School of Education
Ed.D. Admission Information
Application Deadline
The deadline for all applications to the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program is February 28 for study beginning the following fall term.
Application Process
To apply to the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program, complete the steps of the UD online graduate application process. Students are admitted to the program based upon program capacity (which limits the total number that can be accepted), the applicant’s qualifications, and the applicant’s fit with the program goals and objectives and the expertise of the program faculty. In addition to the University requirements above, applicants must meet the following requirements.
- Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in a relevant area (e.g., educational leadership; literacy, mathematics, or science education; higher education; human services; special education; technology in education) from an accredited university by the month in which they begin doctoral work
- Applicants must demonstrate scholastic ability by having achieved a minimum graduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale in their undergraduate degree and 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in their master’s program.
- Applicants should be working in or toward a leadership role in their current position (e.g., administrator, coordinator, or teacher leader at a district/school, higher education, or education department in other organization). A current Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) must be submitted as part of the application.
- Three letters of recommendation from people qualified to assess the applicant’s leadership skills and academic potential. One letter must be from the applicant’s supervisor. Recommendations must be submitted electronically as part of the online application.
- A completed University of Delaware online graduate application.
- Written responses to the following three prompts:
- Explain why you are applying to this particular program, that is, why do you want to be admitted to the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership?
- The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership requires that candidates be involved in planning and implementing a series of initiatives targeted at specific improvement needs that candidates identify and in which they may exercise leadership. Describe the contexts and responsibilities in your current position which would allow you to exercise leadership.
- Describe a problem in your area of interest that typifies the kind of issue that you would like to pursue as a leadership professional and why you think it is important to address.
- The GRE test is not required as an admission requirement for this program. However, applicants who are international students and whose native language is not English must submit evidence of their English ability through TOEFL or IELTS scores. Minimum acceptable scores are 100 for TOEFL iBT or 7.0 on the IELTS. International applicants who have completed a bachelors or masters degree from an American university may have this requirement waived.
- Additional materials are appropriate if they help to establish the candidate’s ability to analyze, reason, interpret and write clear and persuasive prose. A grant proposal, report, journal article, or other succinct writing may be included with the application.