Preparing leaders in the field of K-12 education, The EdD and PhD in Education Administration offers four pathways with either principal or superintendent licensure.
The program prepares doctoral students to become exemplary leaders within the field of education. A rich clinical experience is central to the program, with multiple hands-on experiences embedded throughout the coursework.
Developed for working professionals, courses are held in different formats (e.g., weekends, evenings, online, and on campus) so you can continue to work full time.
In general, students may receive credit for academic courses taken through doctorate programs at accredited institutions. Courses accepted for transfer credit must parallel courses offered at Drake University or otherwise be appropriate for doctorate level credit. Graduate courses considered for transfer must be beyond the required 36 masters-level credits required for admission into a Drake doctoral program. The maximum number of credits that can be transferred into a Drake doctorate program can be no more than 1/3 of the total credit for the full degree program (EdD or PhD). Other details include:
Considerations for Students with Transfer Credits
EdD with Principalship Licensure
| EDL 270 - Personal and Professional Assessment Seminar | 3 |
| EDL 271 - Leadership and the Profession | 3 |
| EDL 272 - Organizational and System Behavior | 3 |
| EDL 273 - Instruction and Learning | 3 |
| EDL 274 - School and Community in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| EDL 275 - Planning, Research, Measurement & Evaluation | 3 |
| EDL 276 - Applications of Law, Mandates and Policies | 3 |
| EDL 277 - Current Issues in Special Education Administration | 3 |
| EDL 278 - Supervising Instruction | 3 |
| EDL 279 - Managing Schools | 3 |
| EDL 280 - Clinical Experience I | 3 |
| EDL 281 - Clinical Experience II | 3 |
| Core DOC Courses | |
| DOC 305 - Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
| DOC 306 - Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| DOC 381 or 390 - Capstone or Dissertation Seminar | 3 |
| Capstone or Dissertation (select one) | |
| DOC 388 - Capstone | 9 |
| DOC 399 - Dissertation | 9 |
| TOTAL | 54 |
PhD with Principal Licensure
| EDL 270 - Personal and Professional Assessment Seminar | 3 |
| EDL 271 - Leadership and the Profession | 3 |
| EDL 272 - Organizational and System Behavior | 3 |
| EDL 273 - Instruction and Learning | 3 |
| EDL 274 - School and Community in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| EDL 275 - Planning, Research, Measurement & Evaluation | 3 |
| EDL 276 - Applications of Law, Mandates and Policies | 3 |
| EDL 277 - Current Issues in Special Education Administration | 3 |
| EDL 278 - Supervising Instruction | 3 |
| EDL 279 - Managing Schools | 3 |
| EDL 280 - Clinical Experience I | 3 |
| EDL 281 - Clinical Experience II | 3 |
| Core DOC Courses | |
| DOC 301 - Foundations in Doctoral Education | 3 |
| DOC 306 - Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| DOC 390 - Dissertation Seminar | 3 |
| DOC 380 - Apprenticeship | 3 |
| DOC 399 - Dissertation | 9 |
| TOTAL | 54 |
EdD with Superintendent Licensure
| Core DOC Courses | |
| DOC 305 - Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
| DOC 306 - Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| DOC 345 - Theory, Research, & Leadership | 3 |
| DOC 390 - Dissertation Seminar | 3 |
| DOC 381/399 - Capstone or Dissertation Seminar | 9 |
| Content Courses and Superintendent licensure courses | |
| DOC 302 - Seminar (Policy and Cultural Diversity) | 3 |
| EDL 283 - Leading Complex Organizations | 3 |
| EDL 291 - Policy, Influence, and Legal Issues | 3 |
| EDL 290 - School Finance | 3 |
| EDL 288 - Human Resource Dynamics | 3 |
| EDL 287 - Curriculum and Evaluation | 3 |
| EDL 289 - Organization Management | 3 |
| DOC 386/EDL 286 - Transformational Systems Leadership | 3 |
| EDL 292 - Seminar | 3 |
| *DOC 306 above is required for superintendent license | |
| Capstone or Dissertation (select one) | |
| DOC 388 - Capstone Credits | 9 |
| DOC 399 - Dissertation | 9 |
| TOTAL | 48 |
PhD with Superintendent Licensure
| Core DOC Courses | |
| DOC 301 - Foundations in Doctoral Education | 3 |
| DOC 305 - Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
| DOC 306 - Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| DOC 390 - Dissertation Seminar | 3 |
| Content Courses and Superintendent licensure courses | |
| DOC 302 - Seminar (Policy and Cultural Diversity) | 3 |
| EDL 283 - Leading Complex Organizations | 3 |
| EDL 286 - Systems Thinking | 3 |
| EDL 287 - Curriculum and Evaluation | 3 |
| EDL 288 - Human Resource Dynamic | 3 |
| EDL 289 - Organization Management | 3 |
| EDL 290 - School Finance | 3 |
| EDL 291 - Policy, Influence, and Legal Issues | 3 |
| EDL 292 - Seminar | 3 |
| DOC 380 - Apprenticeship | 6 |
| DOC 399 - Dissertation | 12 |
| TOTAL | 57 |
All courses in each of the doctoral programs are taken as a cohort. Cohorts begin each fall.
In order to complete the application process, submit the following:
Online application materials will automatically be forwarded to the School of Education. Official transcripts and test scores may be sent via secure electronic transmission to soegradadmission@drake.edu or mailed to:
Coordinator of Graduate Admission
School of Education - Drake University
Collier-Scripps Hall - Rm 221
2702 Forest Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50311
In addition to the above items, those applying to the Ph.D. program will need to submit a 1-2 page essay explaining their research interests and reasons for pursuing a research intensive degree.
The information in this catalog does not constitute a contract between the university and the student. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, admission policies and processes, tuition and financial aid, academic standards and guidelines, student services and any other regulations or policies set forth in this catalog without giving prior notice.