Educational Leadership, Policy and Law
Program Mission
ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ has a rich history of involvement in the development of educators sensitive to and prepared to advocate for social justice issues. This doctoral program seeks to build upon that history. Given the marginalization of populations in the State of Alabama and beyond, the goal of the program is to provide students with the content knowledge and inquiry to critically engage the issues most germane to the communities we serve.
To this end, this cohort-based doctoral program offers students two courses of study the Ed.D. and Ph.D. Students who are practitioners with a passion for improving their administrative practice by learning to leverage inquiry are best-suited for the track leading to the Ed.D. Students will learn to apply research skills inform professional practice better. This track caters to students from a broad range of industries. Students interested in broader research questions that are rooted in both theory and practice will find the track leading to the Ph.D. to be the most appropriate. Students in this track will be exposed to a broader range of theories and research practices, preparing them for research that combines both theory and practice.
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Admissions Process
The Harold Lloyd Graduate School coordinates the admission process to the doctoral program in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Law. All applicants must have the following:
- An earned Master's degree or higher.
- A 2.5 minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA);
- A minimum graduate GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal Statement to include your professional background and research interests
- Submit applications here ()
- Applications are due April 1
Educational Leadership, Policy, and Law Program Structure
All doctoral students, whether they pursue an Ed.D. or Ph.D., are expected to develop advanced knowledge in the following areas (See attached curriculum map):
- Leadership
- Policy
- Law
- Academic Writing, Research, and Evaluation
- Cognate
- Internship or Field Experience
- Dissertation
Pivotal to the development of all students is their ability to apply what is learned to their professional practice. Consequently, all students are required to complete a professional internship. Students who pursue the Ed.D. track are required to complete two professional internships. Students will be expected to apply their knowledge in assessment, evaluation, and strategic planning, skills necessary for practitioners. Students who pursue the Ph.D. track are required to complete one professional internship. These students will be expected to design inquiry projects to further their understanding of their topic.
Selecting the Right Track Ed.D. or Ph.D.
The program has two degree tracks. Candidates for the Ed.D. track should be practitioners
from a broad range of industries who want to leverage inquiry or research skills to
inform professional practice. Candidates in the Ph.D. track should be budding researchers
with interests in both theory and practice. Candidates should delineate which track
they wish to apply to.
Frequently Asked Questions