Doctorate in K-12 Education Leadership

The Doctorate of Education (EdD) in K 12 Education Leadership degree program’s mission is to graduate successful and influential K 12 leaders who are critical thinkers—with exceptional knowledge, skills, and integrity—who are able to apply theory to the creative and innovative solutions of practical education problems. The EdD is designed to be of service to both students and the learning organizations and communities that graduates serve.

This degree program specialization aligns with the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) and Colorado Department of Education (CDE) professional standards and prepares students to become endorsed as principals and administrators.

Candidates who complete this program:

• demonstrate the ability to think critically about important education questions and problems concerning current K-12 education theories; systems of human inquiry and education research; public knowledge and public responsibility; leadership and the art of change management; the future of K-12 education and democracy; and K-12 education policy analysis for school leaders.
• demonstrate the functions necessary to be an effective education leader as explained in the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium’s “Standards for School Leaders” (see http://www.ccsso.org/publications/details.cfm?PublicationID=365).
• develop professionally meaningful synthesizing projects that demonstrate the ability to apply theory to the solutions of practical problems. The student also develops—by working closely with a mentor professor and dissertation committee—a creative and innovative dissertation that demonstrates the ability to research an important education question or problem.