Interdisciplinary Doctor of Education Leadership (EdD)

In-person courses are held on campus one night per week and the remainder of the course is offered online and through practice-based projects.
 

Concentrations:

• K-12 Education
• Higher Education 
• Social Sectors (e.g., leadership in healthcare, organization, criminal justice)

Pennsylvania Department of Education Approved Certifications:

• Principal
• Curriculum Supervisor
• Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility (LOE) with or without EdD
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Educational Leadership certificate

Our program’s coursework integrates theory and scholarship with practice, highlighting the value of developing transformational scholar-practitioners who are equipped with the knowledge and skills to adapt to problems in real-world contexts. The curriculum provides content courses around: 

• Leadership theory
• Historical, political and legal contexts of leadership
• Global perspectives on education
• Learning design and environments
• Social justice
• Community engagement
• Organizational theory
• Strategic planning
• Fiscal resources

The curriculum offers research methodology courses in qualitative research, quantitative research, mixed methods research, communications, research dissemination and dissertation support.

The majority of the courses are taught by full-time, tenure-track faculty who are experts in both theory and practice and have national and state reputations in scholarly publications, community engagement, professional organizations and/or teaching.

We’ve designed our Interdisciplinary Doctor of Education Leadership program for the working professional. Flexibility and choice are built-in so you can balance work, family and all the other commitments of a busy life.

High-level practitioner experts and interdisciplinary faculty across Saint Joseph’s University and other institutions serve as guest speakers, attend dissertation committees and teach some of our courses and course modules.

Our Superintendent Letter of Eligibility (LOE) program prepares transformational leaders in K-12 education who are committed to equity-oriented change. Aligned with Pennsylvania and NELP Leadership Standards, our LOE program offers Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved certification for superintendent/ assistant superintendent positions. You can enroll in this program while in the doctoral program or you can start in this program and then apply that coursework toward your doctorate.

Requirements of the LOE Program:
 

• Three on-campus and/or hybrid courses in our graduate program:
• EDL 845: Historical, Political and Legal Contexts of Leadership
• EDL 860: Strategic Planning, Evaluation and Fiscal Resources
• EDL 850: Learning Design and Environment
• 360 hours of supervised fieldwork under an on-site mentor (at superintendent or assistant superintendent level) and a Saint Joseph’s supervisor. Fieldwork hours must be divided evenly across the three semesters (120 hours in fall, 120 hours in spring, and 120 hours in summer)

View required courses for this program in the academic catalog. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.

Affordable tuition options start at $1,179 per credit.*

*Pricing does not include room and board, health insurance or any professional, clinical or transportation fees. Visit our Tuition & Fees page or contact us for more information.

Financial aid may be available to you to help offset the cost of your degree. Explore your options on our Financial Aid page.

Scholarship: Terrance L. Furin

Discount Eligibility

Alumni of Saint Joseph's are eligible to receive 10% off the cost of this program through our alumni discount.

Catholic and Public School Educators can save up to 40% on tuition for advanced degrees and certificate through Saint Joseph's Inclusive Educator Discount Program.

Check with your employer to see if they are an Edcor or a Bright Horizons EdAssist member, which may entitle you to a discount on graduate programs. 

Note: discounts cannot be combined.

Saint Joseph’s University is approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, that assesses institutions for the highest available form of accreditation.

SJU is a Yellow Ribbon School that accepts GI education benefits. Our Office of Veterans Service can help you access and understand your benefits.

Graduate assistantships are offered on a limited basis and cover 20 hours/week in fall/spring semester for tuition + stipend. Please contact the program director for availability.

To be considered for admission you must have a master’s degree and have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

• Apply online.
• Submit official college transcripts from all colleges attended.
• Submit a personal statement.
• Submit resume.
• Submit two letters of recommendation.

Visit our Graduate Admission Information page to learn more about admission requirements, key deadlines, additional requirements for international students and how to submit your application.

Graduate applications are reviewed on an academic year basis. This means applications are accepted for the Fall semester only. If needed, the accepted student can submit a request to the Interdisciplinary Doctor of Education Program for Educational Leaders (IDEPEL) Director to defer acceptance to the following Fall semester; deferred acceptances are permitted for one academic year before the student needs to re-apply to the program.

If you’re applying as an international student, you must provide proof of English Language Proficiency and Certification of Finances along with your application.

Check the Graduate Admission page for additional requirements.

An EdD, or Doctor of Education, is fundamentally a practitioner's degree, intended for working professionals interested in taking on leadership roles in both academic/educational and organizational settings. EdD focuses on real-world application, equipping students with the knowledge and tools they need to effectively lead in educational settings.

A PhD in Education is more research-oriented, designed for those looking to pursue scholarly work or teach in collegiate settings. The PhD is ideally suited for students who want to devote their careers to scholarship and/or teaching at institutions of higher education.

The median annual salary for EdD degree holders is $78,500. Salaries for EdD professionals can vary significantly by role.

Following a flexible instructional delivery model, students attend face-to-face courses on Saint Joseph’s University’s campus one night per week and the remainder of course content is provided through other forms of instructional delivery, primarily online or practice-based projects.

The Terrin Furin Scholarship provides tuition (one Fall 3 credit course) to a first-year student in the Interdisciplinary Doctor of Education Leadership program based on academic merit, financial need, and a commitment to social justice.