Recognized by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) as a national model for creating equity-oriented leaders, the program emphasizes the improvement of PK-12 teaching and learning through the development of systems-level processes and structures and prioritizes educational leadership as a practice integrating school and community contexts.

Course Work

The program takes an interdisciplinary approach to educating equity-oriented scholar-practitioners who view education through a variety of lenses. Students have the opportunity to incorporate international research into course work.

Students are admitted as a cohort that begins in the fall semester of each year. All classes are offered in the evenings or on weekends for the convenience of working professionals. The program consists of 48 hours of course work and 12 hours of dissertation for a total of 60 hours.

• core (foundational) courses
• major (Educational and Community Leadership) courses
• doctoral electives
• dissertation proposal development
• research courses
• dissertation courses

Round Rock Campus

Applicants can apply for the San Marcos cohort or the Round Rock Campus Cohort. For applicants applying for the San Marcos Cohort, instruction will be fully in-person. For applicants applying to the Round Rock Cohort, instruction will 80% distance education and 20% in-person. Admitted students will be required to take classes at the campus to which they applied.

Program Details

The program brings together students with diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives and professional goals to study with nationally recognized faculty who collaborate with students on research projects, publications and conference presentations.

Program Mission

The Educational and Community Leadership doctoral program is designed for professionals in a variety of educational roles who wish to develop and enhance their capacity for facilitating ongoing educational improvement. The program offers the opportunity to conduct research to inform practice and to prepare educational practitioners.

The program develops skills in the following areas:

• transformational school leadership
• culturally responsive leadership
• professional development
• curriculum development 
• instructional improvement
• improvement of student assessment
• educational philosophies and educational research with both qualitative and quantitative methodologies