Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

The Doctor of Education degree is the terminal research degree in Educational Leadership. This advanced degree program increases the knowledge, expertise, and skill base in Educational Leadership; enhances and refines the research skills and competencies of students; and provides the required terminal degree for those students seeking administrative or teaching positions in higher education or those seeking positions of increased responsibility in K-12 schools. A minimum of 90 academic credits and one credit for the comprehensive exam is required for the Doctor of Education degree. Individual credits from an approved Master’s degree and/or Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) as well as post Master's graduate credits may be applied toward the Ed.D. The major field of concentration for the Ed.D. is in Educational Leadership with supporting concentrations in Curriculum Leadership, Higher Education, or Technology Leadership. 

All students seeking a Montana Administrative License in addition to an Educational Doctorate (Ed.D.) are required to complete the State of Montana's Field Experience requirements. A detailed description of these requirements can be found on the department's Field Experience page. If you wish to initiate endorsement paperwork, contact the Department of Educational Leadership.

The program requirements for the Educational Doctorate (Ed.D.) Degree in Educational Leadership are based on the primary area of study (Educational Leadership) and the supporting area of study (Curriculum Leadership, Higher Education, or Technology Leadership) selected by the student. Applicants must also satisfy any additional requirements as may be set, for the individual student by the appropriate Program Admissions Committee. The student is responsible for working with his/her advisor to plan a formal program of study as soon as practical, but certainly by the end of the first semester of coursework.

In addition to the course requirements the following regulations apply:

  1. A minimum of 30 credits in the primary field, exclusive of the dissertation
  2. A minimum of 20 credits in a chosen supporting area
  3. A minimum of 9 credits in Foundations Courses
  4. A minimum of 15 credits in Research
  5. A minimum of one third of all course work must be taken in the Educational Leadership Department at UM, including one third of the coursework in the primary area

Course Information

EDLD 618: Educational Statistics
EDLD 620: Qualitative Research
EDLD 625: Quantitative Research
EDLD 653: School Personnel Administration
EDLD 656: Economics of Public Education
EDLD 657: Facilities Planning
EDLD 658: School Public Relations for Superintendents
EDLD 660: Adult Continuing Education
EDLD 662: History of Higher Education
EDLD 667: The American College Professor
EDLD 668: College and University Administration
EDLD 674: Internship in College Teaching
EDLD 676: Internship in Higher Education Administration
EDLD 694: Advanced Seminar
EDLD 697: Advanced Seminar
EDLD 699: Professional Seminar / Dissertation Variable
EDLD 594: Comprehensive Exam

Comprehensive Exams

Near the end of your course requirements, be sure to be in contact with your advisor to schedule your comprehensive exams.

Reach out to your advisor for more details regards the comprehensive exams.

Once you have successfully completed your comprehensive exams, you will establish a dissertation chair, and begin taking dissertation credits for Autumn and Spring semesters.

Dissertation Requirements

The dissertation, which is required for all doctoral students, follows the completion and pass of the comprehensive exams. The student must select a consenting dissertation chair.  Under the direction of the dissertation chair, the dissertation proposal  will be developed.   In consultation with the dissertation chair, the student will form a dissertation committee consisting of a minimum of five members. There are specific Graduate School dissertation requirements.  The student is responsible for following these requirements. The dissertation chair is the primary person to direct the research and the student must work closely with that individual to complete the dissertation process.

Please note: Dissertation credits are worth a variable credit amount. You must be enrolled in a minimum of 3 credits per Autumn and Spring semesters, with a minimum of 12 dissertation credits to graduate at the end of your doctoral program. Please follow UM's instructions on how to register for variable credit hour courses. 

Ed.D. Application Requirements

Please visit the Application Requirements page for more information.