Educational Leadership for Social Justice, Ed.D.

Contact Information

• Co-Academic Program Directors: Cynthia Alcantar and Dolores Delgado Bernal
• Assistant Director/Advisor: Michaela Cooper
• Doctoral Program Faculty: Cynthia Alcantar, Dolores Delgado Bernal, Lauren Casella, Ernesto Colin, Joy Ee, Fernando Estrada, Karen Huchting, Linda Kaminski, Yvette Lapayese, Magaly Lavadenz, Mary McCullough, Joaquin Noguera, William Perez, Manuel Ponce, Rebecca Stephenson, Kenzo Sung, Kyo Yamashiro 

Introduction/Overview

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice is a three-year cohort program dedicated to fostering an anti-racist and socially just future for schools and other educational and community settings. Our vision centers on dismantling systemic racism and promoting equity through an intersectional racial justice lens. The Ed.D. program equips experienced educators and community leaders with the critical tools, theories, and experiences necessary to transform educational environments into inclusive, equitable, and just spaces. By integrating theory with practice, our curriculum delves deeply into the complex inequities impacting education and student achievement, preparing graduates to be proactive change agents in their communities. Offered in a flexible online format, the program combines evening synchronous and asynchronous class sessions to accommodate the needs of working professionals.  

Program Outcomes

Guided by principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and justice (DEIAJ), graduates of the program will be able to:

1. Assess complex inequities impacting educational access and student wellbeing and demonstrate commitment to DEIAJ 
2. Apply theories to develop and define social justice-oriented leadership praxis to promote democracy and DEIAJ 
3. Using a lens of DEIAJ, design and interpret research to inform and evaluate policies, programs, and practices that impact schools and communities 
4. Lead and advocate for transformation of educational and community settings into more just and equitable environments for students, educators, and families 
5. Demonstrate understanding and leadership that is responsive to the intersectional lived experiences of educational practitioners

Program Admission Requirements

• Online Graduate Application
• Master’s Degree from a Regionally Accredited Institution
• Official Transcript from all Colleges/Universities Attended, including all Community/Junior Colleges
  • Applicants who completed an undergraduate/graduate degree outside of the United States of America:
    • Official Transcript Evaluation from an approved evaluation agency that details content of coursework completed, degree equivalency, and cumulative GPA
    • Official Transcript is still needed along with Transcript Evaluation
• International applicants from a country where English is not one of the official languages:
  • TOEFL or IELTS or Duolingo English Test Minimum Scores (unless a High School Diploma or a Bachelor’s Degree was obtained in the United States)
• Statement of Purpose (two to three pages) following the format described in application guide
• GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) in undergraduate coursework
• GPA of 3.5 (4.0 scale) in master’s coursework
• Resume or CV
• Two Letters of Recommendation
• Minimum of two years of full-time educational leadership experience in Pk-12 schools, higher education, nonprofit, or community organizations, or other educational setting
• Select applicants will be invited to participate in a virtual interview.
• Applicants who have taken doctoral level coursework at another accredited university may request a transcript audit and admission to an individualized course of study leading to the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice. Candidates may transfer up to six units of doctoral-level coursework (no more than five years old) toward their Ed.D. degree. Candidates must meet the admission requirements. If accepted, candidates must complete the required tutorials, research seminars, and culminating experience.

Degree Requirements

Students must pass all required coursework, pass all program benchmarks, complete pre-publication review, and publish on ProQuest.

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
Required Coursework
EDLA 7001	Leadership for Social Justice in Education	3
EDLA 7002	Moral and Ethical Leadership	3
EDLA 7004	Organizational Theory and Change	3
EDLA 7005	Educational Change and Innovation	3
or EDLA 7007	Using Research for Educational Improvement and Equity
EDLA 7020	Situated Inquiry in Education	3
EDLA 7021	Quantitative Research in Education	3
EDLA 7022	Qualitative Research in Education	3
EDLA 7023	Doctoral Colloquia	2
EDLA 7040	Context and Current Topics in Public Education	3
or EDLA 7006	Education Policy and Praxis
EDLA 7042	Management of Fiscal/Human Capital	3
EDLA 7043	Legal and Policy Issues in Education	3
EDLA 7045	Transformational Leadership for Student Achievement	3
EDLA 7049	Research Seminar	2
EDLA 7940	Preliminary Review Design	1
EDLA 7950	Dissertation Proposal Design	2
Subtotal		40
Dissertation		6
Candidates must complete at least 6 semester hours of dissertation coursework, including
EDLA 7951	Dissertation Seminar I
EDLA 7952	Dissertation Seminar II
EDLA 7953	Doctoral Seminar I
EDLA 7954	Doctoral Seminar II *
Subtotal		6
Total Semester Hours		46

Note:
*EDLA 7954 Doctoral Seminar II is only required if a candidate does not successfully defend their dissertation by the end of final semester of their third year. Candidates must register for EDLA 7954 Doctoral Seminar II each semester (except Summer Session II) until the dissertation is signed off by the chair.

Additional Requirements

• Benchmark #1: Preliminary Review
• Benchmark #2: Dissertation Proposal Defense, Institutional Review Board Approval (as needed), and Advancement to Candidacy
• Benchmark #3: Dissertation Defense