Apr 20, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Graduate 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 institutions of higher education requires creativity, flexibility, strategic thinking, 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 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 colleges and universities which have challenges and opportunities. 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 professionals in higher education who wish to attain leadership positions in colleges or 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 Endicott College using the online application found at endicott.edu/admission/information-for-graduate-students/apply. 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 integrating a personal narrative. 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 clarity, 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.
  • Master knowledge and skills necessary for senior administrative and leadership roles in higher education.
  • Apply evidence-based research to inform decisions typical of those required of higher education leaders; including academic and student life issues.
  • Demonstrate critical inquiry and analysis skills needed to engage at the doctoral level in intellectual discourse within their area of interest.
  • Complete an original research-based dissertation.

Total Degree Requirements - 51 credits