Doctoral Program Mission Statement
The mission of Ashland University's Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies is to prepare ethical and competent professionals who are able to provide effective leadership in a variety of educational settings. The Ed. D. is a professional terminal degree program, which is designed to engage individuals in a highly rigorous process of research, inquiry, and site-specific practice. The doctoral program conceives of leadership within the context of organizational renewal. The goal of the program is leadership which focuses on common values among professionals within an organization, a vision of what education can be, and the pursuit of higher order institutional and personal goals.
The
admission procedures for the doctor of educational leadership degree
are designed to recruit the highest quality professional educators,
representative of a culturally diverse population. A comprehensive
system, including both qualitative and quantitative measures, will
be used to assess personal characteristics, academic skills, communications
and leadership. Acceptance into the doctoral program is by cohort
(15 or fewer students per year), and is based upon a competitive
evaluation of applications.
The Doctoral Admission and Retention Committee will review the credentials of each candidate, focusing on the following requirements:
Applicants for the Doctor of Education degree must:
A. Possess a master's degree from an accredited institution;
B. Have a cumulative post-baccalaureate
grade point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
The Admission portfolio for each candidate consists of seven items:
- Documentation/description of a record of successful administrative
experience in education and/or documented evidence of educational
leadership activities;
Examples of leadership competencies include:- peer leadership roles/positions
- leadership in writing curriculum
- leadership - supervising instruction
- specific administrative assignments/positions/committees/chair role
- leadership in professional organizations
- grant writing
- program administration and/or administration of extracurricular programs
- Scores from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the past five years;
- Four letters of reference, two from people familiar with the applicant's academic ability and two which describe professional performance citing specific examples of leadership ability;
- An approximately two-page personal statement describing career goals and reasons for wishing to undertake a doctoral program of study;
- A complete resume which includes work experience, educational background, professional experience, professional activities, honors, professional publications or presentations, and other relevant information relating to the applicant's leadership background;
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate study.
Finalists will be invited for an interview with members of the Admission and Retention Committee.
\ The deadline for receipt of the application portfolio is March 1 each year. Applicants are encouraged to begin to prepare materials four to six months prior to the March 1 deadline. It is recommended that applicants register for the GRE as early as possible.
Accreditation
Ashland University holds accreditation in
the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities and in
the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education at the
baccalaureate and graduate degree levels. Authorization to offer
the Doctor of Education degree was granted by the Ohio Board of
Regents in 1997, and permanent degree authority for the Doctoral
of Education in Leadership Studies degree program (Ed. D.) was granted
in 2001.