Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership 
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The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Educational Leadership at Austin Peay State University (APSU) focuses on providing skills to leaders in a variety of higher education institutions, K–12 district- and school-level settings, private schools, non-profit organizations, businesses, and government.
The goals of the Ed.D. program are to enhance the knowledge and competencies of leaders so they may provide optimal conditions for the education of youth and adult learners. The program is designed to enhance intellectual understanding of leadership theory and policy, deepen leadership capacity, and position leaders for elevated organizational responsibility.
The objectives of the Ed.D. are to prepare leaders who:
- are inquiring, reflective practitioners;
- are competent in identifying and solving complex problems;
- understand the multitude of leadership and organizational theories and techniques related to their professional settings;
- value, encourage, and facilitate the professional development of self and others in their organization;
- demonstrate effective communication skills in both school and non-school setting;
- value, understand, and support diversity in their organizations;
- make contributions to the profession;
- make data-driven decisions; and
- facilitate group processes to resolve conflict.
* Students also have the option of earning a Tennessee Instructional Leader License in addition to the Ed.D.
Program Content
The Ed.D. program length is 60 semester credit hours beyond a master's degree.
- Theories of Leadership
- Multicultural Leadership
- Multiple Perspectives on Learning and Teaching
- Team Building and Group Dynamics
- Organizational Development
- Strategic Planning and Decision Making
- Program Planning and Evaluation
- Contemporary Approaches to Educational Problems
- Social, Political, and Legal Issues
- Applied Statistics for Social Sciences I
- Qualitative Research
- Applied Statistics for Social Sciences II or Advanced Qualitative Research
- Research Design
- Dissertation I, II, & III
- Choose three courses within the K–12 Leadership, Higher Education Administration, Nurse Educator, Socioscientific Studies, or Literacy Studies concentration offerings
Program Admission Requirements
For information related to admission requirements or to view the courses within the program, please visit the graduate bulletin.