Doctor of Education in Executive Educational Leadership

Overview of the EdD in Executive Educational Leadership Program

The EdD in Executive Educational Leadership at Houston Christian University is designed to prepare doctoral candidates to perform in a variety of executive leadership positions. Graduates of the program are prepared to serve, for example, in positions such as human resource directors, superintendents, principals, and university and community college faculty and administrators. These positions may be held in private companies, nonprofit organizations; public, private, and charter schools; universities; and community colleges.

Program Distinctives

The EdD in Executive Educational Leadership includes two unique features:

• Emphasis on the preparation of practitioner-scholar educational leaders who positively impact the delivery of education in preschool through four-year college (P-16). In Texas, P-16 education is “…an integrated system of education stretching from preschool (the “P”) through a four-year college degree” (“grade 16”)
• The program includes a curriculum that meets the needs of individuals seeking leadership positions in Christian P-16 schools, where principals often face Christian worldview issues as well as fundraising responsibilities

Program Description

The Doctor of Education in Executive Educational Leadership is a post-master’s professional doctorate in education which includes an option for concentration in the Texas superintendent certification if the candidate currently holds a Texas Principal or Principal as Instructional Leader certificate in good standing with TEA. This means that candidates who are not interested in obtaining the superintendent certification will not be required to take the TExES examination for the superintendent certification, but will be required to successfully complete all program coursework. The doctoral degree is awarded after the successful completion of the coursework, and the completion of a major research project resulting in the presentation and defense of a dissertation.

Credit Requirements

The doctoral program consists of 63 credit hours with 27 hours in core leadership courses, 15 hours in core research courses, and 21 hours in executive educational leadership. An overlap of courses leading to superintendent certification and the executive educational leadership core exists. Utilizing the cohort model, 18 candidates are selected to enroll in each cohort. The courses are designed to be taught face-to-face. Candidates will be enrolled in courses for 10 to 11 semesters.

Degree Plan: Educational Leadership Doctorate

EdD in Executive Educational Leadership Requirements

Course Schedule

Candidates will be enrolled in two courses for each semester and three courses during one semester of the final year. Courses are scheduled in the evening one day per week (currently Thursday) during the fall and spring semesters. Summer semester courses are offered in the evening two nights per week.

Candidates who follow the degree plan as it is currently presented will be able to complete the program (coursework and dissertation) in three academic years. Candidates are allowed six years to complete the program.

Certification in Educational Leadership

For students seeking certification or licensure inside the State of Texas: Programs offered at HCU designed to fulfill the educational requirements for a specific professional licensure or certification do meet the educational requirements for the State of Texas.

Students seeking certification or licensure outside the State of Texas: Students seeking certification or licensure from any state other than Texas should check with their state licensing board to determine eligibility. Houston Christian University has not determined whether their program of study meets the students state licensure requirements. Please see the Professional Licensure Directory for more information.

What’s Next?

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