Educational Leadership, Higher Education Leadership Concentration, Ed.D.

Program Overview

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with Higher Education Leadership Concentration is designed to prepare leaders for administrative and executive roles in colleges and universities. The program emphasizes advanced research, policy analysis, and leadership skills specific to higher education environments. 

Program Outcomes

Candidates who complete the program are educational leaders who have the knowledge and ability to promote the success of all students by: 

• Applying their knowledge of research methodology 

• Applying and synthesizing content knowledge in Higher Education 

• Applying and synthesizing content knowledge in PreK-12 Administration and Supervision 

Admission Requirements

• Master’s or specialist degree from accredited university 

• Graduate cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better on 4.0 scale on last graduate degree 

• Official GRE or MAT scores required at time of application 

• Three letters of recommendation from professional sources on official letterhead 

• Acceptable work experience record (CV or resume) 

• Acceptable interview score 

• Acceptable scholarly writing sample score 

• All criteria weighted equally; no conditional admissions 

Important Dates 

• Submit by February 1st for Fall semester admission 

• Please see the current published Graduate and University calendars for important dates. 

Program Duration

Typically, 4-6 years with residency requirement of minimum 18 credit hours over 4 semesters 

Transfer of Credit 

At the master’s level, a student may be allowed a maximum of twelve (12) semesters or eighteen (18) quarter hours of graduate credit from another accredited college or university. At the doctoral level, a maximum of six (6) semester hours may be transferred. The Transfer of Credit is a fillable form that is to be completed with assistance from the assigned faculty advisor or program coordinator. The course credits being considered for transfer must be evaluated by the graduate program coordinator, department chair, college dean of the academic unit, and the dean of the Graduate School. Only courses in which the student earned grades of “B” or better, and which are taken within the degree program time limit, will be considered for transfer 

Those admitted to a doctoral degree program and who have been awarded the Ed.S. degree from accredited institutions may be granted full credit for a maximum of 30 hours if the hours are applicable to the student ‘s program. Potential candidates who have completed their Ed.S. degrees at other institutions must meet residency requirements and must take at least six semester hours of major area courses at TSU. Those who transfer core courses from other institutions must have earned at least a B in each course. All post master ‘s degree transfer hours (excluding the Ed.S.) applied for the doctoral degree must have been taken within the last ten (10) years. 

Degree Requirements

• Minimum 60 credit hours beyond master’s degree 

• Grades of “C” or lower cannot count toward degree 

• Maximum two retakes per course allowed 

• Successful completion of written qualifying and comprehensive examinations 

• Residency requirement: minimum 18 credit hours over 4 semesters 

• Successful dissertation defense 

Accreditation Information  

College of Education 

• Education (M.S., M.A.Ed., Ed.S., Ed.D.: National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) 

• Music (M. Ed.: National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) 

• Psychology (Ph.D. with concentration in Counseling: American Psychological Association (APA) 

Career Opportunities

University President, Provost, Vice President, Dean, Director of Student Affairs, Institutional Research Director, Policy Analyst, Professor

Faculty Credentials 

Twianie Roberts, Ed.D., Interim Department Chair
Sosapriele Dede, Ed.D., Assistant Professor
Eleni Elder, Ed.D., Professor
Janet Finch, Ph.D., College of Education Dean/Professor, Celebrating 25 years of Service 
Kirmanj Gundi, Ed.D., Professor
Robbie Melton, Ph.D., Interim Provost, Interim Vice President/Professor
Terrance McNeil, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Trinetia Respress, Ed.D., Interim Graduate Dean/Professor
Eric Vogel, Ph.D., Professor
Jewell Winn, Associate Professor, Executive Director for International Programs & Academic Global Engagement, Senior International Officer/Fulbright Scholar Liaison 

Program Website

https://www.tnstate.edu/eduadmin/doctorofeducation_higher_education.aspx 

Program Coordinator/Contact Information

Terrance McNeil, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Phone: 615-963-2111
Email:  tmcneil3@tnstate.edu