Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development

Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2025 Cohort!

The College of Education and Human Development offers a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) with an emphasis in P-12 Administration. The programmatic mission is to develop and support a community of ethical, reflective and scholarly leaders who will improve the success of K-12 students. Graduates from this program understand, apply and commission research related to elementary and secondary schools. Doctoral students and their faculty tackle tough issues related to educational leadership at the school- and district-levels, improving organizational outcomes, and addressing the needs of persistently low-performing schools. As a student in this program, your knowledge, skills and abilities will be strategically strengthened to better prepare you to meet these challenges.

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Why Choose U of L's Ed.D. program?

Highly ranked research institution in education.
Work alongside research faculty and practitioners that address pressing social justice issues and problems of practice in schools and districts.
Cohort-based programs.
Opportunities to participate in international learning programs.
Proud member of:
- University Council for Educational Administration, a consortium of higher education institutions committed to advancing the preparation and practice of educational leaders for the benefit of schools and children. U of L is one of only two Kentucky institutions to have this designation.
- Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate, a consortium of colleges and universities working together to undertake a critical examination of the doctorate in education (Ed.D.) through dialog, experimentation, critical feedback, and evaluation.

Program Information

The doctoral faculty tackles tough issues related to school achievement in the areas of reading, science, and mathematics as well as addressing persistently low-performing schools. As a student in this program, your knowledge, skills and abilities will be strategically strengthened to better prepare you to meet these challenges.

Featured Ed.D. Alumni

Marty Pollio Ed.D.
Superintendent
Jefferson County Public Schools

Katy DeFerrari, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent of
School Culture and Climate
Jefferson County Public Schools

Marco Munoz, Ed.D.
Priority Schools Director
Jefferson County Public Schools

Curriculum

For more details about program curriculum, visit the Graduate Catalog.

This program is designed for those who have or do not need administrative certification. Pre-requisite: master's degree and three years teaching experience. The program allows up to 12 hours of transfer credit from a regionally accredited university that offers advanced degrees.

Credit Hour and Residency Requirements

EdD students complete 6 credit hours together per semester (planned format). Limited substitutions or modifications may be permitted based upon previous coursework, career goals, or individual schedule needs. Note: Students need to contact the Program Coordinator to discuss.

Students must be enrolled at UofL for a minimum of 18 hours within a 12-month period to meet the residency requirement. These hours are built into the planned format but must be considered when making program modifications.

Time Limits for Completion of Degree

Cohorts begin in fall of each year.
The Ed.D. program will take 3 years at minimum for completion.
Students must complete all coursework and pass the comprehensive exams within five years.
Students must complete all other requirements for the degree within four years after passing the comprehensive exams and being admitted to candidacy.

A doctoral student must have been admitted to candidacy no later than the end of the month prior to awarding of the degree; that is:

August graduation: November 30 of preceding year
December graduation: March 31 of the same year
May graduation: August 31 of preceding year

See the Doctoral Student Handbook for more information.

How to Apply

EdD in ELOD JCPS Graduates

Admission Documents and Pages

Students apply for the EdD in ELOD each spring, with enrollment each fall.

Applicants must submit the following credentials to:

Graduate Admissions Office
Houchens Building
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292

The Priority application deadline is May 15 of each year.

Potential students for the program must meet the minimum requirements for admission to the University of Louisville Graduate School
Additionally, the following is required by the Doctor of Education (Ed.D) program:

Letter of Introduction - no more than two pages highlighting your career accomplishments to date, your reason for considering doctoral level work, and your anticipated areas of interest for action research project(s).
Current Resume or Curriculum Vita - Submit a current resume or curriculum vita. The program faculty expects applicants to have prior professional experience in P-12 education. The Ed.D program is practitioner-based and intended for experienced professionals in the field.
Three Letters of Recommendation - Select three individuals who are familiar with your background as a professional or graduate student and have them complete the Recommendation Form [PDF]. At least one of the recommendations must come from someone familiar with your work ethic and work products, A letter from an immediate supervisor is encouraged.
Official copies of collegiate transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) from all institutions ever attended (even if no degree was earned). Graduates of the University of Louisville need not provide a transcript.
Master's degree in education or related field
GPA of at least 3.5 for prior graduate coursework.
International applicants with transcripts that are not in English, in addition to submitting official copies of native language records, must also submit a notarized, verbatim translation in English prepared by an appropriate university or government official. The records must show both the degree granted and all coursework taken during the course of study. Applicants who are submitting transcripts from outside the United States must verify their records by submitting them to one of the following organizations: World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), and other NACES approved evaluators found here https://www.naces.org/members. If you have a master's degree from the U.S., this requirement is waived.
Students for whom English is not their primary language must show English language proficiency by successfully completing one of the following:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination – minimum score: 6.5
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination – minimum scores: 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, 213 on the computer-based TOEFL or 80 or higher on the internet-based TOEFL
- Duolingo English Test with Subscores – minimum score of 105 and exam must have been taken after January 1, 2020
Note: International students who have earned a degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. are not required to complete the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo.
Submission of a writing prompt provided when the application materials are received and to be submitted prior to the interview. The writing prompt will focus on a contemporary issue in the P-12 education landscape and will require appropriate research tasks aimed to assess the capacity of the candidate for admission to process, analyze, and communicate (in written form) their response to the prompt.
Interview with Program Faculty - Program faculty reserve the right to request additional information to resolve admission status including, but not limited to, GRE scores, additional letters of recommendation, professional references for consultation, etc

All application materials are reviewed by the program faculty and are considered holistically when determining admission status. Students will be notified in writing of their admission status.

This program is open to all eligible faculty, staff, and students regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.

Should a candidate also desire to pursue additional certifications while enrolled as an Ed.D. student (Principal, Superintendent, Director of Special Education):KY EPSB Requirements

Applicants must hold a Kentucky teaching certificate.
Three years of successful K-12 teaching experience in Kentucky (including successful completion of the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program) or three years (one year = a minimum of 140 contract days) of successful K-12 teaching experience outside the state of Kentucky or a combination of Kentucky experience and outside experience
Superintendent Certification requires building level principal certification as a pre-requisite.

Note: Once all credentials have been submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office, they will automatically be forwarded to the Department of Educational Leadership, Evaluation and Organizational Development for review. The materials assist the committee in deciphering the:

Success potential in a doctoral program
Applicant's levels of professional expertise
Viable match for applicant's goals

Applicants will be notified in writing if they will be invited to interview in May - June.

Estimated Time to Completion

minimum 3-year commitment (60 hour program)
2 classes per semester
6 - 27 hours per week preparation

Faculty / Contact

Contact

Deb Powers, Ed.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Educational Leadership, Evaluation, & Organizational Development
The University of Louisville
1905 South 1st Street
Porter Building, Room 369
Louisville, Kentucky 40292
(502) 852-6428
debbie.powers@louisville.edu

Janet Olson, Administrative Assistant, 502-852-6475

Program Faculty

Careers

Opportunities for Graduates

Are you considering the next step in your career? If so, consider the Doctorate of Education at UofL!

The EdD in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development (ELOD) develops and supports a community of ethical, reflective, and scholarly activists who will improve the success of K-12 students. Graduates are educational leaders at the school, district, state, and national levels. They may also work in related organizations (education cooperatives or education associations) as well as in higher education.

Financial Aid