Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Higher Education Concentration

Core Courses – 12 hours

Concentration Coursework – 15 hours – choose 5

Applied Research and Evaluation Courses – 21 hours

Research Pathways – choose one column of courses

Graduate School Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or its U.S. equivalent.
• GPA 3.0 in the bachelor’s degree program. 3.5 in the master’s degree program. (Both on a 4.0 scale.)
• A statement of purpose (essay).
• At least three recommendations.
• Unofficial transcripts of all academic work.
• TOEFL or IELTS for non-native English language holders.

Ed.D. Program Additional Requirements:

• GRE & MAT test scores are optional
• Writing Sample: inclusion of a writing sample such as thesis, paper, research publication, or other best evidence of academic writing.
• Requires master’s degree from a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body.
• At least three years of relevant work experience in higher education.
• Applicants are required to submit a current CV or resume.
• Top applicants are invited for an interview with faculty prior to a final decision being made regarding recommendation for admission.
  • Selected applicants are invited to a 30 minute interview with faculty. This is an opportunity to learn more about an applicant’s doctoral research interests, career plans, and to ask programmatic questions. The interview is followed by a brief writing prompt that is submitted to the faculty.

• How many classes are required for full- or part-time enrollment?
  • Full-time enrollment requires three courses each fall and spring semester, while part-time enrollment requires two courses each semester.
• When are classes offered?
  • Our classes are offered in the evening from 5:30 PM to 8:15 PM during the spring and fall semesters. The majority of our students work full-time and take classes part-time (two classes each fall and spring). Summer courses, when available, can also help students stay on track to graduate in a timely manner. Most Ed.D. students typically complete their program in approximately four years – see the suggested course progression.
• Can I transfer course credits?
  • The program accepts up to two courses (6 credit hours) as transfer credit from a regionally accredited doctoral-granting institution. Transfer credit must be approved by the Graduate Program Director with approval from the Graduate School. All other Graduate School policies regarding transfer credit apply. All dissertation work must be completed at UNC Charlotte.
• What is the capstone?
  • The Ed.D. program requires an applied dissertation that addresses a problem of practice. Prospective applicants should consider how their potential research interests align with those of current faculty.
• Are there opportunities to work on research?
  • Our faculty have active research agendas and welcome students to engage in studies.
• What funding is available?
  • Funding opportunities through the department are typically only available for full-time students and may come in the form of graduate assistantships, which can be coordinated with the program director. Typically, these cover tuition and provide a living stipend, but fund availability does vary year to year.
  • Funding packages are offered around the same time that admissions decisions are made. Other sources of funding may be pursued through the Financial Aid Office.

What Can You Do With Your Ed.D. in Educational Leadership?

Our Ed.D. graduates typically go on to work in school districts, colleges and universities, and other organizations. Top organizations employing our graduates include:

• University of North Carolina System
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• Cabarrus County Schools
• Curriculum Associates
• Central Piedmont Community College

Job titles our Ed.D. in Educational Leadership alumni hold include:

• Principals and assistant principals
• Directors of learning solutions
• Professors in higher education institutions
• Assistant superintendents of curriculum and instruction
• Deans of students

Exceptional salary expectations

Lightcast, a global leader in labor market analytics research, collects job and salary data from UNC Charlotte graduates. Lightcast sampled alumni of our Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program and found the average annual estimated wage to be approximately $113,900.

Please view the graduate education rates via Niner Central.

UNC Charlotte’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Higher Education Concentration is offered by the Cato College of Education, which is accredited through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).