Program and Requirements
Q: What will the degree be in?
This is a 45-credit, post-Master’s Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a specialization in Educational Leadership, defined as school (K–12) leadership.
Q: Who is this degree for?
This degree is designed for working educational leaders who can use their professional experience as a platform for their studies and begin to apply some of what they are learning to their school and district settings. The Admissions Committee will expect to see evidence of a current license in an education administration field or experience as a teacher.
Q: What is the format of the program?
The program consists of 45 credits of required coursework. Students will also be required to attend three, nine-day summer residencies spaced one year apart, and complete coursework between the residencies that will be offered in online classes. In addition, students enroll in a zero-credit, no-tuition Doctoral Study seminar each semester, which provides them with ongoing support and advisement throughout their program.
Q: What are residencies like, and when do they take place?
Over the nine-day residency period, students will experience direct instruction, group activities, individual research time, presentation, and other activities. Students enroll in two classes, as well as the zero-credit Doctoral Study seminar, which will provide additional opportunities for advising and mentoring. Students can expect to have assigned reading before the residency and assignments due during the residency period. Final projects and other work will be due after the residency, and there will be online follow-up discussions and activities. Guest speakers will be invited, who will engage with students before and after formal class hours.
The exact schedule of the three residencies will be developed for each cohort. Admissions counselors will have these details at the time a new group is announced and begins forming, so that prospective students can plan accordingly
Q: How long will it take to complete the degree?
The program is designed to be completed in approximately 30 months. For comparative purposes, the cohort that began its work in July 2012 will complete its coursework by December 2014, with degree conferral in May 2015. Once begun, the program runs for 12 months of the year, although for registration purposes there are only two semesters, Fall and Spring. Students should be aware that to take full advantage of the program, they should be working full-time in an environment that will enable them to integrate theory with practice.
Q: Is a dissertation required in addition to the program of study?
Yes, all students will be required to write a research-based dissertation that contributes to the domain of Educational Leadership. As noted on the program of study, there is a required Dissertation Seminar at the end of the program that provides support for students in completing this requirement.
Q: May I transfer in credits to apply to the degree?
Students are permitted to transfer in a maximum of 12 credits of post-master's work toward the Ph.D. degree, on a case-by-case basis. The courses must be: approved through advisement; taken at the post-master's level; completed at regionally-accredited institutions; completed no longer than five years prior to the date of admission to the doctoral program; completed with a grade of "B" or better. Students who have received a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) through the Lesley on-campus program and who have taken the required doctoral courses (Nature of Inquiry; Interdisciplinary Seminars I and II, Quantitative Research Methods, and Qualitative Research Methods I) may transfer them into the program as part of the 12 transfer credits.
Q: I have completed all my doctoral coursework at another institution. May I transfer those credits in at the doctoral stage?
That is not possible. The maximum transfer is 12 credits, and this is done on a case-by-case basis.
Q: What materials are required to participate?
All participants will be expected to have a laptop computer and regular Internet access at home, work, or both. Dial-up access is not recommended, due to the amount of time and scale of resources participants will need to access. Those who wait to acquire computers or peripherals until they are admitted can take advantage of favorable discounts through Lesley’s student purchase program, which is administered by Harvard University.
Required and suggested texts will be assigned in each course, as well as articles and other sources that can be accessed electronically for viewing or download. In order to conduct research, students may need to acquire specific additional materials (voice recorders, software packages, etc.), depending upon their topics and research designs.
Finally, students may be advised or asked to join one or more professional associations or organizations for the term of their study. Usually memberships will be at student (discounted) rates.
Q: Is there an application deadline for the upcoming program?
March 15 is the deadline each year. Contact Graduate and Adult Bachelor's Admissions for more information
Q: May I take courses with the Educational Leadership cohort as a non-matriculated student, for professional development purposes?
Lesley’s residency and cohort programs are generally not available to those not matriculated into the program; the sole exception is when students from other residency or cohort programs need to join a group to make up a course. In that case, permission of the program director is always required. A closed group ensures that there are adequate resources for advising and supporting all students in the group, and that group members and instructors have a reliable academic experience each time a course meets.
Q: What is the cost of the program?
Please see the tuition and fees page for cost information.
Q: Is financial aid available?
Financial aid is available. Please see the Office of Financial Aid for more information.
Q: Who can I talk with for more information?
Contact a Lesley admissions representative to find out when the next teleconference is scheduled. Teleconferences are group conference calls that include prospective students, an admissions representative, and faculty and administrators of the PhD program. You may contact Dr. Stephen Gould, Program Director (sgould2@lesley.edu).
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