Benefits and Career Paths

Program Benefits

Designed with working professionals in mind, classes are offered at times that minimize conflict with work obligations
Doctoral Support Center
Student Organizations
- Education Graduate Organization (EGO)
- Educational Doctorate Student Assembly (EDSA)
Opportunities for Professional Involvement
Trojan Alumni Network

Partnerships

Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate
USC Rossier’s EDL program is an active member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate, a national effort by 55 institutions to reform and strengthen the education doctorate.

Career Paths

Sample Career Options

Educational Psychology

Leadership positions in K-12, higher education, and business, military, and government organizations where the focus is the improvement of learning and motivation, especially with diverse learners in urban settings, which may include:

Instructional design/technology specialist
Human performance personnel
School/community counselors and social workers
School psychologists
Specialists in formal educational settings
Higher education faculty in educational psychology and teacher education

Teacher Education in Multicultural Societies (TEMS)

University faculty member in teacher education
University-school liaison
Professional development specialist for K-12 schools and other settings (museums, district offices, subject matter projects)
Curriculum developer in K-12 settings
School site instructional expert, curriculum-related administrator and/or department chair

Higher Education Administration

Senior administration and/or leadership positions at two- and four-year colleges (Vice President/Dean of Student Affairs)
Senior academic executive positions in two-year colleges (President or Academic Vice President of Community College)
Leadership position in education-related professional development organizations or counseling centers and agencies
Education-related non-profit organizations
Key leadership positions in higher education policy-related organizations

Current positions of some of our graduates include:

Soncia Reagins-Lilly ’99, Senior Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, University of Texas, Austin
Brandon Martin ’02, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, California State University, Northridge
Jim Adams ’02, President, Life Pacific College, San Dimas, CA
Rita Cepeda ’03, Chancellor, San Jose-Evergreen Community College District
Mirasol Espanola ’04, Executive Director, Undergraduate Advising & Programs, School of Business, George Washington University, Washington, DC
Mary Oling- Sisay ’05, Vice President for Student Services, Alliant International University
Kaneesha Miller ’06, Vice President, Student Services, Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Kevin Colaner ’06, Associate Vice President for Student Services, California Polytechnic State University, Pomona
Laurie Cox ’06, Assistant Dean and Director, International Student Services, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Merrill Irving, Jr. ’07, Associate Vice President of Continuing Education, Training & Workforce Development, Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, IL
Rameen Talesh ’07, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, University of California, Irvine
Oscar Cobian ’08, Vice President of Student Development, Oxnard College
Dyrell Foster ’08, Dean of Student Affairs, Rio Hondo College, Whittier, CA
Arvid Spor ’08, Vice President of Student Services, Citrus College, Glendora, CA
Robert Mena ’08, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, CA
Carlos Cervantes ’08, Associate Dean of Retention and Academic Advising, University of La Verne
Albert Vasquez ’09, Dean, Campus Security, Student Health, and Safety, Chief of Police Santa Monica College

K-12 Leadership in Urban School Settings

Pre-K-12 administration (site or district levels)
Superintendent
Deputy/Assistant Superintendent
District Director/Coordinator
Site Principal
Other administrative positions
Education-related non-profit organizations and foundations
K-12 policy-related organizations
K-12 related social services agencies
Higher Education: teaching and/or administrative position in K-12 Administrative or Teacher Education