Education Administration and Leadership

Lead your school district and manage its finances with confidence.

Move ahead in your career as an educational leader with a 100% online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree from PennWest California.

With PennWest California’s Ed.D. in Education Administration and Leadership, you’ll earn a post-master’s Superintendent Letter of Eligibility while developing advanced skills in educational leadership with a special focus on fiscal resource management – one of the top challenges for school superintendents and other education leaders today.

The online doctoral degree program provides education administrators with the knowledge and applied skills required to manage a school district or other academic enterprise. You’ll develop competencies in areas such as:

Business practices and financial management.
Human resource relations.
Applied research in the educational setting.
Ethics and integrity in education leadership.

Meet the need for school superintendents with financial management skills

School district administrators nationwide identify “a lack of adequate funding” among their top challenges, according to a recent national survey by AASA, The School Superintendents Association.

PennWest California’s online doctoral program in education administration and leadership, with its focus on fiscal responsibility, prepares education administrators to face financial challenges and make sound management decisions for their schools. Graduates of the Ed.D. program at PennWest California also will be equipped to address key areas of education administration and education leadership, such as operations management, problem-solving, decision-making and communication.

Coursework leading to the state-approved Superintendent Letter of Eligibility (SLE) is incorporated into PennWest California’s 100% online Ed.D. degree program. Students enter the doctoral program with advanced standing if they already hold the SLE credential.

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS - EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION AND LEADERSHIP

Thorough Preparation: Faculty members in PennWest California’s Department of Secondary Education and Administrative Leadership have a long history of successfully delivering high-quality programming online. In addition to earning the state-approved credential required for school superintendents, students in the 57-credit Ed.D. program complete a core of doctoral-level studies in administrative leadership, with a focus on fiscal responsibility; apply new competencies in real-world contexts through integrated field experiences and a field project; and successfully execute doctoral-level research.

Convenient Access: The Ed.D. in Education Administration and Leadership curriculum is designed for seasoned education professionals who are eager to take the next step in their careers. Asynchronous delivery of online coursework allows busy educators to complete assignments at any time, from anywhere, so they can earn a doctorate in education without stepping away from their professional or personal responsibilities. Core courses prepare Ed.D. students for doctoral-level research and the capstone field project, which can be completed within the context of a local educational entity.

Professional Connections: Each student in the Doctor of Education program at PennWest California works closely with a faculty adviser from PennWest California and a leader-mentor in his or her school district. Because the Ed.D. program uses a cohort model, where groups of students follow the same sequence of courses, classmates get to know one another well. As a result, students graduate from the program with a valuable network of professional colleagues.

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57

Number of credits in PennWest California’s online Doctor of Education program, including the Superintendent Letter of Eligibility. Students who already hold the credential enter with advanced standing.

$140K

Average salary for school superintendents nationwide, according to AASA, The School Superintendents Association.

Degree Benefits

Employment prospects for school superintendents is favorable. The population of these top school administrators is aging, and more than 40% of superintendents expect to be retired or working in a different position within five years. According to a 2015 survey by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, aspiring superintendents typically find a position in less than one year. Salaries for top education administrators provide a strong financial incentive for teachers, principals, assistant principals and other education leaders to qualify for these positions by earning a doctorate and/or a Superintendent Letter of Eligibility.

Graduate Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the doctoral program at PennWest California and/or earn the Superintendent Letter of Eligibility are qualified to serve in positions such as:

Superintendent of schools.
Assistant superintendent.
Supervisor of curriculum and instruction.
Supervisor of pupil personnel services.
Supervisor of special education.
School principal (elementary, secondary or K-12).
Vocational education director.
Director of an Intermediate Unit.

Curriculum, Admission Requirements and Related Courses

Students complete 57 credits in three areas - the leadership and research core, concentration, and capstone - to earn the Doctor of Education degree and the Superintendent Letter of Eligibility. Students who already hold the letter of eligibility are admitted to the program with advanced standing.

Curriculum (Ed.D. Only)

Course	Credits
Core - Leadership and Research	12
EAL 701 Leadership I	3
EAL 702 Leadership II	3
EAL 703 Qualitative Research in Educational Leadership	3
EAL 704 Quantitative Research in Educational Leadership	3

Concentration Courses	15
SLE 720 District Leadership for Public Relations and Marketing	3
SLE 730 District Leadership for Legal Issues in Education	3
SLE 740 District Leadership for Finances	3
SLE 750 District Leadership for Human Resources	3
SLE 760 District Leadership Field Project - Fiscal Responsibility	3

Capstone	12
EAL 705 Introduction to Capstone Research	3
EAL 706 Capstone 1 – Research Question/Review of Literature	3
EAL 707 Capstone 2 – Methods/Data Collection	3
EAL 708 Capstone 3 – Data Analysis/Results/Recommendations	3
Total	39

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Program Catalog

Curriculum (Ed. D + SLE Certification)

Course	Credits
Core - Leadership and Research	12
EAL 701 Leadership I	3
EAL 702 Leadership II	3
EAL 703 Qualitative Research in Educational Leadership	3
EAL 704 Quantitative Research in Educational Leadership	3

Concentration Courses	33
SLE 701 Administration Theory, Organization, and Operation	3
SLE 704 Technology and Facilities Development	3
SLE 705 Curriculum/Instruction and Leadership/Supervision	3
SLE 707 Strategic Planning/Policy Analysis/Board Relations	3
SLE 708 Internship I	3
SLE 708 Internship II	3
SLE 720 District Leadership for Public Relations and Marketing	3
SLE 730 District Leadership for Legal Issues in Education	3
SLE 740 District Leadership for Finances	3
SLE 750 District Leadership for Human Resources	3
SLE 760 District Leadership Field Project - Fiscal Responsibility	3

Capstone	12
EAL 705 Introduction to Capstone Research	3
EAL 706 Capstone 1 – Research Question/Review of Literature	3
EAL 707 Capstone 2 – Methods/Data Collection	3
EAL 708 Capstone 3 – Data Analysis/Results/Recommendations	3
Total	57

VIEW COHORT SEQUENCES

Program Catalog

Admission Requirements

Regular Admission Requirements

Option 1: Ed.D Only (Applicants must already hold SLE certification) – 39 cr

Master’s degree in Education or a related field with a GPA of 3.50 or higher on a 4.00 scale (Students with a GPA between 3.00-3.49 may apply for conditional admission)
Official transcripts from an accredited graduate institution
Advanced Standing: For those who completed the Superintendent Letter of Eligibility program atPennWest California, 18 advanced standing credits will be applied toward the degree. For those who have completed a comparable program at an accredited institution, the Letter of Eligibility certification will apply toward the degree. All submissions will be reviewed.
Two current letters of recommendation from those holding leadership roles that can attest to your leadership abilities/potential and experiences, and the ability to succeed in the program (must be on letterhead).
Copies of all certifications:
- EdD Option should include Administrative Certification (ie. Principal’s K-12 Certification) or Supervisory Certification (ie. Curriculum Supervisor, Special Education Supervisor), and Superintendent Letter of Eligibility certification (refer to advanced standing). All submissions will be reviewed to verify that candidates meet the necessary state requirements as they pertain to certification.
A current resume or curriculum vitae
- Please include current and past work experience related to administrative/supervisory role.
- Please include Scholarship (i.e. publications, presentations, etc)
A completed Applicant Data Sheet
One page statement of career goals and degree objectives for pursuingPennWest California’s Ed.D. in Education Administration and Leadership
Writing Sample addressing the following topic: What impact does leadership have on a system? The committee will utilize a rubric to assess the writing sample in the following areas: response and exploration of the question/prompt, key points, vocabulary and sentence structure, and mechanics. (1-3 pages)
International Global Online Applicants

Option 2: Ed.D. plus SLE certification (Applicants without SLE certification) – 57 cr

Master’s degree in Education or a related field with a GPA of 3.50 or higher on a 4.00 scale (Students with a GPA between 3.00-3.49 may apply for conditional admission)
Official transcripts from an accredited graduate institution
Two current letters of recommendation from those holding leadership roles that can attest to your leadership abilities/potential and experiences, and the ability to succeed in the program (must be on letterhead).
Copies of all certifications:
- SLE + EdD Option should include Administrative Certification (ie. Principal’s K-12 Certification) or Supervisory Certification (ie. Curriculum Supervisor, Special Education Supervisor). All submissions will be reviewed to verify that candidates meet the necessary state requirements as they pertain to certification.
- SLE + EdD Option - Candidates must also meet the current Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements that are specified on the PDE website. These requirements include but are not limited to “evidence of six years of satisfactory school experience, of which three must be in a supervisory or an administrative capacity.”
A current resume or curriculum vitae
- Please include current and past work experience related to administrative/supervisory role.
- Please include Scholarship (i.e. publications, presentations, etc)
A completed Applicant Data Sheet
One page statement of career goals and degree objectives for pursuingPennWest California’s Ed.D. in Education Administration and Leadership
Writing Sample addressing the following topic: What impact does leadership have on a system? The committee will utilize a rubric to assess the writing sample in the following areas: response and exploration of the question/prompt, key points, vocabulary and sentence structure, and mechanics. (1-3 pages)
International Global Online Applicants

Conditional Admission Requirements

Conditional Admission may be granted with the following modifications of the Regular Admissions Requirements:
- GPA between 3.00-3.49 with demonstrated patterns of significant professional accomplishment

How to Apply:

Complete the Graduate School Application
Submit the nonrefundable $50 Application Fee
Mail official transcript to:

School of Graduate Studies and Research
PennWest California
Box 91
250 University Ave.
California, PA 15419

Submit unofficial transcripts and other documents by mail (using the address above), email (GradAdmissions@pennwest.edu)

Deadlines: Fall 2022 Cohort Start
Application deadline: June 17, 2022
PennWest California Decision deadline: July 1, 2022

For additional information:
Email: calugo@pennwest.edu
Phone: 1.866.595.6348

Out of State Students:
Out of state students are welcome to apply but should first contact their state department of education for further information regarding certification requirements and reciprocity agreements.

Related Programs

Degrees of Distinction

The doctorate is the highest earned degree for the majority of superintendents – and a nationwide survey by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, found that 86% of superintendents chose education administration as the field of study for their highest earned degree. PennWest California’s Ed.D. program adds value for students by incorporating the letter of eligibility required for superintendents in Pennsylvania or allowing those who already hold the credential to enter the program with advanced standing.

Fiscal Focus

PennWest California’s online Ed.D. in Education Administration and Leadership is distinguished by its focus on financial resource management. This emphasis on fiscal responsibility is incorporated throughout the curriculum and integrated into a field project, so students can understand and apply concepts of school finance and fiscal decision-making associated with education leadership.

School District Demand

Recent news reports have documented the high turnover rate among school superintendents across Pennsylvania, where a number of school districts are operating with interim or acting superintendents because not enough qualified candidates are available. One news story quoted Dr. Linda Hippert, executive director of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, as saying that “our challenge is going to be finding quality educators who want to be superintendents.”