Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Van Loan Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Van Loan Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Higher Education (Doctor of Education)


Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education Mission

Leadership for small higher education institutions requires creativity, flexibility, strategic thinking, an entrepreneurial stance, and a respect for student-centered institutions. The mission of the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership is to prepare professionals for leadership roles in the administration of small colleges and universities, non-profit agencies and schools. 

This doctoral program integrates research and practice so that doctoral students understand the historical, political, social, and philosophical aspects of small colleges and universities which have challenges and opportunities that distinguish them from larger institutions. Applied learning, the hallmark of Endicott, is demonstrated through an apprenticeship in which doctoral students explore areas of specializations within senior leadership positions such as academic affairs, student development, institutional advancement, financial affairs, faculty development, and facilities.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership is designed for career professionals in higher education who wish to attain leadership positions in small- to mid-sized colleges or universities, including both two and four-year college settings, or in smaller colleges or satellite campuses within larger universities. In this cohort-based program, a combination of different roles, perspectives, and experiences enriches the program and its participants.

Admission Requirements


Doctoral applicants are required to have earned a master’s degree from an accredited college or university. Candidates for the doctoral program must apply to the Van Loan School at Endicott College using the online application found at endicott.edu/VanLoan/Van-Loan-Admissions. General application requirements for all doctoral programs include submission of:

  • Official transcripts of all post-secondary academic work sent directly from the institution(s) including confirmation of undergraduate degree, date confirmed, and any other graduate work;
  • Non-refundable $50.00 application fee (check made payable to Endicott College, cash or online) Application fee waived for veteran and military students;
  • Current resume and/or curriculum vitae;
  • Three letters of recommendations. Recommendations should address scholarly potential;
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for all students whose native language is not English; minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 79 (iBT) is required. Endicott also accepts an IELTS score of 6.0 or better.
  • Writing Sample: A short research paper, limit 5-8 pages, (double-spaced, 12 point font, APA format) responding to the following question:
    Choose a contemporary challenge in higher education and provide a research-based synthesis of this issue as well as a personal narrative regarding this challenge. The writing sample will be evaluated for evidence of: thoughtful analysis, ability to develop main points and support claims, focus and organization, academic style, use of sentence variety and vocabulary to convey meaning clearly, control of sentence structure, language, grammar and punctuation. Please be sure that your full name is on the document.

  • An admission interview and/or conference is required of all candidates, which will be scheduled after application review

International Applicants for Graduate Admission
Endicott College welcomes and encourages applicants from around the world. International applicants are required to hold a college or university degree equivalent to a four-year American baccalaureate degree. Educational documents in a foreign language are required to be translated into English. All transcripts and translations of transcripts must be official originals and must show courses completed, grades received, grading scale, duration of study, degree or diploma received, and the date conferred. Endicott College reserves the right to request verification of the credentials by an external agency.

International applicants must submit current TOEFL scores when their native language is not English or when their baccalaureate transcript is not from an institution where English is the language of instruction. Once students have been admitted as degree candidates, Endicott College will send detailed instructions about the process for acquiring an Endicott-sponsored student visa.

Program of Study


Learning Outcomes


Upon completion of this program, students will: 

  • Demonstrate knowledge of higher education’s history and major developments with an emphasis on small and mid-size colleges and universities.
  • Demonstrate a mastery of the knowledge and skills necessary for senior administrative and leadership roles in higher education.
  • Apply effective and thoughtful research skills to representative decisions typical of those required of higher education leaders; including academic and student life issues.
  • Demonstrate mastery of specializations within the professional and senior level administrative skills.
  • Demonstrate the critical inquiry and analysis skills needed to engage at the doctoral level in intellectual discourse within their area of interest.
  • Complete an original research dissertation in an area of study that will enhance the scholarship of the field of higher education.
  • Demonstrate collaborative attitude and behavior as a member of a cohort team.
  • Develop a disposition that embraces diverse perspectives, is open to multiple world views, and value driven leadership practices.  

Total Degree Requirements - 51 credits