of administration, governance, management, leadership, organizational strategy, planning and budgeting, and institutional research and assessment of postsecondary educational organizations. The doctoral program develops scholars and practitioners who will make significant contributions to postsecondary education institutions as administrators and leaders, members of the professoriate, training and development professionals, or expert consultants.

The Public Policy in Postsecondary Education Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education program examines the social, economic, and political factors that affect postsecondary institutions, particularly the impact of local, state, and federal policies on students, faculty, and other constituencies. The doctoral program prepares students for careers in academics or in organizations such as state or federal government agencies, professional associations, or specialized offices within colleges and universities.

Students in the Research, Evaluation, and Assessment concentration develop the conceptual and technical skills necessary to produce the highest quality research on higher and postsecondary education, including applied research related to institutional research, educational and administrative evaluation, program review, and assessment of teaching and learning.

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The Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership will prepare you with the knowledge and skills to rise to the top of your field and assume high-level administration positions in schools and universities.

You will study leadership and advanced organizational theory as well as engage in reflective thought and scholarship within the context of a culturally diverse society. In addition, you will be able to demonstrate competence in research design, analysis, and the use of research tools, which will then culminate in your doctoral dissertation.

Opportunities

Individualization in this Ph.D. program is present in selecting a cognate area of study, contributing significantly to the student’s development as a professional educator and administrator. A Ph.D. in Educational Leadership opens doors to positions such as principal, professor, superintendent, curriculum specialist, dean, university registrar, and college provost.

Online Education Eligibility

• The U.S. Federal Government limits the number of online courses international students may enroll in while living in the United States. For this reason, we cannot admit students on F1 or J1 VISAs to fully online programs. Please check with  International Admissions  to confirm eligibility before applying.
• All applicants, please review  Online Education for Out-of-State Students  to confirm your eligibility to enroll in an online program based in Michigan.

Program Admission

Admit Terms and Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a  rolling basis ; students may start the program in the Fall . See Application Deadlines .

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

For full admission, applicants must have 1) Earned a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution, 2) a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program. Conditional admission may be available to applicants not meeting minimum admission requirements.

Applicants must also meet the following program requirements:

• Have completed either a master’s or specialist’s degree from an accredited university. a.) Students with a master’s degree must have completed it with a minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale b.) Students with an accredited specialist’s degree must have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
• Complete the Application for Graduate Admission form
• Applicants must complete a personal statement responding to the following prompt: ”We seek to build an academic community whose members have diverse cultures, backgrounds, and life experiences. Please tell us about your interest in pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. Please describe some of the ways (e.g., administrative work, leadership, research, service, or other significant aspects) you have considered or worked toward greater diversity and inclusion as an educational leader?” Please limit this response to 1000 words. The response will also be reviewed as an indicator of writing aptitude.
• Provide a résumé reflecting professional experiences, scholarly activity, service, etc.  It is desirable that applicants currently hold, or formerly have held, an administrative position; or present evidence of leadership potential.
• Submit three letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s professional background. Two of the letters must be from past or present supervisors. Those supervisors must address your work’s quality and future leadership potential. 

Application

Your application will be submitted using GradCAS, a Centralized Application Service (CAS) hosted by Liaison.  After reviewing the admission requirements, please review the application instructions    and select the appropriate application.

- Go to  2023-2024 GradCAS  to apply to a program beginning in Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Winter 2025.

- Go to  2024-2025 GradCAS  to apply to a program beginning in Summer 2025, Fall 2025, or Winter 2026.

Domestic Applicants Within the application, applicants will follow the instructions to submit official transcripts from the institution(s) that granted their bachelor’s and graduate degrees.

If the bachelor’s degree-granting transcript does NOT list 30 or more credit hours with an overall GPA of 3.0 or over OR list 60 or more credit hours with an overall GPA between 2.7 and 2.99 , the applicant is required to submit transcripts from all previously attended institutions.  The University may ask applicants to submit additional transcripts after applying.

International Applicants Before applying, applicants must review the international application/process deadlines at emich.edu/international as they may differ from general program requirements.

For additional information regarding the application process, please see  Graduate Admissions or International Admissions .

 The admission process for the doctoral degree includes the following steps:

• Submit an Application for Graduate Admission, fee, required transcripts, résumé, personal statement, and letters of recommendation using the online application system.
• Upon receipt of the completed applications by February 1, the materials will be reviewed by the faculty of the educational leadership program. Selected applicants will be invited to a personal interview with the program faculty.
• Following personal interviews, those candidates who have presented the greatest evidence of potential success in the program will be selected and notified of their admission by the program coordinator. Only 12-15 candidates are selected annually.
• All decisions by the faculty regarding admissions are final.

Department Information

Leadership & Counseling   304 Porter, 734.487.0255

Kimberly Kappler Hewitt, PhD , Department Head

Advisor Information

Cierra Presberry, PhD , Doctoral Co-Coordinator, 304 Porter, 734.487.0255

Rachel Radina, PhD , Doctoral Co-Coordinator, 304 Porter, 734.487.2746

Program Information

The Ph.D. program in Educational Leadership at EMU prepares caring, courageous, and ethical educational leaders who demonstrate reflective thought and scholarship within the context of a culturally diverse society. The Ph.D. program prepares graduates for high-level administrative positions leading schools, universities, and organizations in the state, region, and beyond. 

Practicing administrators will find the program designed to support the application of educational leadership theory to meet the challenges of practice in a changing environment.  The coursework’s emphasis is on applied research with immediate application and the focus on gaining insight and skills for initiating improvement within educational organizations.

Course Delivery Format

Courses in the doctoral program are delivered online. Course formats include synchronous and asynchronous online delivery, combining online real-time interactions (set class schedule) with the flexibility of content delivered over an online learning platform.

Our courses are scheduled during the evenings and weekends. We invite you to join us and lead the way as we reimagine the future of education together.

Reimagine You. Earning your Ph.D. in Educational Leadership

• Build community with a cohort of experienced educators and practitioners.
• Enjoy a curriculum that blends theory and practice.
• Join a network of students and graduates who serve in leadership positions across the state, region, and the country.
• Build relationships with intellectually diverse faculty invested in student success.

Accreditation

The doctoral program in Educational Leadership began at EMU in the Fall of 1991 as the university’s first doctoral program. Today, the program continues with a strong tradition of preparing educational leaders.

The EMU College of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the Michigan Department of Education for the preparation of educational personnel.

Credit Interface with Specialist’s Degree

Students may enter the Ph.D. program in educational leadership with a specialist’s degree in educational leadership either from Eastern Michigan University or another accredited institution of higher education. The interface of credit from this degree with the Ph.D. degree differs depending on the field in which the specialist’s degree was earned.

Those students who have completed the EMU  Educational Leadership [Sp.A.]   , or in another department at EMU, must take a minimum of 37 new credit hours toward completion of the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership program. The determination of which hours can be counted will be the responsibility of the student’s doctoral advisor.

Internship Option

The application of conceptual, technical, and human relations skills that is essential to successful educational leadership (i.e., the testing of theory against the prevailing practice) is best observed and explored when there is direct involvement in administration. Students in the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership program have the option of an internship of 200-400 clock hours. This internship is to be a clinical experience that occurs in a leadership role related to the student’s career goals. The internship is to be supervised by an experienced educational administrator and the intern program director in the educational leadership program.

The internship requirement must be completed before the completion of the comprehensive qualifying examination.

Comprehensive Qualifying Examination

When students have completed all doctoral course work, they are required to complete the comprehensive qualifying examination. The purpose of this examination is to determine the student’s subject mastery of the concepts, literature base, and research; and knowledge of problems and issues in the major field (educational leadership) and the cognate area of study. The student is expected to provide written evidence of the ability to analyze and synthesize information, integrate learning into a meaningful whole, and draw appropriate conclusions. Consult the EDLD Doctoral Student Handbook for examination process options.

Following the comprehensive qualifying examination, the student’s responses will be reviewed by the student’s doctoral examination committee of the educational leadership program, depending upon the examination option selected. All options include an oral examination during which the student’s written exam is discussed in greater depth by the student with the doctoral committee members. Passing the comprehensive qualifying examination is a requirement before engaging in crafting the  dissertation , the doctoral program’s culminating requirement.

Degree Requirements: 62 hours

A doctoral student’s individualized course of study is typically expected to encompass at least 62 hours of coursework beyond the master’s degree. The number of hours will be determined by the student’s program advisor, based on a review of previous graduate work/transcripts, the student’s professional and personal aspirations, and the doctor of philosophy degree requirements set forth by the Graduate School and the Leadership and Counseling Department. Therefore, some plans of study will have only 62 hours. In contrast, others may include additional hours and courses designed to remove deficiencies or to enhance opportunities for leadership success at the discretion of the program advisor.

The doctoral program of study has four components: major (educational leadership), cognate, research support, and dissertation research. The minimum credit hours allocated to each component are  Major (educational leadership),  27 hours; Cognate,  10 hours; Research Support,  12 hours; Dissertation Research,  13 hours.

Major (Educational Leadership): 27 hours

Required Courses: 18 hours

• EDLD 709 Educational Leadership Perspectives on the Scholarship of Diversity 3 hrs
• EDLD 710 Leadership Theory 3 hrs
• EDLD 714 Data-Driven Decision Management for Educational Leaders 3 hrs
• EDLD 740 Advanced Organizational Theory 3 hrs
• EDLD 810 Ethics and Philosophy for Educational Leaders 3 hrs
• EDLD 820 Politics and Policy Analysis for Educational Leadership 3 hrs

Elective Courses: 9 hours

The remaining nine hours are to be selected from EDLD courses according to the student’s professional and personal goals, including considerations of career advancement and certification, and as approved by the student’s doctoral advisor. Previous graduate course work in educational leadership which was taken as part of the specialist’s degree can be used to meet some of the 27 hours in the major, as described in the credit interface section above.

Cognate: 10 hours

The opportunity for individualization of the Ph.D. program is present in the selection of a cognate area of study which contributes significantly to the student’s development as a professional educator and administrator. The cognate specialization is developed through completion of a sequence of related courses that are designed to add depth to the student’s doctoral program. In order to provide maximum flexibility in meeting individual needs, the 10-hour cognate may be completed in any one or a combination of graduate academic units, departments, schools, or colleges of the University that offer a sufficient number of advanced graduate courses. Previous graduate course work in a cognate that was taken as part of the specialist degree can be used to meet some of the 10 hours in the cognate, as described in the credit interface section above.

Research Support: 12 hours

The research support component of the doctoral program is designed to enable the student to demonstrate competence in research design, analysis and the use of research tools. Additionally, the student will have experience in conducting useful research and be able to use educational research as an informed and productive consumer. Both statistics and applications courses are needed in this area, depending upon the student’s background in this field, and as approved by the student’s doctoral advisor. Previous graduate course work in research and research support that was taken as part of the specialist’s degree can be used to meet some of the twelve credits in this area, as described in the credit interface section above.

• EDST 805 Quantitative Methods I 3 hrs
• EDST 806 Qualitative Methods 3 hrs

Taken after all course work is completed:

• EDLD 812 Analysis of Research in Administration 3 hrs
• EDLD 893 Dissertation Research Seminar 3 hrs

Dissertation Research: 13 hours

Each student in the Doctor of Philosophy program will be required to complete a dissertation, a document representing an original research effort. The dissertation will focus on an area of particular interest to the student and the dissertation chair, and the research may be conducted using a variety of research designs (causal-comparative, experimental, etc.) as well as approaches (quantitative or qualitative). The student must register for a minimum of 12 hours of dissertation research, including the dissertation seminar, but may not enroll in dissertation research until he or she has completed the comprehensive qualifying examination and has been admitted to candidacy by the Graduate School . However, this stipulation does not preclude enrollment in the dissertation seminar nor in the student’s working with the dissertation chair in formulating ideas about specific research topics. Furthermore, the approval of the dissertation proposal cannot occur until after the student has passed the comprehensive qualifying examination and is enrolled in the dissertation seminar.

When the dissertation is completed, the student will present the written document to the dissertation committee for approval. In a two-hour oral examination/defense, the student will answer questions related to the dissertation research and will defend it. At the conclusion of the oral examination, the doctoral/dissertation committee will determine 1) if the written document meets doctoral standards of quality and rigor; and 2) if the student has successfully defended the research conducted. This process of review and revision continues until the doctoral committee approves both the written document and student’s oral defense of the research.

• EDLD 894 Advanced Research in Educational Leadership 3 hrs

A combination of any of the following may be taken to reach the required 10 hour minimum for dissertation research:

• EDLD 896 Dissertation Research 1 hr
• EDLD 897 Dissertation Research 2 hrs
• EDLD 898 Dissertation Research 4 hrs
• EDLD 899 Dissertation Research 8 hrs

Additional Information

Course Substitutions/Program Changes - The advisor must approve changes in the student’s official program and substitution of courses before registration.

Courses Outside the Program - The Program faculty has prepared a suggested list of courses. Other courses may be used for electives in this area if approved by the student’s advisor.

Internships - Information is available from the director of the intern program or at  emich.edu/coe/lc . Internship placements should be arranged at least one semester in advance and approved by the internship director.

Contact the department head for more information about the program, admissions, etc.

Critical Graduation Information

Each graduate student is responsible for fulfilling the requirements or their equivalents of the Eastern Michigan University catalog in force at the time of their initial registration or a subsequent catalog, including the one in effect at the time of their graduation.

Students have seven (7) years to complete the requirements for the doctoral degree from the date of first enrollment in the doctoral program at EMU. 

In the event a student does not complete the degree requirements within seven years of the date of their original registration, the student may be required to have their credits re-evaluated by the academic department(s) of their degree in keeping with catalog requirements in force during the year of their graduation.

The following are minimum requirements for all doctoral degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University. Some programs require more than the minimum in one or more areas below.

• A Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree must require a minimum of 90 credit hours post bachelor’s degree.
• A Ph.D. degree in a program that requires a master’s degree for admission must require a minimum of 60 credit hours post-master’s.
• A Ph.D. degree in a program that allows a specialist’s degree for admission must require a minimum of 36 credit hours post-specialist’s.
• Doctoral degrees in clinical or practitioner programs must require a minimum of 75 hours if admitting students post-bachelor’s degree. If admitting students post-master’s degree, a minimum of 41 new hours are required.
• Doctoral programs must require a minimum of 15 total credit hours of research and research support coursework.
• No more than six credits of independent study courses, and no more than 12 credit hours of special topics and independent study courses combined, may be applied to a graduate degree.  
• Residency Requirement - See Academic Policies and Processes—Graduate School for residency requirements. 
• Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all graduate-level courses taken at EMU and in their program of study to remain in good academic standing and be eligible for graduation. Students do not need to be registered for classes during the semester of graduation.
• The Graduate School does not permit the use of undergraduate courses (499 and below) to meet degree requirements on graduate programs of study.
• Some doctoral programs require a dissertation. See the Graduate School website for Thesis and Dissertation Manuals, all forms, and information about research and human subject approval. Every completed thesis or dissertation must be submitted to Digital Commons. Any form of graduate student work submitted to Digital Commons must first be approved by a faculty advisor and the Graduate School.

Department of Educational Administration

• Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education
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PhD in K-12 Educational Administration

• K12 Administration Menu
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• M.A. Handbook
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• School Administrator Certification Information

The PhD program in K-12 Educational Administration seeks to train researchers who engage in scholarship related to educational leadership and school organizations in the K-12 setting. Our faculty consists of tenure-track professors at various ranks and professors of practice with successful educational leadership experience as principals and superintendents. Collectively, our research and scholarship address issues related to school leadership, principal preparation, school and district improvement, school climate, student learning and wellbeing, and school-family-community partnerships. Many of our faculty also study education policy issues that impact these school-level dynamics, and many faculty study student populations that have historically been marginalized and underserved in K-12 schools.

Program Highlights

National reputation.

Michigan State University is ranked #1 in the nation for education administration (U.S. News & World Report, 2024).

INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION

Students receive one-on-one guidance around their choice of research and goals.

Some full-time students are fully funded for three or more years.

The support I’ve had to share my work with other scholars really distinguishes MSU. The comprehensive package you get is better than anywhere else. KATE ROLLERT K-12 Administration graduate

Research in Action

Our faculty and students immerse themselves in school organizations to put research into practice. In addition, the MSU College of Education community includes offices and centers that create opportunities to conduct and disseminate education research, such as the  Education Policy Innovation Collaborative  (EPIC) and the  Office of K-12 Outreach .

Monica Byrne-Jimenez

Kristy Cooper Stein

Gerardo R. Lopez

Madeline Mavrogordato

Jada Phelps

BetsAnn Smith

Melissa Usiak

Terah Venzant Chambers

Jerome Graham

Julie Helber

Lara J. Dixon

Research across the College of Education

CENTERS AND INSTITUTES

TENURE SYSTEM FACULTY MEMBERS

ACTIVE GRANTS AND CONTRACTS

MILLION IN ANNUAL RESEARCH SPENDING

• 30 years at #1 in elementary, secondary teacher education
• Spartans recognized for contributions to higher education
• MSU co-leads local DEI Educator Network  

Tue . Feb . 11 2025

Promoting Your Research on Social Media

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

133F, Erickson Hall

Fri . Jan . 24 2025

Education Policy Speaker Series

10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Erickson 252

Mon . Jan . 20 2025

University Closed

Educational Leadership, Research and Technology

Department of Educational Leadership Research and Technology Western Michigan University Kalamazoo MI 49008-5283 USA (269) 387-3897

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership

Program overview

Due to the increasingly complex tasks including research and data analysis within all types of educational institutions, there is a demand for strong, transformational leaders.

Applying theory to practice is an overall theme for the Doctor of Philosophy in educational leadership, with the case-study approach to learning used extensively. In addition to a small number of concentration related courses, an integrated "professional inquiry, research, and dissertation core" has been developed to increase the likelihood that students complete a Ph.D. rather than adding to the number of "all-but-dissertations" (ABD's) that exist in academia.

The EDLD concentrations require a minimum of 60 graduate credits, including 12 dissertation credits. If you are a working professional and able to take two classes per semester you can complete your doctoral work, including dissertation, in about 3.5 – 4 years.

Concentrations

• Higher education leadership
• K-12 leadership
• Organizational analysis leadership
• Workforce education and development leadership  (discontinued - see instead PhD in EHD **)

Resources for current students (including multi-year course offering plans)

For program information visit the  current educational leadership Ph.D. students page .

Assistantships

For more information about graduate or doctoral assistantships visit the  graduate assistantships page  or contact the Interim Department Chair,  Dr. Louann Bierlein Palmer .

Admissions requirements

• Masters degree from an accredited institution, indicated on an official transcript.
• An overall grade point average of at least 3.0 for all graduate work undertaken beyond the bachelor’s degree.
• Official transcripts as required by WMU.
• Career and professional goals written narrative in which an applicant describes their professional goals, and how this doctoral program fits with those goals.
• Graduate reference forms completed by the different individuals who can address an applicant’s ability to successfully complete doctoral-level work.
• A professional curriculum vitae or resume.

Application information

Currently, the EDLD Ph.D. Program only admits for a start date in fall semester. The priority deadline for each fall semester is  January 15 ; this is the only deadline for applicants who wish to be considered for a graduate assistantship (GA), in which you work up to 20 hours per week in exchange for tuition and a stipend.

A second deadline for fall semester is  March 1 ; no graduate assistantship funding is available for any applications completed between  January 16  and  March 1 .

Your application must be fully completed by  January 15  or  March 1  (not just submitted). We recommend you submit your application at least two weeks prior to the deadline to ensure recommenders have time to complete their recommendations by the deadline.

** As of March 2023, we are no longer accepting applications for the Workforce education and development leadership concentration; interested students are encouraged to consider the  Ph.D. in Education and Human Development - Workforce Education and Development Concentration

Transcript requirement

An official transcript from the institution from which you received your bachelor degree is required to be sent to WMU, as well as a transcript from the institution(s) where any additional graduate level courses or degrees have been taken/completed. Applicants are not required to submit an official transcript for courses taken/completed at WMU.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload an unofficial copy of any graduate transcripts to their application in order to expedite the review process.

Official transcripts must be sent to  @email  from the issuing institution or via postal mail to: Office of Admissions, 1903 W Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5211.

Meet some of our students

• Meet our  current students .
• Search recent  graduates .
• Read  student experiences .

Cost & Funding

• Tuition and fees
• Cost of attendance
• Scholarships
• Employer-paid tuition

Helpful links

• College of Education and Human Development
• International Admissions and Services
• Graduate College
• Office of Military and Veterans Affairs
• Visit Campus

• Dr. Eric Archer, Higher Education and Organizational Analysis Ph.D. Program Coordinator
• Dr. LaSonja Roberts, K12 Ph.D. Program Coordinator

Education, EdD

Cehhs office for student success, related resources.

• College of Education, Health, and Human Services

Ed.D. Handbook

Reach the pinnacle in education studies.

Whatever your aspirations may be in your career as an educator, the Doctorate in education from the University of Michigan-Dearborn will help you fulfill them. This degree provides the knowledge, skills, and credentials you need to conduct education research, teach at a college or university, work in education policy making, fill a top administrative role in PK-12 or postsecondary education, and so much more.

Where a Doctorate in Education Will Take You

Pretty much anywhere you want. The degree will give you the knowledge and tools to transform education wherever you work, whether you lead a PK-12 public school district, take a major administrative role at a college or university, teach future educators at the postgraduate level, conduct your own research into educational questions or problems, or contribute in some other way.

Career and Salary Outlook

The information in this table is meant to give you an idea of career opportunities with this degree. All information is pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics , and is meant to be averages across the United States. Please note that these figures reflect overall averages and may not represent entry-level salaries.

Postsecondary Education Administrators

$102,610 Median Salary

Employment of postsecondary education administrators is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 15,300 openings for postsecondary education administrators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Postsecondary Teachers

$84,380 Median Salary

Overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 118,800 openings for postsecondary teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Instructional Coordinators

$74,620 Median Salary

Employment of instructional coordinators is projected to grow 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 19,200 openings for instructional coordinators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals

$103,460 Median Salary

Employment of elementary, middle, and high school principals is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032.

Despite limited employment growth, about 20,200 openings for elementary, middle, and high school principals are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Program Details

What you’ll study.

The program, which is designed to be completed over a minimum of four years, has three parts:

• 24 credits of core courses in subjects ranging from educational leadership to educational research
• 24 credits in the concentration you choose
• 12 credits dedicated to a dissertation or applied studies project

There’s a great deal of flexibility within each concentration, allowing you to choose courses that best meet your needs and professional goals. You’ll work with your faculty advisor to choose these courses.

Concentration Options

Students in the 60-credit program choose from among three concentrations:

Educational leadership

This concentration is designed for students who have or aspire to have leadership positions in a K-12 school or district central office. Students who complete it can be recommended to the Michigan Department of Education for the Central Office Administrator Certificate.

Metropolitan education

This concentration prepares students to take on leadership positions in metropolitan systems and other educational agencies with a focus on the historical, political, economic, and sociocultural context of communities and schools.

Curriculum and practice

This flexible concentration can include any of the disciplines in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services such as math, science, social studies, early childhood education, and English as a Second Language.

Ed.D. Alumni Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund originated as an idea in 2017 and was established by generous graduates of the Doctorate of Education program in 2018, most of whom were from the early cohorts when the Ed.D. program was launched.  The $10,000 to establish the fund was raised through donations and multi-year pledges.  Donors to the fund include Ed.D. alumni, UM-Dearborn faculty and administrators, as well as friends of the University.

The fund is expected to generate a $500 annual scholarship for Ed.D. students.

Everyone is invited to make a donation to the fund .

Admissions Requirements

The GRE is not required for admission to this program. You must submit the following with your application:

• Earned Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution
• Master's degree with a 3.3 GPA or higher
• Two professional letters of recommendation
• Statement of purpose

At least 3 years of teaching experience or the equivalent in a professional setting is required.

Education Doctoral Graduate List

The Education Doctoral Graduate List features those who have earned their Doctorate in Education, with links to their dissertations and the faculty members they collaborated with. This list highlights both graduates' scholarly contributions and the membership they received, showcasing the collaborative academic environment of the Education program. 

Check out the Ed.D. Handbook to learn more about the stages of the Ed. D. program, requirements, forms, and defending your proposal. 

Ready to Apply?

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Application Deadline

This program admits for the Fall term only and operates on a strict deadline. All application and materials must be submitted by March 15 for consideration. Please plan ahead to meet all deadlines and optimize your chances of acceptance.

Graduate Scholarships

Learn about scholarship opportunities for new and continuing graduate students.

Related Programs

Educational leadership, ma, education specialist program, eds.

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