Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
This program is designed for working professionals with leadership experience who desire to lead K-12 schools, universities, community colleges or other educational organizations
For decades, educational systems have not been able to transform themselves to meet the needs of all students. Drawing on the principles of equity and social justice, build your capacity to lead change in ways that will improve academic opportunities and outcomes for all students.
Program Overview
The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EDL) program prepares you to become a critically conscious leader with the skills to think strategically, understand and apply evidence-based research, develop strategies to create equity, and foster continuous organizational improvement. The program offers four concentrations: educational psychology, higher education administration, K-12 leadership in urban education and leading instructional change.
Through this program, you will:
- Earn a doctorate from a program with a strong reputation among employers.
- Continue to work full time while taking one evening of classes per week for most of the program.
- Learn alongside a cohort of experienced professionals with diverse career backgrounds.
- Become equipped to address critical issues in communities that serve historically marginalized groups.
Curriculum
The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EDL) program will equip you with knowledge and skills in six core competencies:
- Accountability
- Critical reflection
- Diversity and equity
- Ethics
- Learning organizations
- Research and data
In the first year of the program, you will complete core courses that reflect USC Rossier’s mission and the program purpose. These courses focus on developing or deepening your understanding of the way power and privilege play out in education, leadership and learning to perpetuate inequities in learning opportunities. Subsequent coursework will build on this foundation and align with your career objectives. Each concentration will expose you to context-specific best practices and research while emphasizing the application of theory to practice.
| Component | Courses | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Core courses | 6 | Acquire broad knowledge of the USC Rossier mission, program purpose and program competencies. |
| Concentration courses | 4 | Gain in-depth understanding specific to your career goals and develop inquiry skills to be used in the dissertation in practice. |
| Research methods courses | 2 | Understand how quantitative and qualitative research tools are used in educational research and learn to critique and design research studies. |
| Dissertation in practice | 3 | Conduct action-oriented research to solve a problem of practice. |
Concentrations
Each concentration path consists of four courses and a dissertation in practice in a concentration-specific format. You will complete your dissertation under the guidance of a faculty member within your concentration. You must have career experience relevant to the concentration to which you apply.
The educational psychology concentration* focuses on research and practice in the areas of learning, motivation and development in diverse social contexts. Courses in the concentration explore how people learn, what motivates them, which instructional and motivational strategies are most effective within varied cultural systems and how the social context of instruction affects learning.
*The educational psychology concentration does not meet the requirements for licensure as an educational psychologist.
Recommended career background for this concentration: Professional in K-12, higher education, or counseling, special education, social services, instructional technology, non-profit organizations, or other non-traditional educational settings.
Dissertation in practice: Study an existing problem of practice and complete a five-chapter dissertation or design curriculum to address an existing problem of practice.
Career outcomes: The educational psychology concentration prepares you for employment in areas such as instructional design, human performance personnel, school/community counseling and more.
Alumni have held positions such as:
- Innovation program manager, Applied Materials
- Managing director, school performance accountability and research, California Charter Schools Association
- Dean of innovation, The Derryfield School
- Vice president of education, Fusion Education Group
The higher education administration concentration focuses on administrative theory and best practices for leading higher education institutions. Courses in the concentration address policy, economic issues, assessment, student learning and the history and major philosophical assumptions that undergird the system of higher education.
Recommended career background for this concentration: Professional in higher education administration at a two- or four-year college or university (including student, academic and administrative affairs) or secondary and postsecondary college advising.
Dissertation in practice: Study an existing problem of practice and complete a traditional five-chapter dissertation.
Career outcomes: The higher education administration concentration prepares you for employment in senior administration in two- and four-year colleges, academic executive positions, key leadership roles in education-related organizations, and more.
Alumni have held positions such as:
- Associate dean of students and director, Stanford University
- Executive director, undergraduate advising and programs, School of Business, George Washington University
- Director of intercollegiate athletics, California State University, Northridge
- Vice president for student affairs and dean of students, University of Texas, Austin
The K-12 leadership concentration will prepare you to become a leader in classrooms, schools or school districts. The courses help develop an understanding of how to create high-performing schools that address the diverse needs of all students regardless of school setting. The course sequence culminates in either EDUC 720: Leadership for Principals or EDUC 721: Leadership for Superintendents, an integrated composite of effective leadership practices that result in more effective organizational outcomes, including increased student achievement.
Recommended career background for this concentration:
Teacher, administrator or education professional in PK-12 education at the local, state and federal levels.
Dissertation in practice: Study an existing problem of practice and complete a traditional five-chapter dissertation.
Career Outcomes: The K-12 leadership concentration prepares you for employment as an educational leader in the K-12 field. This includes school site leadership, district leadership and systems leadership. Roles include teacher leaders, district office leaders, superintendents and CEOs of independent schools and charter schools.
Alumni have held positions such as:
- Superintendent, Covina-Valley Unified School District
- Director of community partnerships, Long Beach Unified School District
- Chief innovation officer, National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
- Superintendent, Garden Grove Unified School District
The leading instructional change concentration focuses on theories, practices and policies supporting curriculum and instruction that foster equitable educational opportunities for students from historically marginalized groups in urban PK-12 and higher education settings. This concentration is designed for individuals interested in leading and teaching teachers (pre- and in-service) and faculty (higher ed) so that they are prepared to provide their students with high-quality instruction that is anti-racist, culturally relevant and LGBTQ+ inclusive.
Recommended career background for this concentration: Teacher or administrator in PK-12 or higher education, instructional leader or designer, curriculum developer or professional in non-traditional educational settings.
Dissertation in practice: Conduct action or participatory action research addressing the relationship between leadership and instructional improvement in PK-20 educational settings and complete a non-traditional written product (not a five-chapter dissertation) and public presentation.
Career outcomes: The leading instructional change program prepares you for positions such as university faculty member, professional development specialist, curriculum developer/administrator and more.
Alumni have held positions such as:
- Director, metrics and LCAP, Azusa Unified School District
- Director, student support and intervention, Antelope Valley Union High School District
- Senior director of teaching and learning, Los Angeles Education Partnership
Dissertation in Practice
The dissertation in practice is a doctoral dissertation with a more practical focus than a traditional dissertation. Under the guidance of faculty in your concentration, you will apply relevant research methods to tackle a problem of practice that impedes access to equitable educational opportunities and outcomes. The purpose of the dissertation in practice is to equip you with the knowledge and skills you will use to address existing problems in your workplace well beyond your completion of the program. Format options for the dissertation in practice vary by concentration.
Scholarships
As an applicant, you will be automatically considered for limited, merit-based scholarships of $10,000. There is no need to submit a separate application for this scholarship. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, demonstrated dedication to the USC Rossier mission and other distinguishing characteristics. 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.
Financial Aid
The USC Office of Student Financial Services provides information regarding student accounts, tuition payment plans, campus-based loans, payment options and tax credits.
To be considered for financial aid, you must apply by filing the FAFSA. After you apply, the financial aid office will determine your financial need and inform you of the federal or private loans that are available to you.
Program Details
Degree Awarded
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Estimated Length
3 years
Units
43
Program Cost
$2,354 per unit (estimated)
Modality
- On Campus
Next Deadline
February 15, 2025
Start Date
August 25, 2025
Class Times
Prior to the dissertation phase, students are assigned to one evening of classes per week on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 5:00 to 9:50 p.m.
Take the Next Step
Faculty
Our professors are top practitioners dedicated to supporting your growth and challenging your perspective.
Stephen J. Aguilar
- Associate Professor of Education
- Educational Psychology
Expertise
- Learning Analytics • EdTech & Generative AI • Digital Equity • Educational Data Science • Motivation & Self-Regulation
Shafiqa Ahmadi
- Professor of Clinical Education
- Co-director of the Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice
- Higher Education
Expertise
- Diversity • Legal Protection of Underrepresented Students, Including Female Muslims, Bias and Hate Crimes, and Sexual Assault Survivors
Ruth H. Chung
- Professor of Clinical Education
- Educational Psychology
- Marriage and Family Therapy
- Educational Psychology
Expertise
- Asian American Acculturation: Theory and Measurement. Intergenerational conflict and adjustment issues in Asian American immigrant families. Cultural psychology and multicultural counseling. Measurement and assessment. Teaching of statistics and research methods.
Darnell Cole
- Professor of Education
- Co-director of the Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice
- Higher Education
Expertise
- Race/ Ethnicity, Diversity, Student-Faculty Interactions, Learning, and Student Experiences within K12 and Higher Education Environments.
Rudolph Crew
- Professor of Clinical Education
- Higher Education
Expertise
- Urban Education • Policy • Leadership • Organizational Alignment
Robert A. Filback
- Professor of Clinical Education
- Higher Education
Expertise
- International and comparative higher education, learning design and program development, online and digital Learning, English language education and policy, fostering creativity and innovation
Gregory Franklin
- Professor of Clinical Education
- K-12 Education Policy
Expertise
- Leadership • Policy • Accountability
Adrian H. Huerta
- Assistant Professor of Education
- Higher Education
Expertise
- Boys and men of color • College access and success • Gang-involved populations • High school to college transition • Student parents in higher education
Huriya Jabbar
- Associate Professor
- K-12 Education Policy
Expertise
- Critical Policy Analysis; Market-Based Reforms and Privatization in Education; Equity and Access in School Choice Policy; Teacher Job Choices, Retention, and Recruitment; Community College Transfer; Links between Systemic Inequality, Housing, and Schools
Esther Chihye Kim
- Associate Teaching Professor of Education
Expertise
- Research Methodology • Higher Education • Inequalities
Christina M. Kishimoto
- Professor of Clinical Education
- K-12 Education Policy
Expertise
- Education Policy • Governance • Leadership • Gender and Racial Equity Policies
Akilah Lyons-Moore
- Associate Professor of Clinical Education
- Teacher Education
Expertise
- Teacher Education, Culturally Responsive, Inclusive, Critical Pedagogies, Secondary History-Social Science Pedagogy & Curriculum
Julie Marsh
- Professor of Education
- Co-director of CEPEG
- K-12 Education Policy
Expertise
- K-12 Education Policy and Governance • Accountability • Teacher Incentive Programs • Data-Driven Reforms • School District Reform • School Choice • Equity-Oriented Reforms • Literacy Coaching
Maria G. Ott
- Professor of Clinical Education
- Irving R. and Virgina Archer Melbo Chair in Educational Administration
- K-12 Education Policy
John Pascarella, III
- Professor of Clinical Education
- Teacher Education
Expertise
- Teacher Education • Racial Equity • Digital Media Literacies • Instructional Leadership • Critical Pedagogy • Arts-Based Methods to HIV/AIDS Education
Erika A. Patall
- Professor of Education and Psychology
- Educational Psychology
Expertise
- Motivation • Autonomy Support • Choice Provision • Student Agency • Need Support • Education Practices • Research Synthesis • Meta-Analysis
Lawrence O. Picus
- Richard T. Cooper and Mary Catherine Cooper Chair in Public School Administration
- Professor of Education Finance and Policy
- Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
- K-12 Education Policy
Expertise
- Public Financing of Schools
Morgan Polikoff
- Professor of Education
- K-12 Education Policy
Expertise
- K-12 Education Policy • Curriculum • Standards-based Reform • Assessment Policy • Alignment • Survey Research • Quantitative Methods • COVID and Education
Julie R. Posselt
- Professor of Education
- Higher Education
Expertise
- Equity & Diversity in Higher Education • Organizational Theory • Sociology of Education • Research Methods
Mark Power Robison
- Professor of Clinical Education and History
- Chair Global Executive EdD Program
- Higher Education
Darline P. Robles
- Professor of Clinical Education
- Associate Dean for Diversity & Community Engagement
- K-12 Education Policy
Expertise
- Urban Education • Program Development
Helena Seli
- Professor of Clinical Education, Assistant Dean of Academic Program Development
- Educational Psychology
Expertise
- Educational Psychology
Gale M. Sinatra
- Distinguished Professor and Stephen H. Crocker Chair
- Professor of Education and Psychology
- Associate Dean for Research
- Educational Psychology
Expertise
- Learning Theory • Knowledge Construction • Conceptual Change Learning • Science Learning • Public Understanding of Science
Julie Slayton
- Professor of Clinical Education
- Teacher Education
Expertise
- Schools • School District Systems
Tracy Poon Tambascia
- Professor of Higher Education
- Veronica and David Hagen Chair in Women’s Leadership
- Higher Education
Expertise
- Higher Education Administration • University Student Affairs • International Higher Education
Kenneth A. Yates
- Professor of Clinical Education
- Educational Psychology
Expertise
- Learning • Instruction • Motivation • Cognitive Sciences
Program Outcomes
80+ Sitting superintendent alumni
95%
of EDL alumni said their USC Rossier education prepared them to be more effective in their career
89%
of EDL alumni said their studies at USC Rossier prepared them well for future employment
90%
of EDL alumni said their studies at USC Rossier prepared them to understand research
From Our Alumni
“My time at USC was invaluable, I enjoyed the program and the world-class faculty that assisted me in honing my skills as a practitioner-scholar.”
Tonantzin Oseguera, EdD ’13
Higher Ed Concentration Vice President for Student Affairs California State University Fullerton
“It was always a dream of mine to be a part of the University of Southern California. The doctoral program was second to none, and the connections you make will impact your career forever. My goal is to be a Superintendent, and with my doctorate, it will open doors for me to accomplish that goal. The Trojan Family is real, and we definitely take care of our own. I am proud to have earned a doctorate from the greatest University in the world.”
Henry (Kenny) Torres, EdD ’21
K-12 Concentration Principal, Santiago High School Corona-Norco Unified School District
“The EdD program taught me how to take in information that I am learning, but also how to narrow it down to manageable bites that I can use to teach others.”
Juliana Calhoun, EdD ’17, MMFT, PPS
Educational Psychology Concentration Assistant Director/Learning Specialist, USC Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity Assistant Adjunct Professor, USC Rossier School of Education
Featured Research Centers
Established in 2017, the Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice has a compelling interest in eradicating all forms of discrimination based on the intersection of an individual’s identities that include religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity and disability. Using rigorous research and legal analysis, we empower educators to utilize laws and policies in order to identify and extricate bias and unequal distributions of power within educational institutions.
Is an EdD worth it? Leaders share insights and experiences
Those wondering if an EdD is worth it often want to make a positive impact while advancing their career. A doctoral degree in education can be an effective way to land leadership positions in K–12 schools, higher education and other industries as well. Because doctoral programs require rigorous study and professional experience, an EdD represents the highest level of preparation for many roles in education and related fields.
PhD vs. EdD in education: nine expert tips to help you choose
If you want to elevate your career in education, an advanced degree can open the door to more job opportunities. Many schools offer graduate programs in education, but before you go down a rabbit hole of research, first decide if you want to get a PhD or EdD degree.
News and Insights
‘You need to leave the box in order to think outside it’
USC Rossier’s Global EdD program takes students to South Africa and other global destinations to observe and learn from international education leaders.
USC Rossier to launch new executive cohort for EDL online students
Beginning in fall 2025, the cohort will prepare senior K–12 leaders for the unique challenges of leading school systems.
A brave space to interrogate systems of power
As future teachers hone their pedagogical skills at schools of education, they also engage in difficult and necessary discussions to better serve all children.
An essential gear in a complex system
A former USC Rossier dean sees schools of education as a critical hub for innovation and promoting coordinated, systemwide improvements.
Doctors without med schools, teachers without ed schools?
Like medical schools, education schools are high-trust sites for the rigorous preparation of professionals who do lifesaving work.
Program Contact
Jessica Romero
Assistant Director, Office of Admission and Scholarships
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