Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership Pre-K to 12 (EdD)

• Format: Online-Hybrid
• Term: Fall
• Location: West Los Angeles
• Length: 3 years / 51 +2 units per term for dissertation
• Tuition: $1,795 per unit

The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program prepares PreK-12 leaders in various roles to create and sustain strong learning communities.

Our EdD program is ideal for educational leaders who aspire to serve in dynamic leadership roles at public or private PreK-12 school sites and district or county offices of education.

Students learn to integrate, synthesize and apply theories and practices that support research and development of national and global policy, and advance leadership and change initiatives throughout organizations.

This cohort-based doctorate employs the practitioner-scholar model of training in which academics, experience, and research are conjoined. Through rigorous coursework and hands-on learning, students gain advanced knowledge in the theory and practice of leadership, education, policy, and many other concepts. With an emphasis on experiential learning, students have the opportunity to take two trips, one global and one domestic. This program culminates in a doctoral dissertation.

Program Benefits

• Reputable Program - This Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy program and Pepperdine University as an institution are among the highest-ranked in the United States.
• Values Centered - Students are empowered to make a lasting impact through GSEP's core values of academic excellence, social purpose, and meaningful service.
• Immersion Experiences and Cohort Model - Provide opportunities to engage in meaningful community-building with peers and program leaders.
• No GRE or Standardized Tests Required - We offer an equitable admission process that considers your ability and commitment to succeed rather than test scores.
• Convenient Format - Classes are completed through in-person intensives and online sessions.
• Nationally-Recognized Faculty - Faculty are scholar-practitioners with exemplary academic achievements, professional expertise, educational experience, and scholarly credentials.
• Recognized as a Top Program - Consistently a top choice for Doctorates in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy in the US according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
• Comprehensive Curriculum - Incorporates core courses shared between all doctoral offerings, program-specific classes, and elective options to customize your learning experience.

Program Details

• This doctorate is ideal for full-time students or working professionals to take advantage of the best features of both face-to-face and online modalities. 60% of coursework is completed in person and 40% is completed online. The online portion provides flexibility, while the classroom component offers an enhanced experience, a personalized/hands-on approach, relational interaction with peers, and increased quality of learning.
• Robust online modules feature engaging synchronous and asynchronous learning experiences.
• Face-to-Face classes are conveniently located on our West Los Angeles Graduate Campus, close to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and just off the 405 freeway.
• The cohort model is designed to build upon leadership skills, peer support, and lifelong relationships with colleagues.
• Small class sizes and a low faculty: student ratio provide a supportive learning environment, meaningful student-faculty interactions, and long-term professional and personal relationships.

International Student Opportunities

• This program is approved for international students perusing an F-1 or any other type of visa.
• A dedicated Enrollment Services Officer will make your admissions process easy and comfortable with experience in supporting both international and domestic students.
• Integration of domestic and international students across campuses. Dedicated support for international students is provided through the Office of International Student Services (OISS).
• Opportunities to participate in university social, sporting, cultural, and spiritual events
• Cohort model is designed to build upon leadership skills, peer support, and lifelong relationships with colleagues.
• Robust alumni network.
• Partnerships with professional networks and conferences.

This doctoral program includes 51 units plus 2 units per term until the completion of the dissertation. You will experience a curriculum focused on preparing professionals in educational and learning technology with well-rounded and unparalleled leadership theory and practice courses, cutting-edge technology, learning theory and design, and much more.

There is an additional emphasis on hands-on instruction through domestic and international travel experiences. Research design and analysis methods and applications are accomplished through both coursework and a final dissertation.

Pathway Opportunities

Options are available for students without a master's. A pathway for EdD students interested in applying for a Ph.D.*.

*Contact your enrollment officer for details and eligibility.

This program incorporates core courses shared between all doctoral offerings along with program-specific courses. Additionally, students may customize their learning experience through elective options and dissertation topics within their area of interest.

Core Courses

• EDD 700 Leadership Theory and Practice (3)
• EDD 724 Ethical Leadership, Equity, Cultural Proficiency, and Social Justice (3)
• EDD 734 Inferential Statistics (3)
• EDD 753A Advocacy, Social Change, and Public Policy Development (3)
• EDD 753B National Policy Experience (1)
• EDD 754A Global Economics and Public Policy (3)
• EDD 754B Global Policy Experience (2)
• EDD 755 Virtual Learning and Collaboration (3)
• EDD 759 Law and Dispute Resolution (3)
• EDD 763 Learning Design, Cognition, and Evaluation (3)
• EDD 765 Organizational Change, Innovation, and Creativity (3)
• EDD 766 Quantitative Research Methods and Descriptive Statistics (3)
• EDD 767 Qualitative Research Design and Analysis (3)

Program Specific Courses

• EDLP 700 - Education Finance and Policy (3)
• EDLP 701 – Leadership and Action Research in Pre-K-12 Education (3)
• EDD 785 Advances in Theory and Practice (3,3)

Comprehensive Exam and Dissertation

• EDD 787 Comprehensive Examination Seminar (3)
• EDEL 791 Dissertation Research (until completion) (2)
• ED 792 Dissertation Completion* (1)

The following electives fulfill the requirements for EDD 785. Note: Students may not complete the same area of study for credit more than once.

Electives

• EDD 785 - Entrepreneurship: From Ideation to Fruition (3)
• EDD 785 - Non-human Subject Research (3)
• EDD 785 - Resilient Leadership (3)
• EDD 785- Leadership and Spiritual Development (3)
• EDD 785 Mixed and Multiple Methods Research Methodology (3)
• EDD 785 Quantitative Ethnography (3)
• EDD 785 Advancing Change Thru Story (3)
• EDD 785 Philosophy and Researcher Identity (3)
• EDD 785 A Disciplined Approach to Social Entrepreneurship (3)
• EDD 785 Leadership and Social Psychology (3)
• EDD 785 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (3)
• EDD 785 Emergent Education Design for Global Universities (3)
• EDD 785 Disruptive Learning and Leadership Technology for Fun and Profit! (3)
• EDD 785 Psychology of Leadership (3)
• EDD 785 -The World of Accreditation (3)
• EDD 785 Advanced Literature Information Seeking for Publication and Research (3)

GSEP is committed to a learner-centered approach in the programs we offer. Each program has a set of objectives that a student graduating from the program is expected to achieve. The knowledge and skills taught in the program might be introduced in some courses. In other courses, students are asked to apply knowledge by practicing skills and demonstrating their abilities. Within the program, the values and dispositional attributes important for individuals entering the profession are emphasized.

Graduates of EdD in the Educational Leadership Pre-K to 12 program will be expected to achieve the following objectives:

• Design and conduct research, collect and analyze data and report research findings
• Assess needs, develop, deliver and assess learning experiences and apply tools of appropriate technology
• Integrate and synthesize personal, organizational, and societal values to advance leadership and change initiatives throughout organizations
• Integrate, synthesize and apply theories and practices that support research and development of National and Global policy
• Apply Participatory Action Research (PAR) to synthesize and integrate advanced theories and practices in leading K-12 Learning Environments

This EdD from Pepperdine provides a strong opportunity for employment growth and earning potential. As a graduate, you will be prepared to increase your earning potential and help make a lasting difference in a variety of business and organizational roles in both the public and private sectors.

Principal

A principal's role is to directly oversee and manage the academic institution to the best of his/her ability. Duties that fall under this role include budgeting, complying with district policies, overseeing instructional programs, and more.

K-12 Administrator

K-12 administrators can fall under the role of principal, vice principal, assistant, enrollment officers, and more. These roles are responsible for the daily functioning and success of the academic institution and take on tasks such as organization budgeting, curriculum, and more.

PreK-12 Educational Consultant

An educational consultant is a position that requires the maintenance of an academic institution's curriculum and daily functioning to ensure student success. This role can include tasks surrounding the main focus on identifying students' needs and aligning the school to fit those needs. This includes conducting teacher/professor evaluations, holding school meetings and assemblies, and more.

PreK-12 Instructional Coordinator

Instructional coordinators, sometimes referred to as curriculum specialists, are responsible for evaluating the curriculum at a school, and evaluating the success of teaching techniques, and specific teachers, monitoring classes, and ensuring that the school is adhering to the curriculum set forth by the school board and state.

University/College Faculty

University faculty jobs include both 2-year and 4-year undergraduate colleges and universities, as well as graduate and doctoral level programs. University faculty are responsible for providing coursework to students in their department and oftentimes conduct research in their field as well.