Fact Sheet

The School of Education

The faculty of the School of Education at Holy Family University has designed the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Professional Studies as a research-based educational program that seeks to develop innovative, effective, and ethical school and community leaders. The fields of study which will prepare leaders to work in schools, agencies, and universities to effect positive change are:

  • Educational Leadership which will prepare candidates to assume leadership roles as superintendents or principals;
  • Literacy Leadership which will prepare candidates to be leaders in the field of literacy within schools and at the university level;
  • Professional Studies in Leadership which will prepare candidates to be leaders in fields of their professional interests such as Special Education encompassing the leadership skills and knowledge necessary to meet the needs of various populations.

The program will be flexible and designed for working professionals with courses offered during evening and summer sessions.  Some online and weekend courses will be available with the intent of providing flexible course offerings which are structured for the working practitioner seeking advanced studies for professional development and professional advancement.

The intent is to provide a supportive and collaborative learning environment that encourages candidates to develop as scholars and researchers who seek leadership positions through advanced interdisciplinary study.  Our purpose is to prepare preeminent teachers, scholars, and educational leaders with the expertise necessary to establish conditions that promote student success, and a life-long love of learning through interdisciplinary knowledge and applied research.

The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Professional Studies is a sixty (60) credit program.  There will be a core of nine courses (27 credits) plus nine courses in the student’s field of interest (27 credits), and six (6) credits for the writing of the dissertation. The following courses are offered in the doctoral program:

All candidates will take the following nine core courses equaling 27 credits:
EDDC 801 Ethical Leadership
EDDC 802 Communication Theory, Practice, and Technology
EDDC 803 Organizational Development and Change Theory
EDDC 804 Writing for Professional Publication and for Grant Writing
EDUC 502 Statistics
EDDC 811 Research I: Quantitative Research
EDDC 812 Research II: Qualitative Research
EDDC 813 Advanced Research
EDDC 814 Research Seminar: Proposal First Three Chapters

The candidates will take nine courses in their fields of interest equaling 27 credits. The Professional Studies courses available to the candidates according to their areas of interest are:
EDDC 821 School Boards in Action*
EDDC 822 Leadership in Education Seminar*
EDDC 823 Leadership Internship I*
EDDC 824 Leadership Internship II*
EDDC 831 Ethical Issues in Literacy
EDDC 832 Seminar in Literacy and Professional Studies Topics
EDDC 833 Current Perspectives on Literacy
EDDC 834 Seminar in Leadership for the Education of ELLs*
EDDC 841 Leadership and Special Education*
EDDC 842 Perspectives on the Education of Students with Low-Incidence/Significant Disabilities Seminar*
EDDC 843 Instructional and Management Strategies for the Autism Spectrum Disorder Learner*
EDDC 861 Philosophy and History of Literacy Education**
EDDC 862 Advanced Literacy Assessment**
EDDC 863 Seminar in Literacy Research**
EDDC 864 Instructional Programs in Literacy I**
EDDC 865 Instructional Programs in Literacy II**

Those candidates who are interested in applying for the Superintendent Certification must take the courses marked with one asterisk.  In addition, he or she would take two of the interdisciplinary courses.

Those candidates who are interested in the field of advanced Literacy Studies would take the five courses marked with two asterisks.  In addition, he or she would take four of the interdisciplinary courses.

Those candidates who are interested in interdisciplinary Professional Studies may take nine courses offered in the doctoral program.

Capstone Element:  Each Dissertation Course will be 3 credits.
EDDC 901 Dissertation I
EDDC 902 Dissertation II

In close consultation with the student’s advisor and the permission of the Doctoral Academic Policies Committee, the student will choose a field of study and establish a sequence of courses which will meet his or her goals.