As a graduate of our online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program, you will be uniquely
equipped with the knowledge and skills to lead the improvement of educational spaces
and systems.
Our social justice-focused program is designed to provide you with scholarly research
experience, an understanding of leadership theory alongside practical strategies,
and improvement science skills that culminate in a dissertation in practice portfolio
relevant and useful to your field of interest.
Ed.D. Educational Leadership graduate student and Hosack Elementary School Principal
Matt Heckmann shares his insight on the impact School of Education alumni have in
the field as educational leaders. Hear from Matt.
Our Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program is designed for busy professionals to
balance work, life, and learning responsibilities. You will take two back-to back
online courses with your cohort in fall and spring semesters. Classes meet synchronously
on a weekday evening every other week. During summer semesters, you’ll participate
in a week-long residency on campus. Additionally, you’ll receive regular support throughout
the program from faculty and dedicated mentors.
Our accelerated 8-week courses are taken online one at a time in the fall and the
spring. In the summer there is an on-campus week-long residency requirement.
Our Educational Leaders
I know from firsthand experiences how great Duquesne’s School of Education is:
preparing not just educators, but educators who are leaders serving communities, students
and families.
Matt HeckmannHosack Elementary School Principal | Ed.D. Educational Leadership Graduate StudentDiscover Matt's Story
Being in the Education Leadership program at Duquesne University is one of the
greatest decisions I could have made for my career...It offered first-hand opportunities
to be challenged by choice, step outside my comfort zone & view educational improvement
as a necessity not a suggestion.
Dr. Anthony Kane | Ed.D. in Educational Leadership '19Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Saint Vincent College
Curriculum
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program curriculum is designed around the themes of
leadership, social justice and improvement science. Through your courses, you will
learn and practice the scholarly skills necessary to complete a quality and rigorous
dissertation in practice portfolio.
EDEL 701 Positionality and Social Justice I (3 credits)
EDEL 702 Educational Research I: Research Literacy and Argumentation (3 credits)
EDEL 710 Positionality and Social Justice II (3 credits)
EDEL 711 Ethics, Policy, and Law in Educational Contexts (3 credits)
EDEL 720 Educational Research II: Leveraging Knowledge for Systems Improvement (3 credits)
EDEL 721 Introduction to Improvement Science (3 credits)
EDEL 730 Leadership for Improvement (3 credits)
EDEL 731 Systems Approaches for Improvement (3 credits)
EDEL 740 Educational Theory for Equitable Leadership (3 credits)
EDEL 741 Collaboration for Leadership and Justice (3 credits)
EDEL 750 Leading and Sustaining Equitable Systems (3 credits)
EDEL 751 Educational Research III: Design and Methodology (3 credits)
EDEL 801 Organizational Leadership and Management (3 credits)
EDEL 802 Educational Research IV: Improvement Proposal (3 credits)
EDEL 810 Dissertation Seminar (3 credits)
EDEL 811 Educational Research V: Data Collection and Analysis (3 credits)
EDEL 820 Dissertation Writing I (3 credits)
EDEL 821 Dissertation Writing II (3 credits)
Application Process
Admission Information
Applications will soon be accepted for the cohort that will begin their studies in
July 2025. A maximum of twelve students will be admitted into the Cohort of 2028.
Admission into the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program is based on academic qualifications,
appropriate experience and application packet quality. Admission decisions are made
without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, gender or sexual orientation.
Admission Criteria
A master’s degree in education or related field from an accredited institution.
A minimum 3.0 GPA for the last 30 credits of graduate work.
Demonstrated commitment to social justice leadership and disposition towards community
engagement.
Five years of educational experience in schools, universities, and/or community settings
is preferred but not required.
International Applicants
International Students seeking fully online programs are not eligible for U.S. Student
Visas. Visit International Admissions for additional information and requirements.
Questions
If you have any questions, please email Program Manager Aiko%20Yamada%20Mancini or call at (412) 396-5568.
Applications will soon be accepted for the cohort that will begin their studies in
July 2025.
Admissions Timeline
Sunday, February 2, 2025—Completed applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST).
Monday, February 3, 2025
The Admissions Committee begins its review of completed applications.
Selected applicants will be invited to participate in a 30-minute virtual interview
with the Program Director and at least one faculty member. Invitations are based on
evidence from completed admission packets that demonstrate qualifications, experience
and potential program fit. Each applicant will be asked the same series of questions
meant to showcase experiences, insights and philosophies related to educational leadership
and personal career goals. Please note: Not all applicants will be invited to interview.
Using information gathered from the application packet review and Zoom interviews,
the Admissions Committee will invite selected applicants to attend a virtual group
interview to explore the program while demonstrating their program fit.
Saturday, March 1, 2025—The virtual group interview will be held on this day. All invited applicants are
strongly advised to attend.
Mid-March 2025—The Program Director will notify applicants selected for admission by personal phone
call. These applicants will have ten days to accept the invitation to join the cohort
and make their non-refundable deposit of $250.00. This deposit is applied directly
to the tuition for first-semester classes.
Applications received after February 2, 2025 may be considered on a rolling basis
if slots remain available in the cohort. Those who submit by the February 2 deadline
will be considered for graduate assistantships and other supportive funding before
late applicants.
June 2025 —The Ed.D. New Student Orientation will be held in this month. The exact date will
be determined soon.
July 14, 2025—The Ed.D. program begins for new students.
The following materials must be submitted with the Duquesne graduate application by
February 2, 2025 to be considered by the Admissions Committee:
Official graduate transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended, sent directly from
the university registrar, emailed to Graduate%20Admissions. We are unable to accept transcripts sent directly from applicants.
A current CV or resume that highlights recent accomplishments relevant to educational
leadership and doctoral work.
Essay 1: Personal Essay (see requirements below)
Essay 2: Educational Essay (see requirements below)
Essay Requirements
Each essay should be no more than 750 words and organized with double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font. Include a cover
page with each essay that contains the type of essay (Personal Essay or Educational
Essay) your name, contact information and date. Information on the cover page does
not count toward the word limit for the essay.
Essays are scrutinized for plagiarism. Your statements should be written by you alone
and represent your original work. An essay found to contain plagiarized work will
disqualify the applicant. Additionally, you are not permitted to use generative AI
to write your essays. International applicants are reminded that they must write their
own statements in English; the use of translators is not permitted.
The Admissions Committee will carefully consider both quality of the content and the
writing when reviewing your statements and assessing your application for the Ed.D.
in Educational Leadership program. We are looking at your potential to engage in doctoral
level writing, not necessarily for you to already possess these skills.
ESSAY ONE: Personal Essay
To help us better understand your professional goals for joining the Ed.D. in Educational
Leadership program, please respond to the following two prompts:
How do you envision yourself within this program?
What unique aspects of your current and past professional practice enhance your ability
to lead initiatives that will make significant contributions to the field of education?
ESSAY TWO: The Educational Essay
You must use APA style to cite several pieces of supporting research within the body
of your Educational Essay. To help us better understand your potential to discern
educational environments and frame issues of equity and justice, please respond to
the following prompts:
What is a current outcome in the field of education (broadly defined as K12, higher
education, and/or community contexts) that you see as problematic?
Discuss two factors that you see as contributors to that issue. Please utilize relevant
sources as evidence to your claims.
Learning Outcomes
We believe educational leadership engages the mind, heart, and spirit in the
moment of action to work across boundaries in pursuit of justice. We further believe
educational leaders strategically facilitate collective learning and continuous improvement
in systems.
Student Learning Outcomes
In our program, educational leaders become scholarly practitioners as they:
Develop a critical, ethical lens.
Interrogate and reflect on positionality.
Name and frame matters of injustice in theory, policy and practice.
Leverage knowledge and experience to improve systems.
See the system in which a concern/problem exists.
Intentionally and authentically communicate and collaborate with people who work in
and are affected by the system.
Establish a continuous, sustainable process for re-evaluation and improvement.
Our Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in Duquesne's School of Education is recognized
as a Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) Consortium Member, one of
22 member universities committed to the preparation of educational leaders to ensure
well-equipped scholarly practitioners who provide stewardship of the profession and
meet the educational challenges of the 21st century.
UCEA Center for Educational Leadership and Social Justice (CELSJ)
Our School of Education hosts the Center for Educational Leadership and Social Justice
(CELSJ) as a part of the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA).
UCEA is a consortium of higher education institutions committed to advancing the preparation
and practice of educational leaders for the benefit of schools and children. The CELSJ
is now one of only eight UCEA centers worldwide. The UCEA CELSJ at Duquesne University
aspires to be a community that is dedicated to identifying and eradicating conditions
of social injustice in our schools and communities through enlightened and actionable
scholarship, preparation and development of socially just educational leaders, and
the encouragement of leader-practitioners in service of all students. The Mission
of the UCEA Center for Educational Leadership and Social Justice is to advance equity
and excellence on behalf of young people, especially those who have been marginalized,
mistreated and neglected.
It's Time for Bigger Goals
Apply Today!
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