Ed.D. in Leadership
In Drake University’s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership program, you’ll prepare to foster organizational health through a practical study of program evaluation, research, ethical decision-making, and technology integration.
School of Education | On-Campus
Program Options
Find the program that fits your path forward. Master core principles of leadership and management, access advanced training aligned with your aspirations, and continue your journey.
Ed.D. in Leadership
Begin with a theoretical overview of leadership before acquiring the tools and research skills to quantify your practice and make more detailed decisions. This broad preparation is suited to leaders in the education, non-profit, or government sectors. The program is 42 credits.
Principal Licensure
Drake’s Principal Licensure program offers training in leadership and administration focused on the school setting. Topics studied include instruction and learning, community relations, law and policy, special education, and school management. The program is 54 credits.
Superintendent Licensure
Designed for those aspiring to leadership at the district level, this program examines leadership and management principles in areas ranging from human resources to legal regulations applied in the context of large, complex organizations. The program is 51 credits.
Meet the Faculty
Your professors draw on a wealth of knowledge to guide your growth as a leader and a scholar. Our faculty have experience in school administration, innovative research, and extensive classroom experience at multiple levels.
Robyn Cooper, Ph.D.
Department Chair, Leadership & Counseling; Professor and Director of Doctoral Program
Outside the Classroom
What will your impact be? Structure your own study, contemplate a problem affecting your field, and arrive at your own conclusion.
Clinical Experiences
To qualify for licensure, you’ll shadow a mentor and think about how you’ll empower success from a broader angle during two clinical experiences and multiple Field Based Learning Projects.
Mentorship
Our professors are seasoned professionals with a deep understanding of organizational leadership. They’re eager to invest in your progress, guiding you as you apply what you’re learning in a professional setting.
Research
You’ll complete advanced training in quantitative and qualitative research methods so you can dive into your own independent project, generating findings that can be shared at conferences or published in academic journals.
Capstone or Dissertation
Customize your training to match your field and goals. Produce original work with a research-oriented dissertation or tackle an applied problem within your organization in a capstone project.
Licensure in Iowa
The Ed.D. in Leadership is designed for professionals in a variety of roles. To apply these skills in a K-12 context, additional coursework and clinical experience help you qualify for principal or superintendent licensure in Iowa as you complete your dissertation or capstone.
Careers & Skills
In the Ed.D. program, you’ll develop a nuanced understanding of leadership and how data, continuous improvement, and other theories can spark lasting change within your organization. This collective skill set helps you make ethical decisions that are sensitive to the needs of diverse stakeholders, no matter if you’re poised to move up in education, a non-profit, or a business.
Job titles
- Academic dean
- Corporate education specialist
- Higher education administrator
- Leadership training coordinator
- School principal
- Training and development director
Skills
- Ethical decision-making
- Leadership
- Program evaluation
- Qualitative and quantitative research
- Strategic planning
- Technology integration
Salary & Growth Outlook
Median salary for K-12 principals in 2024. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
More Information
In general, students may receive credit for academic courses taken through doctorate programs at accredited institutions.
- Graduate courses considered for transfer must be beyond the required 30 master’s-level credits required for admission into a Drake doctoral program.
- Graduate credits completed up to five years prior to admission will be considered for full credit transfer, whereas graduate credits completed five to 10 years prior to admission will be considered for half-credit transfer.
- Courses accepted for transfer credit must parallel courses offered at Drake University or otherwise be appropriate for doctorate-level credit.
- The maximum number of credits that can be transferred into a Drake doctorate program can count for up to a third of the total credit for the full degree program.
Submitting a Request for Transfer Credit Acceptance:
- Transfer credit requests must be submitted concurrently with program application. Provide syllabi at the time of request. Typically, research courses are not accepted for transfer but will be considered by the committee for exceptions.
- Transcripts must come directly from the institution; we cannot accept any transcripts from students.
- Requests are formally evaluated by a subcommittee of the doctoral faculty. Applicants will be notified of the accepted transfer credits in writing.
- You must have earned a grade of "B" or better in the transfer course.
Transfer Credit Considerations: Certain factors will affect your ability to transfer prior credits, including:
- Financial aid implications.
- Transfer credits may not change your graduation date.
- Gaps in your prior coursework.
- The cohort model may require you to take courses that duplicate credits you’ve earned elsewhere.
Contact the Coordinator of Graduate Admission to request a review of your transfer credits.
Learn more about Drake’s Ed.D. and Ph.D. programs during a live online session designed for those considering a School of Education graduate program who haven’t yet applied. cDrake's School of Education faculty will share additional details about coursework and research, and you’ll have a chance to ask questions during an open Q&A. These sessions are designed for those who are considering a School of Education graduate program but have not yet submitted an application.
Take the Next Step
Envision your leadership style and fully realize it through relevant research with an Ed.D. from Drake.
