MSUM offers new DOCTOR of EDUCATION in Educational Leadership

classes begin fall 2017 with priority deadline february 24

Words by Kristi Monson, MSUM Marketing & Communications

Minnesota State UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD will offer a new Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in educational leadership beginning Fall 2017. The doctor of education is designed for professionals interested in advancing their careers at both the P–12 and postsecondary levels. Applicants must have a minimum of three years of professional employment and accomplishments within education or a related field, such as consulting, corporate training, human resources or nonprofit leadership.

MSUM’s doctorate program in educational leadership is designed to: w improve leadership skills to meet today’s challenges in education w develop in-depth knowledge to be a creative change-agent committed to advocacy, action and equitable education w conduct applied research to address workplace challenges w apply interventions for improvement, and measure results w enhance soft skills to promote innovative leadership practices w grow professional learning networks to encourage collaboration w transform educational institutions by putting theory into practice

The need for highly trained educational leaders is growing. In a survey of students and alumni of MSUM’s graduate programs in education, 80 percent expressed interest in an online doctor of education program.

“Interested individuals include current principals, superintendents, teachers, special education directors, community education directors, higher education administrators and business professionals,” says Boyd Bradbury, coordinator of MSUM’s doctor of education program. “Given the level of interest within the first few weeks of accepting applications, there is clear evidence that MSUM’s online doctor of education is a desired degree.”

Founded as a teacher’s college, MSUM enjoys a solid reputation for graduating wellprepared education candidates and is competitively positioned to offer this doctorate degree. While other doctorate programs are offered regionally and online, MSUM’s program is a practitioner-focused program.

“MSUM’s doctor of education will build skills and foundational knowledge to successfully address organizational, leadership and educational issues and apply these skills through real-world experiences,” Bradbury says. “It will equip graduates for high-level leadership positions.”

Bradbury said there is no other entirely online doctor of education program offered by a public university in Minnesota or North Dakota. “There are for-profit institutions offering online doctor of education degrees, but students pay considerably more to obtain those degrees,” he says. “With the exception of two summer residencies, MSUM’s entire doctor of education is offered online.”

Graduates of MSUM’s doctor of education program will be effective educational leaders who can respond quickly and decisively to a changing, culturally diverse and technologyrich society. Students will advance through the program quickly: w Eight consecutive semesters (three-year completion) w Eight-week courses w Interactive online cohort model w Two face-to-face summer residencies w Clinical assignments to demonstrate capacity to put theory into action w Action research focused on developing indepth knowledge to be an innovative leader

Faculty teaching in the doctor of education program are experienced professors with terminal degrees and administrative experience in P–12 as well as higher education. Additionally, all doctor of education courses will be submitted for certification through Quality Matters, a faculty-centered, peer-review process designed to certify the quality of online courses.

MSUM’s doctor of education degree has been approved by the Minnesota State system and anticipates Higher Learning Commission approval by spring 2017. Priority application deadline is February 24, 2017, with classes starting fall semester.

LEARN MORE about MSUM’S DOCTOR of EDUCATION DEGREE mnstate.edu/doctorate/educational-leadership

Program Coordinator Boyd Bradbury, Ph.D., bradbury@mnstate.edu or 218-477-2471