International Schools Cohort – EdD in Educational Leadership

Course requirements will be the same as the standard Educational Leadership online program, but students will study topics relevant to their international school context in depth through tailored readings, assignments and other coursework.

While the focus of the program—building skills to diagnose systems-level challenges and implement effective solutions to drive organizational change—remains the same for the International Cohort, courses will take place on weekends, 7:30 am – 12 pm SGT. Students will also participate in two immersive weekend educational experiences in Singapore. The program is open to students working and residing in Asia.

The International Cohort was designed to meet working professionals where they are, geographically and professionally. Courses aligned to your time zone and immersive experiences in your region bring the rigorous leadership development that Rossier is known for directly to you.

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

• Create a culminating dissertation in practice that applies rigorous inquiry to a meaningful problem or opportunity within your international school context.
• Engage with peers and faculty who understand the distinct demands of leading at the intersection of multiple cultures, languages, and educational systems.
• Use tailored coursework, case studies, and applied research to analyze complex challenges specific to international, English-medium schools and design contextually grounded, innovative solutions.
• Lead with a deep commitment to equity and cross-cultural understanding, ensuring that every student — regardless of background — is supported and empowered to reach their fullest potential.
• Mobilize human, fiscal, and organizational resources to drive meaningful, sustainable change within institutions that serve diverse global communities.
• Develop and articulate a personal leadership philosophy shaped by the values, cultural contexts, and professional realities of international education.
• Leverage the USC Trojan Network to build lasting professional relationships with educators and leaders across the globe.
• Analyze and lead adaptive, equity-centered initiatives that improve learning outcomes and opportunities for students, families, and communities across diverse cultural settings.

Scholarship funding is limited. All applicants are reviewed for merit-based scholarship consideration as part of the admissions process—no separate scholarship application is required. While admission to the program does not guarantee a scholarship, applying earlier may increase your opportunity for scholarship consideration. For the Educational Leadership program, merit-based scholarships may be worth up to $10,000. Eligible applicants are awarded based on academic achievement, alignment with the USC Rossier mission, and other selection criteria. Scholarship recipients are notified 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.