Program Overview
The Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in School System Leadership is a “Practice Based” doctoral program designed to develop leaders who can create and lead collaborative and inclusive system improvement initiatives. The program enrolls cohorts of students who work together over 36 months to identify, investigate and solve real school system problems. The Ed.D in School System Leadership is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education for Superintendent II certification.
Key Features
- Grounded in the practices of improvement science
- Courses offered in non-standard semester schedule through all day Saturday seminars and online modules
- Program culminates in a Capstone Project that focuses on improving or eliminating a real problem of practice within a school system
- Graduates of the program receive a Superintendent Endorsement (The only program of its kind in the state of Maryland)
Learning Goals
Learning Goals
Given that the program and key assessments are aligned to the NELP Standards here are a few of the competencies with expected mastery:
- Candidates understand the role and importance of a district’s vision and mission, as well as processes for evaluating and collaboratively designing a mission and vision.
- Candidates understand and demonstrate the capacity to evaluate, advocate, and cultivate equitable, inclusive, and culturally responsive instructional and behavior support practices among teachers and staff.
- Candidates understand the importance of and how to evaluate, design, and implement high quality curricula, the use of technology, and other services and supports for academic and nonacademic student programs.
- Candidates understand the importance of and how to design, implement, and evaluate a developmentally appropriate, accessible, and culturally responsive system of assessments and data collection, management, and analysis that support instructional improvement, equity, student learning and well-being, and instructional leadership.
How to Apply
How to Apply
Information on admissions and application to this program can be found at the links below
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all undergraduate courses taken at a regionally accredited college or university
- Minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate courses completed to fulfill requirements of a master’s degree
- Master’s degree in a field relevant to education leadership
- Maryland Administrator I Certification or equivalent
- Minimum 3 years of successful experience in an educational leadership position
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with candidates’ leadership potential, relevant experience, and ability to succeed in a rigorous graduate program. A minimum of one letter must be from someone who has served as a supervisor of the applicant
- Resume/CV
- Professional Statement
- Supplemental Application: Applicants respond to three questions related to educational leadership
- Personal interview with program faculty
- Copy of official transcripts from all institutions from which you received 9-credits or more; must have degree posted and cumulative GPA's on transcripts.
“I am especially proud to be the first person to co-write my defense with a peer, showcasing the program's innovative and collaborative spirit. This experience has profoundly shaped my professional growth and leadership abilities.”
Program Requirements
Program Requirements
This is a cohort model program. A diverse cohort of 15-20 educational leaders/administrators from across the state participate in courses offered online and through all-day Saturday seminars.
- 60 credits (post-master’s)
- 27 credits in 6 Core Topical Seminars (4 credits each)
- 9 credits in Applied Research, Assessment and Evaluation courses (3 credits each)
- 4 credits (2 courses) in professional inquiry and written communication
- 5 Key Assessments
- Extensive externship and portfolio requirement
- 8 credits of Apprenticeship (Extensive externship & portfolio requirement)
- 12 credits of Capstone credits (6 credits of 828: mid-program assessment and 6 credits of 829)
Below are the required courses for this program. Students should use this as a guide to develop a plan with the academic program director.
- EDUC705 - Education Policy Making and the School Leader
- EDUC740 - Managing Educational Organizations in a Diverse Society
- EDUC747 - Advanced Seminar on Instructional Improvement for School Leaders
- EDUC760 - The Human Dimension in Administration
- EDUC767 - Seminar on School District Leadership
- EDUC770 - System Innovation and Transformation Management
- EDUC773 - Seminar in School Finance and Resource Management
- EDUC701 - Applied Research and Data Based Decision Making for School Leaders
- EDUC702 - Applied Research Design for Education Leaders
- EDUC888T - Advanced Seminar in Improvement Science
- EDUC703 - Conducting Library Research for Capstones
- EDUC704 - Introduction to Writing for Education Leaders
- EDUC888 - Applied Apprenticeship in Education
- EDUC828 - Mid-Program Evaluation Portfolio
- EDUC829 - Doctoral Capstone
“The four year Educational Leadership Doctoral program at the University of Maryland, College Park allowed me to grow both personally and professionally, resulting in a major life-time achievement of earning not only my doctoral degree but also a Superintendent Licensure. In addition, the program was structured in a way that students were given the amazing opportunity to learn from and collaborate with a cohort of peers from different school districts in Maryland.”
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