Educational Administration (EDD)

EdD

Educational Administration, EdD

On Campus 96 cr

The Department of Educational Administration offers graduate degree programs in P-20 educational administration and in a number of specializations.

Description

Faculty members are experienced administrators, curriculum specialists, and college administrators who are dedicated to preparing students for rewarding and fulfilling careers in educational administration.

The EDAD Ed.D. is an applied professional degree that prepares scholarly practitioners to lead continuous improvement for equity in educational organizations at all levels, P-20. This program is designed for educational leaders seeking to enhance their capacities to lead change at the school, district, university, system, or state-level and other educational settings and organizations.

For more information, visit https://cehs.unl.edu/edad/programs/educational-administration-p-12-school-leader….

Career Pathways

  • Educational Administrator
  • Superintendent
  • Central office leaders
  • Higher Education Administrators
  • Faculty

Specializations

  1. Community Colleges
    • Online

    The Ed. D. in Educational Administration with a specialization in Community Colleges allows students who are currently employed at a community college the ability to advance their knowledge in the field so that they can be more marketable when advancing in their career. Students in this specialization take core courses in P20 educational leadership and administration, paired with courses that focus specifically on the community college sector.

    Course List
    Course NumberCourse NameCredits
    Choose 3 of the following
    EDAD 934 Teaching and Learning in the Community College 3
    EDAD 923 The Community/Junior College 3
    EDAD 935 Workforce, Economic, and Community Development 3
    EDAD 912B Emerging Issues in Community College Leadership 3
    EDAD 936 Higher Education Planning 3
    Total 9
  2. P-12 System-Level Educational Leadership
    • On Campus Online

    The Ed. D. in Educational Administration with a specialization in P-12 System Level School Leadership allows students who are currently employed in an administrative position at a P-12 school the ability to advance their knowledge in the field so that they can be more marketable when advancing in their career. Students who choose this specialization will have the option to add on the superintendent endorsement.

    Course List
    Course NumberCourse NameCredits
    EDAD 833 Educational Finance 3
    EDAD 906 System Level Administration 3
    Total 6

    Choose one of the following sets of courses:

    Students seeking Nebraska Superintendent Endorsement
    Course NumberCourse NameCredits
    EDAD 987a, 987b, and 987c Superintendent Academies 4 (total)
    Choose one of the following
    SPED 856 Supervising Special Education 3
    SPED 857 Special Education Administration 3
    Total 7
    Students not seeking Nebraska Superintendent Endorsement
    Course NumberCourse NameCredits
    EDAD 929 Organizational Theory and Change 3
    EDAD 935 Workforce, Economic, and Community Development 3
    Total 6
  3. Higher Education
    • Online

    The Ed. D. in Educational Administration with a specialization in general Higher Education allows students who are currently employed at a college or university the ability to advance their knowledge in the field so that they can be more marketable when advancing in their career. Students in this specialization take core courses in P20 educational leadership and administration, paired with courses focusing specifically on post-secondary education.

Applying for Admission

Standard requirements for all graduate programs

  • Application for Admission with $50 non-refundable application fee.
  • Transcripts (unofficial): Uploaded as part of application form.

    If International: Uploads must include all college- or university-level transcripts or mark sheets (records of courses and marks earned), with certificates, diplomas, and degrees plus certified English translations.

    After admission: Official documents are required from all students who are admitted and enroll. Photocopies of certified records are not acceptable. International students enrolled in other U.S. institutions may have certified copies of all foreign records sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies by their current school’s registrar office.

  • If applicant’s native language is not English, verification of English proficiency is required.

    When sending TOEFL scores, our institution code is 6877 and a department code is not needed.

  • If applicant is not a US citizen and expects an F or J visa: financial information.
  • Applicants must also fulfill any additional requirements the department specifies at the time of application.

Additional requirements specific to this program

  • Resume/CV
  • Personal Statement:  In this letter to the admissions committee, address the following questions. This should be limited to 2-3 pages.
    1. What are your professional education and leadership experiences?
    2. How are equity and diversity centered in your work as an educator and a leader?
    3. How does an Ed.D. in Educational Administration figure into your career trajectory and goals as an educational leader?
    4. What is your plan and strategy to complete your degree in a timely manner (for instance, online coursework, occasional required on-campus experiences)?
  • Essay:  In this essay, describe what you see as an important pressing educational challenge or opportunity in your organization or community. Be sure to identify what has been said or done (or not said or done) regarding the issue by local stakeholders to date (e.g. teachers, faculty, administrators community members). Explain why this challenge/opportunity is important to address in your context, and how you might address it through organizational improvement efforts as part of your dissertation practice. Explain how your scholarly inquiry regarding this challenge or opportunity could help resolve a problem of practice. This should be limited to a maximum of 4 pages.
  • Writing Sample: Upload two academic/scholarly writing samples. Applicants typically submit papers written for other courses or academic programs that give the admissions committee a sense of the applicant's academic writing skill and background.
  • Three recommendation letters

Admission Application Deadlines

January 15 for Summer.

Graduate Chair

Elizabeth Niehaus

Support Staff

Cindy DeRyke

Program Contact

edadprograms@unl.edu

Tuition & Fees
Please select from below if applicable
Are you a 1st generation graduate student?
See program summaries for details like application deadlines and requirements.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment.

UNL Graduate Chairs and staff please complete the program update form to provide edits. Updates to graduate program pages are made on an annual basis in conjunction with the Graduate Application for Admission.