University Catalog 2024-2025

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Educational Leadership

NC State’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program is tied for #14 in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of 393 graduate programs in the U.S. and ranked #1 in North Carolina! The program is designed to prepare systems-level leaders to improve the quality of K-12 schools by preparing the next generation of superintendents dedicated to educational excellence and equity. Graduates are empowered with leadership strategies that improve student performance in environments that are dynamic, interactive, and culturally diverse.

Program Description

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership leads to district/superintendent licensure and requires core courses in educational leadership, research methods (9 hours), an internship (6 hours), and a dissertation (12 hours). Students must be officially admitted to the Ed.D. program to enroll in doctoral classes. Please be aware that a Ph.D. in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis is also offered, but only the Ed.D. leads to superintendent licensure.

Course of Study

The program requires a minimum of 54 credit hours beyond the master’s degree. Students complete 27 hours of core and elective courses, 9 credit hours of research methods, a two semester internship (6 hours), and 12 hours of dissertation research.

More Information

Educational Leadership Program Website

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a North Carolina Principal’s license or be eligible to receive one; transcripts; three letters of reference (at least one must be from your current supervisor); resume (including teaching assignments, leadership experiences, and trainings); personal statement of interest and fit with career goals; and official score report from either the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Test should have been taken within the last five years.

Applicant Information

  • Delivery Method: On-Campus
  • Entrance Exam: None
  • Interview Required: None

Application Deadlines

  • Summer 1: December 15 (absolute deadline is January 5)

Degrees

Faculty

Full Professor

  • Bonnie C. Fusarelli
  • Lance D. Fusarelli

Associate Professors

  • Lisa Bass
  • Anna Margaret Jacob

Assistant Professors

  • Jennifer Ayscue
  • Timothy Drake

Lecturer

  • Clinton Bolton

Practice/Research/Teaching Professors

  • Gregory E. Hicks
  • Henry Johnson
  • Francine Piscitelli Riddick
  • Michael Ward

Adjunct Faculty

  • Patrick Crane
  • Pam Eddinger
  • John D. Enamait
  • Linda Garcia
  • Algie Gatewood
  • Cameron Sublett
  • Keith Witham

Emeritus Faculty

  • Paul F. Bitting

Courses

Education

ED 710  Applied Quantitative Methods in Education I  (3 credit hours)  

This course is designed for researchers and leaders to gain experience using quantitative analytic approaches to answer questions in educational research and policy analysis. As the first course in a two-part series, this course introduces students to foundational tools in quantitative data analysis. Specifically, topics include measurement, graphical and tabular data displays, probability, hypothesis testing, t-tests, X2 tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and fundamentals of regression.

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

ED 711  Applied Quantitative Methods in Education II  (3 credit hours)  

Students will apply and enhance their quantitative skills through analysis of existing datasets. Course goals include practicing and extending Multiple Regression knowledge and skills, generating and testing hypotheses in a multiple regression framework, and appropriately disseminating results. Restricted to doctoral students in Education Research only.

Prerequisite: ED 710

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

ED 730  Introduction to Qualitative Research in Education  (3 credit hours)  

Design of qualitative studies, conduct of field work including open-ended interviews and participant observation, analysis of data and understanding of theoretical and philosophical background of this research approach.

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

ED 731  Advanced Qualitative Research and Data Analysis in Education  (3 credit hours)  

Intensive course in the use of field-based and general qualitative research data analysis methods in the social study of education. The course is to help participants acquire skills and gain experience in using various methodological and analytical research techniques. The course emphasis is on the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of qualitative data.

Prerequisite: ELP 736, EAC 785 or ED 730

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer