Ed.D. Program for Educational Leaders
The IDEPEL Program is now accepting applications for our next cohort that will start on August 2007. You can access our program information from this website: http://www.sju.edu/cas/education/edd/index.html; and, download an application from this website: http://www.sju.edu/admissions/. Please contact Dr. Raymond A. Horn, Jr. for any additional information at:
Saint Joseph's University
209 Barbelin
5600 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131-1395
Office Phone: 610-660-3187
Fax: 610-660-2950
rhorn@sju.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cost of the Program?
The current tuition is $712 per credit or $2,136 per course. Students will take 48 credits of course work in the first three years that, at the current rate, will cost $34,176. After the course work is completed, students will take a minimum of 12 dissertation credits that will cost $8,544. This totals $42,720 for 60 credits. If students do not complete their dissertation during the two semesters of 12 credits, students are required to register for three credits or $2,136 for each successive semester until completion of the program. Also, students who have not met the requirement of a prerequisite research course will be required to complete EDU 4005 prior to beginning the program. This is a graduate level course; and if a student is a practicing educator in the Philadelphia area, the student may be eligible for a 37% tuition reduction.
Do I need to take the GRE examination?
Yes, the GREs are required. If a student has taken the GREs or MATs within the last five years, then these scores can be submitted. As of February 12, 2006, only the GREs will be accepted.
When can I apply?
We are currently accepting applications and accepting students into the program until the enrollment is complete.
To who do I send my application materials?
All application materials go to the SJU Office of Admissions. Once the application package is complete, then the materials are forwarded to the Program Director, at which time, an interview may be scheduled.
Is the program only for teachers and educational administrators?
The program is an interdisciplinary educational leadership program that may apply to individuals from fields other than education. IDEPEL students have represented fields such as criminal justice, medical related fields, and others. The course work is interdisciplinary and promotes a broad theoretical understanding of topics such as contemporary curriculum; fiscal resources; human resource management; policy, politics, and community relations; ethics in education; educational environments; educational planning and evaluation, communication and public relations, and administering the dynamic institution. The program contains a strong research strand in which students become proficient in qualitative and quantitative research. In developing the capacity to design and implement their dissertation research, students develop the capacity to read and write within the technical requirements of the field. Practicums (i.e., clinical service learning projects) are required in each fall and spring semester that allow students to do service learning projects related to their goals that they wish to achieve within their field. The combination of theory, research, professional writing and presentation, and the practical experiences from the practicums prepare students to work effectively as educational leaders within diverse fields.
When are classes held?
All classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 8:40 pm. The exceptions to this schedule are: the first course which is a two-week orientation that runs from 9:00 to 3:00 on Mondays to Thursdays during the August that precedes the beginning of the first semester of the program; a January Saturday morning workshop in January after the first semester of the second year; a Saturday morning workshop on preparing for the dissertation; and, in the summer after completion of the course work, workshops are held in preparation for the comprehensive examination.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of a cohort program?
In the IDEPEL program, students in each cohort take the same courses in the same sequence. This guarantees that students will complete all course work by the end of their third year. In addition, students actively support one another in their completion of the program. One drawback is that students must continuously matriculate through the program unless they apply for and receive a leave of absence. Another drawback is that there are no elective courses.
Can the program be completed within four years?
Three years of course work are required. Many students complete their dissertation in the fourth year. However, a four-year completion depends on the nature of a student’s research and an individual’s personal and professional commitments during the dissertation phase.
How many students complete the program?
The IDEPEL graduation rate is approximately 75%, and the program goal is to increase this rate through additional activities that build capacity for success in the program. The national average for doctoral program completion is approximately 50%.