Through this program, educational professionals become transformational leaders using research and policy analysis to solve the challenges confronting education today. Graduates use their leadership knowledge and skills to democratize education across the P22 continuum.

The program is designed for hard-working professionals. Classes are small seminars, so everyone gets attention. Learning takes place in a family atmosphere while engaging with leading scholars in the field. If interested, there are publishing and conference opportunities. Students come from different backgrounds and experiences, which allows for a rich and robust course of study. 

D'Youville believes all students are individuals with varied needs. The number of credits required for completion are dependent on the course work from prior degrees. This may result in waiving the entire Professional Core. The doctorate may be completed in as little as 3 academic years (including summer courses). The program is presented in a hybrid format.

Course Requirements for the Program

Research Core

Academic Core

K-12 Professional Core (Entire core maybe waived based on prior degree course work.)

Higher Education Professional Core (Entire core maybe waived based on prior degree course work.)

No dissertation core courses can be taken until the Comprehensive Exam has been completed successfully.

Dissertation Core

Additional Requirements

In addition to the course work, students are also required to complete the following:

• Present a defense of the dissertation proposal and completed dissertation. (See the dissertation handbook for a detailed presentation of the dissertation requirement.).

Academic Regulations

In addition to the general academic regulations for graduate programs, the following regulations apply for this doctoral program:

• Doctoral students are required to receive a grade of B or higher in all courses in the educational leadership curriculum. Students who receive less than a B (B-, C+, etc.) will have to repeat that course and will be placed on academic probation (see section on academic probation). A course may be repeated one time only. The original grade will be replaced by the second grade whether higher or lower. Students who receive a grade of B- or below twice for the same course will be dismissed from the program.

Academic Probation

Students enrolled in the doctoral programs who receive a grade of B- or below will be notified in writing that they have been placed on academic probation. Academic probation will then apply to the next semester of their enrollment, including summer semesters. Students who have been placed on academic probation must successfully complete all coursework with grades of B or higher in the next semester of their enrollment in order to be removed from academic probation. Students who have been placed on academic probation, and receive a grade of B- or below for any course taken in the next semester of their enrollment, will be dismissed from the program.

Students who are taking coursework, and are carrying an “I” (Incomplete) grade from any previous doctoral coursework, and who have a grade of B- or below submitted to replace any I grade, will immediately be placed on academic probation for the current semester of their enrollment.

Doctoral Policies on Student Misconduct

In addition to the policy regarding academic integrity, students enrolled in the educational leadership doctoral program are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of personal behavior and professional conduct in academic and educational environments. Dishonesty or misconduct in any form, whether academic or professional, will not be tolerated by program faculty. Unprofessional behavior in any educational setting, including any on- or off-campus experiences related to the research practicum or dissertation, may result in failure of the course regardless of the mastery of all other course requirements, and may result in dismissal from the program.

The director of the Educational Leadership doctoral program will convene and refer any and all allegations of misconduct to the Educational Leadership program's student misconduct review committee upon written notification of any type of misconduct identified by program faculty. At least two doctoral faculty not involved in the charge(s) of misconduct will be included on the committee. After a careful review of the charge(s), which includes providing the student an opportunity to present the student’s case before the committee, the committee will render, in writing, a decision to the director of the Educational Leadership doctoral program, who will in turn inform the student of the committee’s decision.

Students may appeal the committee’s decision to the director of the Educational Leadership doctoral program.

Application Requirements

Prospective applicants must forward the following materials to the graduate admissions office:

• A completed, no-cost application.
• Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts of all institutions attended.

In addition to the application, candidates must present the following:

• A completed Master's degree in education or a related field.
• Evidence of leadership and professionalism in education or a related field.
• A minimum graduate grade point average of 3.5 (based on a 4.0 system).
• Two letters of professional recommendation.
• Statement of Interest regarding your professional goals and objectives in relation to social justice, at least 3 pages long. 
• One writing sample from within your graduate program, at least 5 pages long.
• Professional resume or curriculum vitae.
• Students being considered for admission may be asked to come to campus to be interviewed by education leadership faculty.

Applications for admission are considered on a competitive basis; applicants meeting minimum requirements may not be admitted.

Provisional Admission

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria but have a graduate grade point average of at least 3.25 and show promise will be reviewed on an individual basis by the admissions committee and may be admitted provisionally. Students who are provisionally admitted will be immediately dismissed from the program should they receive a grade of B- or below for any of the first four courses in which they enroll.

Transferring Credits

Students may transfer up to 40 graduate credits with grades of B or better at the discretion of the program director. Credits must be from an accredited institution in courses appropriate to the program.

In the event applicants have fewer than 40 hours of prior graduate work, additional graduate-level courses will be necessary to complete the total required.