Doctor of Education

Explores the nature, scope, principles and practices of public relations, communication and collaboration among professional educators and the school community.

Examines the politics of education at the building, district, state, and national level. Topics include policy development and the changing role of government in education.

Explores leadership theories, power and authority in organizations, leader effectiveness and decision-making processes, and organizational reform. Topics include ethical leadership and decision-making in organizations facing challenges and organizational change.

Examines school design, maintenance, and resource management. Topics include enrollment, location, staffing and equipping the organization with appropriate resources.

Examines the evaluation of educational programs and personnel. Topics include school improvement through measurement outcomes, personal and program evaluation, systems theory, and the Christian leadership model.

Discusses the basic principles and practices of organizations regarding diversity and multicultural programs. Topics include how school personnel and organizational programs meet the needs of diverse and/or multicultural populations.

Introduces the development of a research proposal. Topics include helping the student develop a deeper understanding of academic research and the structure of the dissertation project.

Introduces the basics of educational research. Topics include statistical techniques, qualitative and quantitative research, research design, and methods to evaluate research and published articles.

Examines the techniques used in evaluation of programs. Topics include identifying evaluation targets, collecting and interpreting appropriate data, developing an action plan, and reporting meaningful results to stakeholders.

Explores the concepts of teacher leaders and the activities and responsibilities involved in leading teachers or adult learners. Topics include leadership concepts appropriate for classroom instructor or instructional coaches. The course is designed to move teachers to leadership roles within the field of education.

Introduces the complexities of managing an organization at the university level. Topics include student development, funding, executive communication, academic leadership, managing enrollment and admissions, working with board of trustees, and recruiting faculty, staff and students.

Investigates the instructional leaders’ role in supporting K-20+ teachers’ professional growth and success through coaching, effective communication, and effective collaboration. Specific topics include coaching models, cycles, mindset and tools. Strategies for effective communication and collaboration and the impact of instructional coaching to mitigate teacher stress and burnout are also addressed.

Investigates the major components and theories of curriculum design at the organizational level.

The course will investigate the instructional leader's role in planning and implementing innovative instructional strategies within the K-12 school setting. Specific topics include discovering research-based innovative instructional strategies, exploring the connections between positive school culture and innovative instructional design, and designing professional development to ensure implementation of innovative instructional design. 

Examines research based and research supported teaching strategies. Topics include current theory and practices designed to improve classroom instruction.

Explores research-based support services for the university student. Topics include student development theory, retention, housing, commuter services, understanding diverse populations, public safety, community life, and health and wellness services. 

Explores strategies to successfully differentiate instruction by differentiating the content, process, or product. Topics include the development of school programs that implement differentiated instruction.

Investigates the Chief Academic Officer’s role in supervising the planning, preparation, and implementation of academic programming at the collegiate level. Supervision of faculty, academic staffing, and academically related activities will also be emphasized.

Analyzes significant developments and trends in curriculum and instruction. Emphasis will be placed on analysis of differing points of view concerning policies and practices of curriculum and instruction. Visionary Leadership will be a focus of the discussion regarding current and future educational practice.

Investigates school budgeting procedures and the relationship with local, state and federal funding of school operations. Topics include Funding resources and management of private funds.

Investigates the responsibilities of an institution of higher education’s Chief Development Officer and Chief Financial Officer and how the responsibilities interact to support the institution.  Topics include the development and oversight of financial policies, systems, and operations that adhere to state and federal regulations and board of trustee goals, budgeting procedures, strategic planning, and coordination of risk management and safety functions. 

Explores funding sources in education that support curriculum and instruction initiatives and helps students identify sources of funding available through government Title programs, private partnerships, sponsorships, and grants.  Activities for the course include skill development in researching available educational funding, grant writing, and budgeting.

Investigates the current trend toward personalizing education for K-12 students to ensure their success whether they are college or career-bound upon leaving high school. The instructional leader’s role in planning and implementing success-ready instructional strategies within the K-12 school setting is a focus of this course. Specific topics include determining the true definition of a success-ready student, understanding the assessment and planning required for developing appropriate curriculum and instruction, and designing professional development for teachers and leaders regarding success-ready instructional design and student outcomes.

Provides Field and Clinical Experiences for (3) semester hours with a minimum requirement of three hundred (300) clock hours. Topics include knowledge, insight and current issues facing practitioners while working with a current school leader.

Students develop a draft dissertation research proposal. Students will discuss theories of research and the process of hypothesis development.

Students develop a research proposal to be presented to an advisor, the research committee, and the research review board. Upon approval the research project will be completed and defended.