Admission to the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership
Admissions Requirements
In addition to the general admissions requirements, the following program-specific requirements must be met:
- A Doctor of Education application, including personal statements, to be completed online at www.arcadia.edu/gradapp.
- A master's degree in education from an accredited institution with a recommended GPA of 3.5 or better.
- One official transcript from each college, university or professional school attended. Transfer credits included on a transcript must include grades earned; if not, an official transcript from the original school must be submitted. Transcripts must be sent from the issuing school in a sealed envelope and contain the appropriate signatures and seals to be considered official.
- There are four required background courses (pre-requisites for program admission) that may be part of the student's master's-level program:
- A course in Curriculum Development and Design
- A course in Educational Research (includes understanding of both qualitative and quantitative research applications)
- A course in Inclusive Education
- A course in Instructional Technology
- Students may be conditionally admitted if lacking some of the background courses.
- A minimum of three letters of recommendation from individuals in a position to evaluate the applicant’s qualifications for graduate study and/or field-related work experience, including at least one from a professor familiar with the student’s writing skills and level of critical thinking.
- Test scores from the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), taken within the last five years.
- A minimum of five years of experience working in a school leadership position or a teacher leadership position.
- A current résumé.
- An interview with the Admissions Committee. After a review of the application, the Admissions Committee will decide which applicants will be asked to interview for acceptance.
- International applicants should visit www.arcadia.edu/international for detailed information on admissions requirements and application procedures. Official results from the TOEFL or IELTS are required for all students for whom English is a second language except for non-native speakers of English who hold degrees or diplomas from post-secondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g., the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.). A course-by-course evaluation of all transcripts by an independent evaluation service based in the United States also is required.
Essential Background Courses
(12 credits mandatory)
Students entering the doctoral program are required to have essential background knowledge in educational leadership either at the school or district level. These courses are designed to provide the student with minimal necessary background information regarding how school leaders use educational research, data-based decisionmaking, and best practices to inform decisions regarding curriculum and instruction, special education, and the integration of technology into the school curriculum. It is expected that the majority of entering doctoral students have extensive background knowledge in the field and have completed a master’s degree in education and, therefore, enter having completed the essential background courses. However, for those students entering the program without the necessary background knowledge, one course in each of the following content areas is required prior to admission:
- A course in Curriculum Development and Design
- A course in Educational Research
- A course in Inclusive Education
- A course in Instructional Technology
Courses covering these content areas are regularly taught as part of Arcadia University’s master’s-level Education program and administrative certification programs.
Determination of the need to take essential background courses or to improve background knowledge will be decided based on the entering student’s transcript and a meeting with the admissions committee. Options for meeting these requirements may include recommendations for students to take one or more of the prerequisite courses for credit, audit one or more courses, and/or engage in reading current literature in one or more areas. Based on a potential student’s credentials, the admissions committee will decide whether prerequisites must be met prior to being interviewed, accepted, or starting the doctoral program.
Application Deadline
Students are accepted to begin in the fall semester only. Applications are accepted on a revolving basis and are reviewed as received. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications prior to the priority deadline of March 1st of each year, when considerations for acceptance will begin.
Deferred Admissions
An accepted student who wants to defer his or her admission for one year must submit a request to do so in writing to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and the Program Coordinator. Deferments will be granted by the Department on an individual basis. Once a deferral is granted, the student must submit the required deposit to reserve his or her position in the cohort. This deposit will be credited toward tuition. A student who is granted a deferment must understand that he or she will be subject to the prevailing tuition at the time of matriculation to the program.
Expenses
- 2013-14 Tuition: TBD for Fall 2013 entering cohort
- Fees:
- Deferred Payment: $40 (non-refundable)
- Audit: Consistent with 1-credit tuition rate
- Parking: $30 per semester (fall and spring) before 4 p.m. No charge after 4 p.m.
