EdD in Learning and Leadership
Program Highlights
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Program in Learning and Leadership at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will prepare professionals to be leaders in public and non-public schools, state departments of education, professional organizations, and private corporations.
The Ed.D. program will concentrate upon developing leaders who can move forward with a new educational agenda of teaching and learning as well as addresses change as a dynamic of the modern organizational environment. The program will incorporate coursework and practical application of skills in the workplace as part of a process of fulfilling specific competencies. A unique combination of coursework will ensure that the program meets the specific educational needs and career goals of each participant.
In putting forth this program, we have assumed that those who would provide leadership for any organization will be required to possess
1) a full understanding of the elements of learning that will enhance the operation of the organization, and 2) an understanding of the elements of leadership in authentic settings.
The more specific purpose of this degree is to improve the everyday practice of leadership – e.g., knowledge, motivation, direction, and problem-solving. As such, it is not designed for the development of administrative skills, since such utilization would be contrary to its purpose and curricular focus. This program is unique and innovative in that it applies learning principles to leadership contexts.
What follows are the key elements of the EdD program in Learning and Leadership:
Cohort Based--Twenty highly qualified carefully selected participants
Competency Based--Participants must master competencies in seven domains (Learning, Leadership & Ethics, Instruction, Assessment & Evaluation, Technology, Organizational Theory and Reform, Research)
Theme--Provides integrated view of leadership in a variety of organizational settings
Program Core--A six semester, two year program consisting of 39 core credit hours. Course delivery may include independent study, extensive online work, and/or periodic face-to-face seminars.
Individual Learning and Leadership Plan (ILLP)--Working with an advisory team, the doctoral learner will develop and ILLP & portfolio which presents the learner's goals for each competency area and the theoretical framework to support each competency.
Focused Electives— Coursework in the learner's specific area of interest (concentration). All focused electives must be approved and must tie to the ILLP and/or dissertation area (minimum of 15 credit hours).
Dissertation--Each student will complete and defend a dissertation representing the culminating project for the degree (minimum of 12 dissertation research hours)
Technology--Instruction in technology will be weaved throughout the program
Periodic Review--Every second semester each student will undergo formal review of progress in the program, including the development of the ILLP.
Total Program--The total program will consist of 66 credit hours of course work
