Educational Leadership Program (EDDL)

This program has been designed to prepare leaders for service in a variety of organizational settings. Components of the degree program include: the cohort model (wherein all candidates in the cohort begin and complete their core courses at the same time); application of theory to practice; action research; group presentations; theme-based and program-based seminars; frequent colloquia; and many other experiences deemed current and appropriate for doctoral students. Our expectations are that candidates completing the program will be prepared as knowledgeable and skilled practitioners fully equipped for success in a dynamic and changing world.

To apply for admission to this program, candidates should go here and then follow the instructions provided on this homepage in submitting their application online. Official transcripts from all institutions previously attended, (except CSU), are required. Questions about the application process should be directed to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies at Chicago State University, (773) 995-2404 or grad-admissions@au99168.com

To request for more information:  Please Click here.

To be eligible for admission to the doctoral program, applicants must hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and present a record of prior academic performance that indicates potential for success in a doctoral program. Applicants with a grade point average of 3.5 or better (on a 4.00 scale) in all graduate work, and who satisfy other specific program requirements including personal interviews, are generally recommended for Full admission. There is no conditional admission for Ed.D. program.

In addition to meeting the university’s general admission requirements, the applicant must:

1. Have successfully taken and completed, (from an accredited institution), at least one 3-semester-hour graduate-level course (with a grade of B or better), in each of the following areas:
   • Educational Law.
   • Curriculum Development and Learning Theories;
   • Foundations of Finance; and
   • Organizational Dynamics or Administration.

2. Submit three letters of recommendation, (which need to be uploaded directly by the referees into the online application system), from professors and/or administrators addressing the applicant’s potential for success in a doctoral program.
3. Submit (in the online application portal) a typed double-spaced goal statement, which describes the applicant’s reasons for pursuing an advanced degree in educational leadership.

Additional Required Documents for International Applicants Only

1. A course-by-course transcript evaluation from Education Credentials Evaluators (ECE) or World Educational Services (WES).
2. Proof of English Proficiency: TOEFL/IELTS Official Score Report or Waiver Application
3. International Student Packet: - Bank Statement; and Notarized Financial Statement Form and Certificate of Sponsorship.

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program requires 54 semester hours of coursework, which include 42 credit hours of core courses and a minimum of 12 credit hours of dissertation writing. In addition to the required coursework, the doctoral program in Educational Leadership includes a qualifying examination (administered after the core coursework is completed), the dissertation and the dissertation defense.

Specific Course Requirements (54 credit hours):

• EDDL 6000 - Seminar in Doctoral Studies (3)
• EDDL 6001 - Research and Statistics I (3)
• EDDL 6002 - Curriculum and Instructional Theory (3)
• EDDL 6003 - Research and Statistics II (3)
• EDDL 6004 – Philosophical Foundations of Educational Leadership (3)
• EDDL 6005 - Public Policy and Politics of Education (3)
• EDDL 6006 – Introduction to Qualitative Research (3)
• EDDL 6007 – Advanced Qualitative Research (3)
• EDDL 6008 – Adult Learning and Distributed Leadership (3)
• EDDL 6009 - Educational Change and School Improvement (3)
• EDDL 6010 - Organizational Theory and Educational Leadership (3)
• EDDL 6011 - Program Evaluation and Student Assessment (3)
• EDDL 6012 – Critical Issues in Urban Educational Leadership (3)
• EDDL 6013 – Seminar in Research and Dissertation Development (3)
• EDDL 6990 – Dissertation (3) *

*NOTE: Following admission to candidacy, a doctoral student must enroll for 1 to 6 dissertation hours every fall, spring, and summer term for a minimum of 12 semester hours until completion of dissertation. Candidates have seven (7) years from the date of admission to complete the program. May repeat for credit.

Ms. Chrystal Fountain, Program Advisor

Department of Advanced Studies in Education

Chicago State University/ College of Education Building, Room 319

9501 South King Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60628-1598

Phone: (773) 995-2086 or (773) 995-5018

E-mail: csanks@au99168.com

Fall semester of every year.

Credits are not transferable.

Yes, the program is aligned to state standards, Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC), Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) and the Educational Leadership Constituent Council Standards (ELCC).

The degree will take a minimum of four (4) years and a maximum of seven (7) years.

Core coursework consists of a total of 54 credit hours. Dissertation consists of a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Yes.  Students must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better throughout the program.  Students who fall below this standard will be placed on probation. Students are not allowed to enter candidacy with a grade below B on their record.  Students receiving a grade lower than B must retake the class before proceeding to candidacy.  Students earning two grades below a B (within the same semester) cannot continue to register for classes. Students must retake the classes and earn a grades of B or better before continuing in the program.  Students are allowed to retake a class in which they earned less than a B only once. The retake option is only afforded twice within the doctoral program.

The doctoral program was completely different from graduate school. I had an opportunity to dig deep into my interests and surround myself with people that share the same passion. Doctoral seminars taught us the tools of the trade and the theories and methodologies that helped us to ask and answer interesting questions. My research was not a solitary activity. At Chicago State University, I learned from my professors, dissertation chair, committee members, and from colleagues in my cohort. My circle expanded over time to include doctoral students and professors at other schools as I attended conferences and started to submit publications. Being successful in this program requires more than just mental ability. It is a challenging task that demands unequivocal determination and long hours of reading and writing. My advice to other EDDE students is to renew your self-image by writing a description of the person you want to become, act the part, and establish goals. You are that person!

Learning should be a life long journey. One should always seek to keep the mind active by feeding it pertinent information. The doctoral program at Chicago State University was a great source through which our minds were educationally fed timely information that was important to the field. In my reflection, the professors who were selected to guide us through this program gave me the patience and guidance needed to complete this most important portion of my educational journey. My family was my greatest support system and extremely instrumental in my accomplishment by pushing me enough to complete my journey. I will always be forever grateful to Chicago State University and my family by making this great achievement day comes into full fruition. There is a saying, "Each one, reach one." My plans are to reach out to as many as possible, keeping the legacy of Chicago State alive and sharing what I have learned with others.

Going through Chicago State University's Ed.D program has been an excellent experience for me. However, the most valuable and gratifying experience for me has come while working to complete my doctoral dissertation. I've always been interested in writing and publishing and I have since grown equally as interested in research. Having the opportunity to use my research, data, and the knowledge gained to assist me in my private sector endeavors interests me even more. Being able to work with my chair and the other talented members of my dissertation committee has encouraged me to actively pursue ventures in the private sector and now, those ventures that once seemed unobtainable are very reachable. In essence, the journey to an Ed.D. at Chicago State University has been filled with unbelievable rewards, such as gaining knowledge, broadening your horizons and striving to become an academic expert in your field.

I clearly remember completing my Master's course work at Chicago State University when I was given a questionnaire regarding the doctoral program. Now several years later that questionnaire from the ELCF Professor has turned into a reality for a culminating event in my education. Soon I will be standing on a stage and receiving a doctorate degree. I wish I had two pages to write all the names of the people who have helped me on the path of this educational endeavor: Professors, Department Chair, my dissertation committee, my colleagues turned friends and the ladies and gentlemen in all the offices. These are the people who helped me complete this wonderful educational adventure and these are the people in mind when I say Chicago State University has helped me complete this journey. I am proud of myself and the accomplishment of this degree. I am equally proud to be part of the history of Chicago State University and the wonderful people in the Department of Doctoral Studies. The education I received will carry me through my life and career as an educator.

"Success is not a place at which one arrives, but rather the spirit with which one undertakes and continues the journey" (Alex Noble). Having completed my pursuit of obtaining a doctorate, I've come to realize that the journey is only now beginning. I've been rewarded for my diligence and dedication to completing my studies; however, now I must heed the call to continue to gain insight and wisdom through the experience of being of service to others. The Ed.D. Program at Chicago State University has prepared me and supplied me with the tools I need to continue my journey. The faculty and staff have challenged and stimulated my intellectual and moral ability, and because of them, I am confident of my knowledge and future application, thereof.

Henry Beecher stated, "The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will and the other from a strong won't." I have been taught from a child to adulthood that it is easier to go downstairs than to go up. As I reflect upon my time in the doctoral program at Chicago State University, I realized that it would not be easy to obtain this goal; however, with perseverance and strong determination, the journey through many obstacles reached the highest point on Graduation Day. The companionship forged during the classes was unforgettable. As a cohort, we embraced and encouraged each other so that the climb toward the ultimate goal seemed more obtainable. The professors in this program helped to guide me through a dream that has become a reality. My chairperson and committee directed my path throughout the dissertation process until a successful manuscript was produced. I could never thank them enough. I know that the dream does not end at this point. Another chapter of my journey is commencing. I must now move forward to share my learned information with the education community. I am in awe of what perseverance combined with a fabulous faculty has helped me achieve. Thank you Chicago State University!

I am thrilled to be among one of the first cohort candidates at Chicago State University. Going through the doctoral program was an exciting and challenging experience. It was exciting because it gave me an opportunity to produce an independent scholarly work and was an excellent opportunity to spend time to address the research problem that I thought was significant to improve education in this country and solve it in a scientific way. Sharing the lived experience of the cohort members and diverse faculty was also an excellent opportunity for me. The journey was also challenging in that, as many other students in the program, I took on various responsibilities along with my study, such as taking care of my family and working, which oftentimes needs sacrifice and balancing. My experience with the doctoral program has given me the opportunity to educate myself, test my endurance, and write a dissertation. My successful journey would not have been possible without the support of the thoughtful faculty and dissertation committee members. I encourage my fellow cohort members to persist and finish the program successfully!

The transition from a structured curriculum to research, writing and defense of the dissertation does not compare to any prior educational experience. The doctoral student goes from a traditional learning environment to an individual learning experience. The doctoral cohort model gave me lifelong friends; the opportunity to learn from others, and the program provides a rich learning environment. On the other hand, the dissertation process tested my academic skills, my character and especially the traits of discipline and persistence, and how to meet and overcome a variety of frustrations. Completing the dissertation process largely depends on acquiring the proper skills. So the real test for any doctoral program requires the answer to a single question; does the program prepare the student for research, writing and defense of the dissertation? The doctoral program at Chicago State University answers this question with a resounding yes! Each class in the program delivers a skill component to help the student in completing the dissertation process. The program creates high expectations, and gives students opportunities to participate in outside conferences that help refine analytical and writing skills while exposing the student to the research community. Department seminars and one-on-one discussion with professors added that extra layer to the program to develop a unique and professional culture to the doctoral program. I highly recommend the doctoral program in educational leadership at Chicago State University because it delivers all the academic components a student will need to achieve their goal.