Admission Criteria

Admission criteria for the PhD Program in Educational Leadership, as established by the program faculty, are as follows:

Required elements: (In order for an applicant to be considered, complete information about the criteria below must be submitted by the admissions deadline.)

1. Baccalaureate degree conferred by an accredited institution;
2. A Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75, or higher, on a four-point scale on all completed undergraduate coursework;
3. Master's degree, prior to entering doctoral coursework, conferred by an accredited institution (Master's degree must include a graduate research methods and graduate statistics course. If not taken, must be completed prior to enrolling in doctoral level research and statistics courses.);
4. A Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.2, or higher, on a four-point scale on all completed graduate coursework;
5. Original transcripts, submitted to the Graduate School , for all academic work taken at the undergraduate and graduate levels (unofficial copies may be used by the Doctoral Committee in initial screening);
6. Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report, submitted to the Graduate School (an unofficial copy may be used by the Doctoral Committee in initial screening);
7. Three letters of recommendation from persons sufficiently acquainted with the applicant's ability and his or her potential to successfully complete a doctoral program;
8. Original written essay demonstrating strong writing skills that includes the following:   autobiography, professional aspirations and achievements, and how obtaining the PhD in Educational Leadership will enhance the applicant's ability to affect change in the educational arena; and
9. If a foreign student, submission of official results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).   A score of 600 or higher is required.

Preferences:

1. Teacher certification and a minimum of 3 years teaching experience in K-12 settings;
2. A Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0, or higher, on a four-point scale on all completed undergraduate coursework;
3. Master's degree in Educational Leadership/Administration or a related field;
4. Administrative certification and a minimum of 2 years administrative experience in K-12 settings;
5. A Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5, or higher, on a four-point scale in all completed graduate coursework;
6. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Verbal and Quantitative scores in the higher percentiles;
7. Demonstrated evidence of scholarly activity that includes:   publications, presentations at conferences and grantsmanship ;