Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (Online)

Do you believe that purposeful change in education policy and practice is accomplished through meaningful engagement that is transformational in nature? That change promotes equity? That it improves policy and practice on a local, state, national or international level? Our online Ed.D. in educational leadership and policy studies will prepare you to shape, lead and implement such change. We develop action-oriented scholarly practitioners who blend practical wisdom and professional skills with research and theory to impact problems of practice in formal and nonformal educational settings.

New cohorts are scheduled to begin every fall semester. Completed applications must be received by May 1 to be considered for fall admission.

  • Master's degree from an accredited institution
  • Preferred minimum graduate GPA of 3.50
  • Preferred experience in educational administration

Application Process

Submit a degree-seeking application to the NIU Graduate School. You will be asked to provide the following items:

  • Names and email addresses of three professional references
  • Personal statement
  • Current résumé or CV
  • Transcripts

Apply Online

The program is offered in a fully online (synchronous) format. Classes meet one night per week, and the meeting day will remain consistent for the duration of a cohort.

Students complete 42 credit hours comprised of 21 hours of core classes, 12 hours of dissertation research and nine hours of pre-approved electives. Students who completed the Ed.S. in educational administration program at NIU can use those credits to count toward the elective requirement.

Core Courses
Term Course Hours
1 EPFE 714 - Ethical Approaches to Problems of Practice 3
LEEA 791 - Systematic Inquiry into Problems of Practice 2
LEEA 792 - Introduction to Doctoral Studies 1
2 LEEA 793 - Contemporary Approaches to Problems of Practice 3
ETR 592 - Special Topics in Research and Assessment 3
3 LEEA 794 - Creating Environments for Learning and Growth 3
4 LEEA 795 - Advanced Doctoral Studies in Ed Leadership 1
LEEA 796 - Advanced Planning for Improvement in Education 3
LEEA 798 - Research Seminar in Educational Leadership 2
5 (and beyond) LEEA 799 - Doctoral Research and Dissertation 12

Preapproved Elective Courses

  • LEEA 725 – Education Law II (offered every spring)
  • LEEA 754 – Politics of Educational Administration (offered every summer)
  • LEEA 745 – Survey of Research in Educational Admin (offered every spring)
  • LEEA 727 – Multi-tiered Systems of Support (offered every fall)
  • LEEA 577 – Administration and Supervision of Special Education
  • LEEA 726 – Special Education: Leadership and the Law
  • EPFE 521 – Historical Foundations of Education in the U.S.
  • EPFE 715 - Foundations of Educational Policy
  • EPFE 721 – Seminar in American Educational Thought
  • EPS 501 – Psychological Foundations of Education
  • EPS 506 – Theories and Research in Child Behavior and Development
  • EPS 560 – Mind, Brain and Education
  • EPS 679 – Cultural perspectives on Human Development
  • EPS 706 – Research on Human Development in Educational Settings
  • EPS 710 – Seminar in Lifespan Human Development
  • EPS 713 – Advanced Educational Psychology
  • EPS 715 – Education and Human Cognitive processing
  • EPS 718 – Research Seminar in Motivation and Education

Note: LEEA 577 and 726 are only available to students who have been admitted to the director of special education certificate of graduate study program or students who have applied to ISBE for the director of special education endorsement and have a deficiency letter stating they need these courses.

Additional Elective Courses

Courses from other departments can be included upon approval from the department and LEEA program area faculty. Examples include:

  • TLCI 512: Creating Learning Communities
  • TLCI 703: Design of Curriculum and Instruction
  • TLCI 704: Research Seminar in Curriculum and Instruction
  • SESE 575: Special Education Finance
  • SESE 760: The Special Education Director
  • SESE 765: Seminar: Professional Collaboration in Schools
  • SESE 747: Seminar in Special Education
  • ETR 521: Educational Statistics I
  • ETR 522: Educational Statistics II

Note: SESE 575, 760, 765 and 747 are only available to students who have been admitted to the director of special education certificate of graduate study program or students who have applied to ISBE for the director of special education endorsement and have a deficiency letter stating they need these courses.

Contact Us

Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations
Graham 223
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-4404
lepf@niu.edu

Connect With Us

Back to top