EdD in Educational Leadership

The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership is designed for leaders who are looking to drive systemic change in education and learning. This includes individuals looking to accelerate in leadership responsibility and to senior level positions in their current areas of practice as well of those looking to grow their leadership as transition to new areas of interest.

The program is both interdisciplinary, working across professional practice and expertise in core courses, and designed to dive deeply into specific content and skill areas based on professional needs in concentration courses. Concentrations include K-12 Leadership, Higher Education Administration, Leading Instructional Change, and Educational Psychology.

The EDL program also offers a series of current topic electives to choose from that change each year based on student input, to ensure we are responsive to rapidly changing education landscapes and your leadership needs and opportunities within them.  With unparalleled access and mentorship from expert faculty, courses are focused on moving research and theory directly into practice.

Offering both online and on-campus modalities and options for weekly class schedules, the program is designed for students working full time while building the skills to distinguish themselves as leaders in their organizations, advancing equity in education and learning and driving innovative solutions for the future.  The cohort model and extensive support structures are purposefully designed to ensure success. 

Class Times

Online students choose their class days and times on one or two evenings per week, typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. On-campus students pick one evening a week to attend classes.

Upon completion of the program, you with be equipped with the experience, expertise, and network to:

• Create a culminating dissertation in practice, integrating program learning to frame, study, and act on a problem of practice or opportunity in your professional context.
• Engage in interdisciplinary rigor and collaboration to generate more robust and sustainable strategies and solutions.
• Use research, data, and skills of inquiry to inform policy, decision-making and future directions.
• Develop a personal pedagogy of practice as a critically conscious leader.
• Mobilize human, fiscal, physical and technological resources to facilitate meaningful change. 
• Engage in reflective practice that examines underlying assumptions, beliefs, and systems, enhancing your own, your team’s, and your organization’s capacity for learning, growth, and building greater equity in complex environments.
• Analyze, design, and lead adaptive, innovative initiatives to expand and improve education and learning opportunities and outcomes for children and adults. 

Full-Time Option (43-Unit Track Only)
Students who hold a master’s degree or terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D. or professional doctorate) from an accredited institution may be admitted with advanced standing and required to take only 43 units. See a sample Course Schedule for more information.

Part-Time Option (43-Unit Track Only)

The EdD in Educational Leadership offers a 4-year and 5-year part-time option exclusively for students who already hold a relevant master’s degree and are therefore enrolled in the 43-unit track. This flexible format is designed for working professionals. For details, contact Jessica Romero, Assistant Director of Office of Admission and Scholarships at jromero4@rossier.usc.edu or view a sample Course Schedule.

The part-time option is not eligible for I-20/DS-2019 issuance. International students who would otherwise need an I-20/DS-2019 are welcome to pursue the program online from their home country; the in-person program component requirements will be waived, or alternatively, your faculty and/or academic advisor will confirm the arrangements to complete the requirements from your home country. If you have questions, please contact Jim Lee at  jiml@rossier.usc.edu.

Full-Time Option (60-Unit Track)

Students without a master’s degree with substantial work and and at least three years of leadership experience must enroll in the 60-unit track. This pathway takes four years and includes completing 17 units of coursework drawn from one of the following programs prior to advancing into doctoral coursework: the Master of Education in Learning Design with AI and Emerging Technologies (LDAI), the Master of Education in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs (PASA), the Master of Education in Educational Counseling (EC), or the Master of Education in Sports Administration and Leadership (MSAL). See a sample course schedule for more information. See Course Schedule for more information.

 The 60-unit pathway is not eligible for I-20/DS-2019 issuance. International students who would otherwise need an I-20/DS-2019 are welcome to pursue the program online from their home country; the in-person program component requirements will be waived, or alternatively, your faculty and/or academic advisor will confirm the arrangements to complete the requirements from your home country. If you have questions, please contact Jim Lee at  jiml@rossier.usc.edu.

As an applicant, you will be automatically considered for limited, merit-based scholarships of up to $10,000. There is no need to submit a separate application for these scholarships. The admission committee selects recipients based on academic achievement, demonstrated dedication to the USC Rossier mission and other distinguishing characteristics. Priority consideration is given to those who apply by the Rossier Scholarship Deadline. All USC Rossier scholarships are awarded at the time of admission.

View USC Rossier’s scholarship finder to identify other scholarships and funding opportunities. You do not have to be admitted to apply to these scholarships. Carefully note the scholarship application deadlines, which may occur before the final program application deadline.