Educational Leadership, EdD Admission Requirements
- A graduate application, including personal statements.
- A master’s degree in education from an accredited institution with a recommended GPA of 3.5 or better.
- One transcript from each college, university or professional school attended. Transfer credits included on a transcript must include grades earned; if not, a transcript from the original school must be submitted. If you are admitted, you’ll be required to submit an official transcript from your degree conferring institution. The official transcript must be sent from the issuing school electronically or by mail.
- Successful completion of coursework related/similar to any of the following areas (at the master’s level, unless otherwise approved by the program director): Educational Research, Psychology, Sociology, Human Relations, Education, Social Justice, Diversity or Inclusive Practices.
- 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.
- A minimum of five years of experience working as an educational leader if PK-12 administrative certification is desired (e.g., school/district-level administrator, mentor, teacher, educational organization leader).
- A current résumé.
- An interview with the Admissions Committee, if deemed necessary/beneficial by the Admissions Committee after the initial review of the application.
- In exceptional cases, after reviewing an applicant’s academic record, the Director may request GRE or MAT scores if needed.
- 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.
Application Deadline
Because of the doctoral program’s cohort model, all students who enter in a given year begin the program together in the fall semester. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the cohort for that fall reaches capacity.
Scholarships
The School of Education offers a limited number of scholarships each year to exemplary applicants based on their merit and commitment to being a change agent in education. These awards range from $4,000 to $5,000, spread out over two years. Prospective students can apply for scholarships by completing an optional scholarship essay within the online application. Applicants to the EdD Educational Leadership graduate program are eligible to apply.
Deferred Admission
An admitted student who wants to defer his or her admission for one year must submit a request to do so in writing to the Program Director of the EdD program. 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 their position in the cohort. This deposit will be credited toward tuition. A student who is granted a deferment must understand that they will be subject to the prevailing tuition at the time of matriculation to the program.
Academic Policies and Procedures
Continuous Enrollment: Students must be enrolled continuously in the EdD program. In emergency circumstances, a student may petition for a leave of absence by filling out the Request for Leave of Absence form; however, this is not guaranteed.
Readmission: A student who has withdrawn from a graduate program for personal reasons, (that is, other than a dismissal for academic or ethical reasons) may be readmitted within one year of that withdrawal by requesting reinstatement in writing to the Program Director of the EdD program. In some cases, a student may be asked to submit materials updating the original application. If the withdrawal was granted contingent upon some action(s) on the part of the student, the student also will be required to demonstrate that the recommended steps have been taken. If more than one year has elapsed, a completely new application must be submitted to the Office of Enrollment Management.
Time Limits: Students enrolled in the cohort program must complete coursework within five years of receiving candidacy. Dissertation must be completed within five years after the completion of coursework.
Program Continuation: Students who are not making appropriate progress will be counseled out of the program at the end of a given year of coursework. Students who engage in any other activity that would support a reason for dismissal (cheating, plagiarism) may be asked to leave immediately or at the end of the semester. Continuance in the program for those with under a 3.0 GPA will be conditional for the next semester provided their grade point average improves to at least that level during that time.
