Requirements and Details

The Educational Administration and Leadership Ed.D. program begins a new cohort each fall semester. 

Priority Deadlines

The priority deadline for applications is Jan. 15 with an additional deadline of March 15. Applications received after March 15 will be accepted and considered on a space-available basis.

Applications will be reviewed following each deadline date. Students applying for graduate assistantships and international students are strongly encouraged to apply by the Jan. 15 and March 15 deadline. Applications will be considered on a space-available basis after March 15. 

Application

When applying for a doctoral program, the School of Graduate Studies serves as a liaison between the applicant and the doctoral program. Application materials are completed online and processed by the School of Graduate Studies.

Once all application materials are received, Graduate Studies will forward materials to the doctoral program for review and an interview will be scheduled along with directions to complete a short written essay. Thereafter, an admission recommendation will be forwarded to Graduate Studies for a final decision and notification to the applicant.

Application Instructions

For all students:

• Apply for admission to graduate study
• Application and application fee
• Statement of Intent
• Resume/curriculum vita
• Writing sample, such as thesis, research paper or professional research document
• Submit 3 recommenders who rate applicant's skills using a likert scale
  • There is no need for a traditional letter of recommendation
  • Add the recommender's name and contact within the online application
  • The recommender clicks on e-mailed link and rates the candidate in about 2 minutes
  • Let your recommender know to watch their email for this
  • Remind your recommenders to complete prior to application deadline
• Unofficial transcripts

For international students:

• WES or NACES course-by-course transcript evaluation
• English proficiency
• Financial information form

Program Admission Requirements

For admission consideration, Ed.D. applicants must meet minimum Graduate Studies admission requirements, plus the program requirements below: 

• Completion of a bachelor's degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher or completion of a graduate degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.

In addition to the Graduate Studies admissions criteria. Requirements for the doctoral program include: 

• Have a master’s degree in education or related field.
• Hold an administrative licensure (preferred but not required) such as principal, superintendent, special education director or similar license.

After the application deadline, those with complete applications will interview with doctoral program faculty. Directions on completing a short written essay will be provided.

Competition for limited places in the EDAD program may require the necessity of a wait list. The wait list decision date is Aug. 15 but notifications are sent out earlier as an opening occurs.

Prior Courses

Prior credits may be applied toward your doctor of education elective credits. 

No more than a total of 27 credits may be accepted as Advanced Standing via a combination of credits from your Master's (12 credits max.), Post-Master's, Specialist or Doctoral degree.

At least 45 credits of a student's doctoral program must be completed at St. Cloud State University.

Course Sequence